Earlier this week I previewed the Warwick Classic Chase and picked out Shotgun Paddy with a saver on Any Currency. There does not seem to have been a great amount of business on the race so far as the bookies are still going 7-1 the field.
I you haven’t got involved yet, the 8-1 about Shotgun Paddy looks tempting. His stamina in the heavy ground is the unknown factor but he still looks the horse with the most progressive profile here. Any Currency can still be supported at 25-1 but only he will know whether he is in the mood on Saturday. He is not in the “Mad Moose” category but he looks as though he needs a bit of kidology.
I am going to add Royale Knight at 11-1 (each-way) as I’m concerned that the going will prove too testing for several of these. If you saw Royale Knight’s latest win, his jockey was looking between his legs for dangers all the way up the straight. He has gone up for that win and races from out of the handicap but Brendan Powell in the saddle is a bonus and I can see him running well.
The Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle at 3.00 could go the way of Deputy Dan. He runs in the same colours as Puffin Billy and thank goodness that horse survived a bout of colic recently. It is hoped that Puffin Billy will return as a novice chaser next term but Oliver Sherwood looks to have a ready-made replacement in Deputy Dan.
When he was beaten by Champagne West here in December it looked no more than an average novice event but the winner has since gone on to land a big gamble in a handicap. Deputy Dan then came out and trounced his rivals in the mud at Chepstow on Welsh National day. He will certainly have similar conditions tomorrow and rates a good bet at 4-1.
You have to respect Rathvinden from the Mullins stable and he is the obvious danger. Masters Hill was probably flattered by his second to Kings Parade at Cheltenham but holds Potters Cross on that form. Killala Quay and Creepy have both won races this season but I’m optimistic that Deputy Dan can win again in his favoured ground.
The Pertemps qualifier sees African Gold return to hurdling after a couple of disastrous runs over fences. Last season he looked the sort of horse that wanted a fence so I won’t be rushing to take the 4 or 5-1 about him defying top weight here. I’m going to take a chance on Drop Out Joe handing the heavy ground at 9-1. He was unlucky to lose out in a photo finish last time and has a rounded action that suggests he will go on this surface. We shall soon find out!
Drop Out Joe at 9-1 BetVictor
Deputy Dan at 4-1 Bet365
Royale Knight at 11-1 Boylesports
