I have followed the fortunes of GIN COCO closely for the past two seasons and, even though the gelding will turn eight on New Year’s Day, I am convinced his best days still lie ahead of him. He has been lightly raced during his career with three wins from just nine runs and he could yet go novice chasing next year.
Gin Coco is clearly a much better horse on good rather than soft ground. The official going of ‘soft’ was initially thought to have been the reason for poor run in the County Hurdle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. It later transpired, however, that he had fractured his pelvis during the race and so he did well to win his second race back from a break at Ascot last month.
Up just 4 lbs in the ratings to a mark of 137, he has a huge chance of landing tomorrow’s bet365 Handicap Hurdle (Doncaster 2.40 p.m.) where the ground is currently ‘good to soft, good in places’ on the hurdles course. With another drying day, the going will be quicker again by tomorrow afternoon, while talented claimer Ben Bromley takes off a useful 5lbs off his back too.
There has been a lot of money this week for Clear White Light and, after his impressive winning seasonal debut at this course earlier this month, his chances are respected. In fact, there are a lot of horses with a ‘shout’ in this 12-runner contest for a pot of more than £26,000 to the winner.
But if Gin Coco runs to form and doesn’t win tomorrow off his current mark, I shall be following the horse that beats him for the rest of the season. Back Gin Coco 2 points win at 9-2 with William Hill because he has a favourite’s chance.
In my column two weeks ago, I put up two horses, both at 10-1, for tomorrow’s Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Cheltenham, 1.50 p.m.). These wagers illustrate the ups and downs of ante-post betting as one of them, Thunder Rock, is now favourite for the race at odds of no bigger than 7-2. However, my second tip, In Excelsis Deo, is a non-runner and instead goes in the 1.15 p.m. race at Cheltenham tomorrow over a shorter trip.
I obviously hope Thunder Rock runs a big race but I am going to back another horse in the race too, simply because he looks overpriced. FRERO BANBOU would have won at Newbury last time out but for making a hash of the last fence.
Tomorrow he has to race from 3lbs out of the handicap but that is exactly how much he has been raised by the handicapper in future races for his fine Newbury run. The handicapper seems to have been kind to him too, given how far he might have won without his late catastrophic blunder.
Don’t forget that in March 2022, this horse, off a higher mark, finished a splendid third in the Grand Annual Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. He filled the same position behind Geskille in the BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree last month.
On balance, 12-1 seems very generous, four places, and so a 1 point each way bet is the suggestion at these terms with bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair, BetVictor or Betfred. Those backing him have to hope his race from just two weeks ago hasn’t left its mark.
Elsewhere on the Cheltenham card, Protektorat drops to handicap company (2.25 p.m.) for the first time in more than two years. Although he will suit the soft ground, I expect one of the younger improvers in the field to be too good for him. However, I am not going to put my money down as I have no strong fancy in the race.
Next week I will be previewing some of the festive fare on offer to racegoers in both Britain and Ireland.
2023-4 jumps season
Pending:
2 points win Gin Coco at 9-2 in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle.
1 point each way Thunder Rock at 10-1 for the December Gold Cup, paying ¼ odds, four places.
1 point each way Frero Banbou at 12-1 for the for the December Gold Cup, paying ¼ odds, four places.
1 point each way In Excelsis Deo at 10-1 for the December Gold Cup, paying ¼ odds, four places. Non runner to be included in next week’s bets’ table.
1 point each way Iron Bridge at 16-1 for the Welsh Grand National, paying ¼ odds, four places.
2 points win Super Survivor at 8-1 for the Welsh Grand National.
1 point each way Giovinco at 20-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, paying 1/5th odds, three places.
Settled bets from last week:
2 points win Colonel Harry at 4-1 in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. 2nd. – 2 points.
1 point each way Percussion at 10-1 for the Becher Chase, paying ¼ odds, four places. 3rd. + 1.5 points.
1 point each way The Big Breakaway at 25-1 for the Becher Chase, paying ¼ odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points
2023-4 jump seasons to date: – 2.45 points.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
My gambling record for the past eight years: I have made a profit in 14 of the past 16 seasons to recommended bets. To a 1 point level stake over this period, the overall profit of has been 475 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a “point” is your chosen regular stake).
Comments