Tag: Grand National Trial

Horse Racing Preview February 14th

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Plenty of top quality horse racing action in the UK this weekend from Haydock and Ascot including several Cheltenham and Aintree contenders.

Ptit Zig has been one of the best novice chasers of the season so far and Paul Nicholls is pitching him in against more experienced rivals in the Betfair Ascot Chase. As we suggested in midweek, 11-4 did not last long but 9-4 still looks a decent price for a horse that has hardly put a foot wrong all season. He has won at Ascot before and there is no reason to desert him at this stage.

The pressure will be on Lizzie Kelly in the opening novice event where she rides impressive Lanzarote Hurdle winner Tea For Two. He won that so easily that his trainer is thinking in terms of taking on the best novices at Cheltenham next month and a victory on Saturday would secure his place. I was disappointed with Arpege D’Alene last time out and expect Miss Kelly to complete the hat-trick.

I’m also keen on the chances of Otago Trail later in the card for Venetia Williams. He destroyed his rivals last time out and is clearly well above average. He could take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle if he comes through tomorrow’s test with flying colours.

Over at Haydock, I expect to see Top Notch win comfortably in a bitterly disappointing renewal of the Victor Ludorum Hurdle at 1.45. Top Notch races in the same colours as Triumph favourite Peace And Co so it would be no surprise if Nicky Henderson elected to save him for Aintree instead. We put up Benbens earlier in the week at 10-1 and he is still available at 9-1 for the Grand National Trial. I was tempted to support Monbeg Dude but I’m put off by how far he got behind here in 2013. I’m sure he will run a good trial for Aintree nonetheless.

The three-mile hurdle looks wide open but it may be worth taking a chance on Bygones Sovereign at 10-1. He won by 28 lengths at Newbury last time when he stole a march on his rivals. I’d be surprised if the other jockeys allow him so much rope this time but he still races off 10st despite a 13lbs rise in the handicap.

The most popular double of the day has to be Tea For Two and Teaforthree. I was surprised how easily the 2013 National runner-up won over two and a half miles last time and he looked full of himself. I’d expect him to follow up in the last at Haydock.

Tea For Two 1.30 Ascot @4-7 Bet365

Benbens 2.55 Haydock @10-1*

Bygones Sovereign 3.25 Haydock @10-1 Bet365

Ptit Zig 3.50 Ascot @11-4*

Otago Trail 4.20 Ascot @5-4 William Hill

Teaforthree 5.05 Haydock @4-6 Betfair

*Ante-post

Haydock Grand National Trial Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock is the big betting race this weekend. It has not always lived up to its billing with trainers reluctant to give their National horses a hard race in testing ground ahead of the Aintree marathon.

One horse that definitely has Aintree as his main objective is Monbeg Dude, seventh behind Pineau de Re in April. He ran in this race two years ago when coming from a different county to finish third behind Well Refreshed. The going was heavy that day and he carried 10st 12lb. On Saturday he is set to race off 11st 11lb and the conditions may well be similar if the forecast rain arrives.

On the plus side, he has run two excellent National trials this season when fourth in the Hennessy at Newbury and fourth in the Welsh National at Chepstow. The latter race often holds the key here and four of the first five are entered this weekend. Benvolio carried our each-way support and was unlucky to be beaten on the nod by Emperor’s Choice after a real battle over the final few fences.

Glenquest has looked set to spring a 33-1 shock when leading between the last two but the Irish challenger just got weary on the run-in and hung away to his left. He has not raced since but cannot be discounted off only a 4lbs higher mark. The stable landed a nice gamble with Yes Tom at Ayr in midweek and Glenquest won’t mind how deep the ground gets.

Benbens is another who is at his best when the mud is flying and he ran a super race at the last meeting here when just failing to catch Samstown. He looks a hard ride and Ryan Hatch will have to earn his fee. More importantly, Hatch claims 5lbs which means Benbens is 10lbs better off with Samstown for a neck and has an extra half mile to travel. Providing that race did not take too much out of him, he is going to be difficult to keep out of the frame.

Lucinda Russell won this race in consecutive seasons with Silver By Nature and could run Lie Forrit. He was a good hurdler a few years ago and has gradually improved over fences. Rigadin de Beauchene won this last year but has pulled up on all three subsequent starts.

Benbens @10-1 Betfair

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Grand National Trial Update

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The scourge of ante-post betting is of course the dreaded non-runner. Monbeg Dude has been scratched from Saturday’s Haydock Grand National Trial because his scope was less than 100%. That’s thrown a spanner in the works but don’t rip up your ticket just yet, the meeting could yet be abandoned. At least we still have 8-1 about Hawkes Point who is now as short as 5-1 in places.

The most interesting development is the booking of Tony McCoy for our old friend Merry King. You may recall that we backed the horse each-way in the Hennessy (5th) and the Welsh National (5th). The old saying about follow them over a cliff springs to mind but it wouldn’t take a lot of improvement to win this.

On his last start he looked well beaten turning for home but then seemed to get his second wind and ran on to be a close third. That was with a first time visor and the jury is still out as to whether or not it helped. He is 4lbs better off with the winner Wychwoods Brook and it would seem daft not to include him each-way at 9-1.

Another old favourite of mine, Burton Port, was taken out along with Scottish National winner Godsmejudge. I would imagine that the likely heavy ground was the reason for both. I’ve seen a couple of speculative tips for Burton Port for the Grand National.

He is certainly well enough handicapped if he returned to the kind of form that enabled him to finish fourth in the Gold Cup. Unfortunately he hasn’t shown the slightest glimmer as yet this season but Donald McCain will do his best to rekindle the flame. I am not tempted in at this stage but he’s one to keep an eye on.

The other big weekend races, weather permitting, are the Ascot Chase and the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. I don’t think either will have much of a bearing on the Cheltenham festival, although it will be interesting to see Zarkandar in action against Melodic Rendezvous. Paul Nicholls is aiming Zarkandar at the World Hurdle this season but he’s racing at two miles for his prep.

Captain Chris ought to win the Ascot Chase as he’s meeting lower rated rivals at level weights. Many of those are under a cloud including Riverside Theatre and Medermit. If there is a horse capable of causing a surprise it is probably Rolling Aces. For whatever reason, he folded tamely last time out but had previously won at Down Royal and showed some decent form last year.

Merry King (each-way) at 9-1 Coral