Good afternoon folks
Another tip for tomorrow is below, along with the ones already sent and their write ups. Nothing further for Saturday.
12:50 Doncaster
AAZZA – 3/4 Pt EW 14/1 Bet365 4 places, 12/1 4 places generally
Bolted up over C & D last season, she caught they eye in a better race at Huntingdon LTO, given way too much to do by her inexperienced claiming jockey before staying on well to make late gains. Rose Dobbin loves a winner on the Town Moor track and with Craig Nichol back in the saddle to provide firmer handling (he is 2,1 on her over hurdles) then, although higher in the weights, I can see her going well in this.
2:25 Cheltenham
RAPPER – 1/2 Pt EW 31/1 boost Will Hill, 28/1 drifting generally (so possibly wait may get better later)
A bit speculative (may blow out), but only given his last two performances, so I am going to chance our old friend. He seems to come alive at this time of year EVERY season (mustard in January) and this may be a return run with the New Years Day handicap chase back here as his main target. He bolted up in that race over C & D last year, very strong at the finish on soft ground.
In fact, on the New Course his form figures read 2,1 over 3 miles+ and I like the fact Richard Patrick is back in the plate. For Henry Daly, they are 3,F,1,1 ALL TIME, which includes the last two! in handicap chases here so I thought worth a poke in a classy renewal.
3:35 Cheltenham
ZESTFUL – 3/4 Pt EW 13/1 Bet365 4 places, 12/1 Livescorebet 4 places, 11/1 4 Will Hill, 14/1 generally
Trainer form is the worry, but this smooth travelling 4 year old could have a lot more to give and I love the way she went over C & D in April, nearly beating Ahorsewithnoname who went on next time to win the Ascot stakes at the Royal meeting. Interestingly, she finished 4th at the start of last season before going on to bolt up on her next run and we know the trainer loves a winner at this course. She had an catching blow out at Chepstow on unsuitable ground (finishing 4th and not knocked about) and IMO this valuable handicap against her own sex has surely been the plan. If all is well with the stable, should go very close.
1:50 Cheltenham
FUGITIF – 3/4 Pt EW 8/1 4 places generally
Tipped last time out on the ‘Old Course’ he also ran two cracking races over this course and distance last season, finishing runner-up to Il Ridoto in a similar event in January, and filling the same position in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.
Fugitif went in first-time cheekpieces on that occasion and arguably was doing a little bit too much in the first half of the race, tanking into his race.
He still looked very threatening coming down the hill, looming up to Stage Star on the bridle but he was unable to go with the winner when that rival quickened clear entering the straight, while a tired mistake at the second-last didn’t help his claims, either. Fugitif travelled through that race like a horse at the top of his game, though, and that run should have knocked the freshness out of him while also fine tuning his fitness (he has reportedly come out of the race very well).
He handles soft ground very well and the handicapper has dropped him 2lb for that effort. His overall record at Cheltenham is a positive one, but his two best efforts have come on the New Course, and it is hard to not see him running a big race with his promising reappearance under his belt.
2:40 Doncaster
GERONIMO – 1/2 Pt EW 14/1 4 places generally
GLORIOUS ZOFF– 1/2 Pt EW 18/1 4 places generally
Both stables are on fire and have great records at this track in hurdle races so I thought worth playing both getting a lot of weight from their rivals and the 4 places on offer an attractive looking proposition at the prices.
3:15 Doncaster
CASTLE ROBIN – 1/2 Pt EW 14/1 Betfred 4 places, 12/1 4 places generally
A consistent gelded son of Robin Des Champs, has form figures of 1,3,1,3,2,1 first time up back after a break. He has bolted up over C & D and the form of his last run here when 4th worked out very strongly. Trainer/jock 3 from 8 in chases also. Still only 8 years old, he has further scope to improve over fences so given all of the above I thought he could go well in this.