Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Saturday including Quick Jack in the Newmarket 15:50. Compare odds and bet.
The National Hunt season steps up a notch again this afternoon, with Chepstow staging the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season proper and it is a card full of interest.
The feature handicap chase sees Highland Lodge return to action on a fair mark and Emma Lavelle’s eight-year-old remains a horse of interest, especially when caught fresh and on soft ground. With conditions ideal, it’s not surprising he has been well supported, but he looks short enough around 11/4 overnight.
In the same contest, The Italian Yob looks capable of outrunning his odds (opened up 20/1), though he looks far from a solid betting proposition. However, first time out could be the time to catch him and he looks fairly weighted.
Earlier on the card, Paul Nicholls saddles the exciting Southfield Theatre in the extended 2m3f novices’ chase, a race he often uses as a springboard for some of his better novices.
He opened up odds-on so is best watched, while stable-mate Emerging Talent (2:35) looks an exciting recruit and is fancied to make a winning debut for the stable, despite several of the yard’s runners looking as though they need their first outing.
A bumper winner at Naas for Tom Nagle (strong form), the five-year-old Golan gelding ought to relish today’s 2m4f trip and he can get the better of smart dual-purpose performer Shelford, who already boasts some respectable form over timber and hails from a red-hot yard.
The concluding bumper is another contest to pay close attention to, given the expensive debutants on show, but for the day’s second selection it is off to Newmarket and the big betting heat of the day, the Betfred Cesarewitch.
After providing this column with a great start to the Galway Festival Quick Jack (3:50) looks the ideal type for this grueling big-field marathon and the booking of Richard Hughes is viewed upon as a positive (given his hold up style).
The five-year-old impressively landed a 20-runner 2m handicap last time and, despite being raised a further 9lbs, it is hard to envisage a scenario that doesn’t involve him travelling strongly into contention. With several firms offering 6/1 and 6 places, he should be backed each-way.
Saturday’s selections:
2:35 Chepstow Emerging Talent
3:50 Newmarket Quick Jack
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 2014-15
Pre order now, published early September in good time for the new season: Just £9:95 inc p&p
* order online www.cc-publishing.co.uk
* or, send a cheque payable to ‘The Racing Insider’ to PO Box 98, Liverpool L9 1WY (with address details)
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.”
- £359.70 profit to a level stake £10
- Iinc Cheltenham winners Faugheen, Very Wood (33/1) & O’Faolains Boy
