Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Saturday; Sametegal 3:10 & Balder Success 5:00 both at Cheltenham. Compare odds and bet.
Smart hurdler Balder Succes (5:00) jumped really well on his chasing debut at Chepstow a week ago and, given a similar round of fencing this afternoon, Alan King’s five-year-old can follow up under his penalty.
At his best in small fields, the drop back in trip ought to prove ideal around here and, with the ground also in his favour, he is taken to make it two from two over fences, despite having to concede 8lbs to debutant Dark Lover who was at his best over hurdles at Cheltenham.
Handazan is another King inmate trying to quickly follow up last Saturday’s Chepstow success in the four-year-old hurdle, but he is taken on with top-weight Sametegal (3:10) who brings the Triumph Hurdle form to the party.
The son of Saints Des Saints finished third in the championship contest here in March, before finishing runner-up to the classy Court Minstrel in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
The winner of the Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial earlier in the season at Musselburgh, he proved he goes well fresh when scoring at Wetherby on his British debut last November and Paul Nicholls has started firing in the winners, with three of his five runners since Thursday scoring.
Both selections have to concede weight all around, but look up to the task and were trading at 2/1 (Skybet) and 9/4 (BetVictor), respectively, this morning.
Later on the card, be sure to pay close attention to the concluding bumper, which looks a cracking contest. Regal Diamond boasts some rock-solid form, but has a double penalty to contend with and faces a couple of expensive purchases from big yards this afternoon. This should be pretty informative.
Saturday’s selections:
3:10 Cheltenham Sametegal
5:00 Cheltenham Balder Succes
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 2013-14
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Fellow Betrescue columnist and Bet Victor’s Charlie McCann says: “it really is a privilege to write the foreword for such an informative and well-researched publication, which continues to go from strength to strength.”
New for 2013-14:
Grade 1 winning jockeys Nick Scholfield and Jane Mangan provide readers with their horses to follow
Last years results included:
* Leading Prospects, Arvika Ligeonniere (x3), Boston Bob, Captain Conan (x3), Champagne Fever (x2 inc Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Glens Melody, Melodic Rendezvous, Simonsig (Arkle) & Un Atout won 13 Grade 1 novice contests between them
* My Tent Or Yours won 4 times including the Betfair Hurdle and the Top Novices’ at Aintree
* Stable Round-Up included Neptune winner The New One, Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Court Minstrel and David Pipe’s Dynaste of whom it read “could follow the Grands Crus path of last year, starting in the Steel Plate And Sections before he is readied for the Feltham” – he won both races and also scored at Aintree in April
* Across The Sea – Mount Benbulben 14/1 winner of the Grade 1 novice chase at the Punchestown Festival
* Under The Hammer – horses featured in this section included Champion Bumper winner Briar Hill (25/1) and The Liquidator, who won the equivalent Grade 1 at Punchestown – this section has been greatly increased for 2013-14
