Paul Ferguson has three selections for us on Saturday; Sky Pirate 1.00, Cloth Cap 3.20 both at Doncaster and Mega Yeats 3.40 at Cheltenham. Compare odds and bet.
As you would expect, Cheltenham’s card looks competitive from top-to-bottom and the selection from the track comes in the concluding mares’ only handicap hurdle, in which a case could be made for several of the 17 runners.
The one I like is Ruth Jefferson’s Mega Yeats (3:40) who appeared not to stay the trip at Haydock last time, having shaped well for a long way. Many of Jefferson’s runners have been coming on for their reappearance and with her horses now in fine form, the lightly-raced five-year-old could well improve. Dropped 3lbs for that promising return, we know she handles the track (runner-up in a Listed bumper here) and she seems versatile in terms of ground. Currently trading at 14-1 (Friday pm), she represents a bit of a value in what looks a wide-open contest.
Up at Doncaster, Jonjo O’Neill looks to be the man to follow. The winner of a conditional jockeys’ race on Sunday (un-penalised here), Pagero could well get the ball rolling in the opener, but of more interest is Sky Pirate (1:00) who runs in the bet365.com Handicap Chase, as opposed to Cheltenham’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (was taken out at the five-day stage) and he can finally get off the mark over fences.
A faller when going really well at Wetherby on reappearance (winner won again since), he jumped to his left at Ascot last time, so should appreciate reverting to a left-handed track, and the trip looks right. The ground didn’t look too bad on Friday and connections will be hoping the rain stays away, as he is very much better on a relatively decent surface.
Stable-mate Cloth Cap (3:20) is also at his best on a sound surface, so again it is hoped that Doncaster avoids any overnight rain, and he has twice shaped with promise this season.
Third in the Scottish Grand National as a novice in the spring, he remains unexposed as a staying chaser and following a really encouraging third at Ascot, he looks ready to land a nice prize.
Saturday’s selections:
1:00 Doncaster – Sky Pirate; 11/10 Unibet
3:20 Doncaster – Cloth Cap; 10/11 BetVictor
3:40 Cheltenham – Mega Yeats (each-way); 11/1 Bet365
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