Tag: David Pipe

Ladbroke Hurdle Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Ladbroke Hurdle is one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season and a massive 27 horses were declared at the six-day stage. With multiple entries from several of the top stables, this looks a bit of a minefield to untangle.

Paul Nicholls has the two top weights in Ptit Zig and Sametegal plus Irish Saint who was considered a high class novice. As a rule, I don’t like backing top weights in races such as this. They need to be Champion Hurdle class to win off anything over 11st 7lb and I don’t think there is anything of that calibre here.

Sametegal ran a game race when only beaten half a length by Dell Arca in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. He looked as though he may even win jumping the last but was just run out of it in the closing stages. Both horses have gone up in the handicap and there should be little between them but you have to favour the Pipe horse with only 10st 11lb.

The classy French import has gone up 8lbs for that win but he looks capable of featuring again here. That was his first race outside of France and he seemed totally unperturbed by the hustle and bustle at Cheltenham. He looks outstanding each-way value at around 10-1.

Flaxen Flare interests me most of the others that ran in the Greatwood. Trainer Gordon Elliott won this race 12 months ago with Cause Of Causes and has had this event pencilled in for some time for his Fred Winter winner. He has a handy pull in the weights with Dell Arca and Sametegal and also warrants each-way support at 16-1.

Nicky Henderson’s Rolling Star was a bitter disappointment in the Triumph Hurdle and again at Liverpool last season. The Haydock race he won may not have been a high quality renewal and I can’t support him under a welter burden of 11st 11lb. Willie Mullins has not really set the world alight with his raiders so far and he could rely on hat-trick seeking City Slicker. He is difficult to assess but could go well off a nice racing weight.

The sports columns have been tipping Totalize and his price has tumbled this week. He may have been interesting at 25-1 but he looks less attractive at half those odds. Chatterbox could finish ahead of Rolling Star and should finish ahead of Chris Pea Green and Irish Saint on Newbury form.

Dell Arca (each-way) 10-1 Bet365

Flaxen Flare (each-way) 16-1 BetVictor

Racing Preview 23rd November

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The eight runners have stood their ground for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday and it promises to be a cracker. There has been virtually no change in the market other than for Bobs Worth to ease out to a top price of 11-4.

Earlier in the week I recommended Silviniaco Conti and Dynaste against the favourite. All three are having their first outing of the new season so it is difficult to be too confident. The Gold Cup market is certainly in for a shake up on Saturday night.

Lie Forrit’s price in the Fixed Brush Hurdle has tumbled from 14-1 to 9-1 and I’m hopeful of a good run. It’s a tricky race with Gullinbursti reverting to hurdles after winning by 27 lengths over fences and a number of other fancied runners.

Far West was beaten by Melodic Rendezvous on his comeback race a couple of weeks ago but should strip fitter at Haydock tomorrow. He holds Rolling Star on their previous clash in the Triumph Hurdle and should give Nick Scholfield another high-profile winner in his new roles as stable number 2 jockey to Paul Nicholls.

Home Run was a 40-1 shot when triggering a four-timer for David Pipe last Sunday and turns out again quickly off bottom weight. Kieron Edgar again claims 7lbs off his back and he looks weighted to go close in a competitive race.

Ascot’s card has cut up badly and there are only seven runners in total for the two feature races. Whether this is the timing of the meeting I am not sure but I would have thought the sponsors will be less than pleased.

With betting opportunities somewhat limited, I’m going to keep faith with another Nicholls runner in Zarkandar for the Coral Hurdle. Annie Power is coming over from Ireland with a huge reputation but she’s never met anything of Zarkandar’s class and 7-4 looks too good to refuse.

Far West 12.45 Haydock 5-4 Bet365

Home Run 1.50 Haydock 6-1 BetVictor

Lie Forrit 2.25 Haydock *14-1 Ante-post

Silviniaco Conti 3.00 Haydock *5-2 Ante-post

Dynaste 3.00 Haydock *7-1 Ante-post

Zarkandar 2.40 Ascot 7-4 Coral

Haydock Fixed Brush Hurdle Preview

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As well as a recognised Gold Cup Trial in the Betfair Chase, Haydock’s Saturday card also features the Grade 3 Fixed Brush Hurdle. This race has been won by some very useful sorts in its 8-year history, notably Halcon Genelardais, Grands Crus and Dynaste.

The last two of those were trained by the in-form David Pipe who saddled a four-timer at Cheltenham on Sunday paying over 5,000-1. His representative this year is a full-brother to Grands Crus in the useful Gevrey Chambertin.

The grey was heavily backed to win the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival in March but was never travelling and was eventually pulled up. He reappeared at Aintree but again weakened quickly in the home straight in the race won by At Fishers Cross. It may well be that he can bounce back to form here but it doesn’t look a risk worth taking at 7-1.

Paul Nicholls had to endure a frustrating weekend at Cheltenham last week with only one winner to show for his troubles. He looked sure to collect with Sametegal in the Greatwood Hurdle and again when Salubrious and Southfield Theatre battled out the finish of the staying handicap hurdle. Both were passed late on but the latter lost nothing in defeat and could turn out again here off the same mark. He travelled well throughout the race and makes plenty of appeal at the current prices.

Another I like here is Lucinda Russell’s Lie Forrit who returned to something like his best at Wetherby recently. He was a decent staying hurdler back in 2009 and won off a mark a few pounds higher than he is set to race off on Saturday. He made the running at Wetherby and, not surprisingly for a horse that had been over fences, he ballooned a couple of the early flights. He warmed to his task as the race went on and should run well again this weekend.

Alan King likes to get one ready for this and it would be no surprise to see Two Rockers run well whilst Gullinbursti is tough and comes from another in-form yard, that of Emma Lavelle. Trustan Times ran well last time but has a lot of weight to carry and Ely Brown is useful but would probably like it softer.

Southfield Theatre (each-way) 11-1 888Sport

Lie Forrit (each-way) 14-1 William Hill, Stan James