The horse racing broadcaster gives up his 5 finest bets from this weekend’s racing within the UK, together with one within the profitable Morebattle Hurdle.
With all of the Cheltenham hype occurring at current, it might come as a shocking proven fact that the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday has a extra helpful prize pot at £120k than any of the Pageant handicap hurdles. Couple that with the possibility to win the £100k bonus if Morebattle success is adopted by a win in any Pageant race simply over per week later, and it nonetheless doesn’t get the appreciation the race deserves.
The Shunter in 2021 is the one horse thus far to finish that double, so initially in ante‑publish lists bookmakers took no possibilities with Charles Byrnes’ entry I Began A Joke. Nevertheless, his non‑declaration leaves the best way clear for CRACKING RHAPSODY 13/2 (14:55 Kelso) to win the race for a 3rd time. He reserves his finest for Kelso and Ayr, and it was his victory final season within the Scottish Champion Hurdle that makes a persuasive case for him nonetheless being moderately handled off a mark of 136 on Saturday. Having received the Morebattle off 132, he lined up at Ayr off a mark of 137 the place he beat no much less a horse than Kabral Du Mathan, with Breeders’ Cup and Ebor winner Moral Diamond within the ruck. 4 horses received subsequent trip from that race, and the shape is powerful sufficient to point out he’s nonetheless aggressive again at his beloved Kelso, the place his kind figures learn 621111.
Earlier on the cardboard, BREIZH RIVER 11/2 (13:10 Kelso) can proceed his resurgence within the first of 10 ITV races. A course‑and‑distance winner off as excessive as 131 in October 2024, his kind dipped considerably, leading to him being rated simply 117 over fences when he moved to Tristan Davidson earlier this season. After a pipe‑opener over hurdles, Breizh River positioned at Newcastle earlier than profitable at Musselburgh, the place the applying of a tongue‑tie for the primary time may additionally have helped. It will be useful if the bottom may dry out a bit extra, however, within the spirit of his house owners Border Caravans Ltd, hopefully they will all keep caught behind him!
There may be additionally £80k up for grabs within the Premier Hurdle, the place LORD BYRON 13/2 (14:15 Kelso) seems to be the play. It seemed as if he may need been lined up for a tilt on the Fred Winter, however the secure has an even bigger participant there in Winston Junior, and Lord Byron comes right here for his third run—too late to qualify for the Fred Winter however with a watch on an equally helpful prize. Twice raced for Aidan O’Brien on the flat, he has run effectively on each hurdling begins behind Klycot and, final time, behind main Triumph Hurdle hope Maestro Conti at Cheltenham. The fifth horse that day, La Luna Artista, franked the shape when profitable the Adonis, and the secure stays in good kind.
It’s Grimthorpe day at Doncaster, the place it is perhaps price an every‑method funding on twin winner MORODER (EW) 11/1 (14:30 Doncaster). He’s now rising 12, however his coach Seamus Mullins not too long ago ended a 56‑race dropping run with a number of others positioned, and Moroder is off a 5 lb decrease mark than when a shock winner of this race at 33/1 final yr, having received it off a fair increased mark again in 2023 at 18/1. Clearly it will have been his lengthy‑time period goal, and, at a equally large worth, he’s price a speculative throw on the stumps.
Earlier at Doncaster, the step as much as 3m ought to swimsuit LIVINGONAPRAYER 16/1 (13:25 Doncaster) within the Listed Mares’ race and hopefully give Joe Anderson his largest winner so far. Jamie Snowden is having a superb season, already notching a marketing campaign‑finest 71 winners, with a maiden century an actual risk. He has loads of success in Mares’ races (one other debutant winner at Wetherby on Thursday), and the following 4 horses dwelling behind her victory at Wincanton have all received since.
CHELTENHAM CORNER
The massive information of the week was Structure Hill not being requested to return hurdling, with the primary impression on the Champion Hurdle being a shortening of Lossiemouth within the perception that she is now extra prone to take her probability right here reasonably than within the Mares’. The primary Cheltenham betting angle, nevertheless, may now be to prime up the every‑method ante‑publish wager on Take No Probabilities within the Mares’, as her worth has not shortened however her probabilities of making the body would clearly be a lot improved have been Lossiemouth to not present up. She shall be effectively suited by the swap of the race to the New Course, having positioned within the race 12 months in the past, and has been the topic of a few destructive rides not too long ago which haven’t proven her to finest benefit.