Dashel Drasher is just the sort of jump horse that I love to watch. A front runner who wears his heart on his sleeve, he will tomorrow embark on his eighth competitive season for his astute Somerset handler Jeremy Scott.
Aged 11, Dashel Drasher will make his seasonal debut in the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle – better known as The West Yorkshire Hurdle – at Wetherby (2.22 p.m.), going off at likely odds of around 4-1.
However, there are plenty of negatives for the horse tomorrow notably that the ground is good and he prefers a much softer surface. He also has to give 6 lbs or more to all of his six rivals. It’s impossible to rule him out of the contest but I prefer to look elsewhere for the winner.
THUNDER ROCK is a talented chaser in small fields on his going days but his jumping too often lets him down so he is back over the smaller obstacles tomorrow. Olly Murphy’s eight-year-old gelding is versatile regarding ground conditions and goes well fresh so, as the second highest rated horse in the field over hurdles, I am happy to back him in a race where plenty of the runners are in with chances on their best form.
Sandor Clegane and Beacon Edge are the Irish raiders from the respective yards of Paul Nolan and Gordon Elliott, while Kateira, Twig and Allmankind, from the respective yards of Dan Skelton, Ben Pauling and James Owen, make this an open contest. However, with seven runners and therefore only two places, back Thunder Run 2 points win at 9-2 with race sponsors bet365.
There is some really decent racing tomorrow at Ascot too where there is more than £56,000 on offer to the winner of the Byrne Group Handicap Chase (2.05 p.m.).
Unsurprisingly, such a nice pot has attracted a high-class field of ten handicappers. The top weight Master Chewy is likely to go off favourite for the in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies yard and there is plenty to like about this consistent seven-year-old gelding.
However, my preference is for SAINT SEGAL, who seems to have been around for years yet is still only six years old. Jane Williams’s talented gelding ran some good races last season, including at Ascot, but someone managed not to win any of his six starts, falling and unseating rider in two of them.
Saint Segal ran well enough in a prep race for this at Chepstow last month – his first run after wind surgery – and he is still on a lovely official mark of 135. With doubts about his jumping, however, back him 2 points win at 4-1 with William Hill, BetVictor or Coral.
The Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.45 p.m.) also has a first prize of more than £56,000 and this race has attracted a field of 11 runners. Trainer Kim Bailey has the two horses at the head of the weights in Chianti Classico and Two For Gold. The latter is 11 years old now and would prefer softer ground but the former, a Cheltenham festival winner in March, has a huge chance of landing the spoils. Sadly, however, he has been found in the market at 3-1 or less so I am going to pass on this race as a betting proposition.
Arguably the most informative race this weekend for the season ahead is the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby tomorrow (2.58 p.m.). Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning, one of last season’s top novice chasers, takes on the older generation for the first time.
However, if this were a handicap, he would be getting 10 lbs from Conflated and 9 lbs from Bravesmangame yet tomorrow he has to give both horses 3 lbs. That may well prove an impossible task but Bravesmansgame failed to win any of his five starts last season and Conflated’s jumping is often a concern so, once again, this is simply a race for me to watch and enjoy.
The Breeders Cup on the other side of the pond, where City of Troy will try to win the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt, offers plenty of interest this weekend for followers of the flat but I have already put away my betting boots on the level.
Pending:
2 points win Saint Segal at 4-1in the Byrne Group Handicap Chase.
2 points win Thunder Rock at 9-2 in the bet365 Hurdle.
1 point each way Frero Banbou at 14-1 in the Grand Sefton, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Percussion at 12-1 in the Grand Sefton, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Go Dante at 9-1 in the Greatwood Hurdle, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
Last weekend – 4 points.
1 point each way Kinondo Kwetu at 20-1 in the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Chasing Fire at 11-1 in the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 4 points.
2024-5 jump season running total: – 4 points.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
My gambling record for the past nine years: I have made a profit in 16 of the past 18 seasons to recommended bets. To a 1 point level stake over this period, the overall profit of has been 558.4 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a ‘point’ is your chosen regular stake).
Comments