Tag: Silviniaco Conti

Racing Preview 23rd November

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

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

Betfair Chase Preview

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Cheltenham’s Open meeting ended in frustration with Sametegal just touched off in the Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday. That was a terrific run under a big weight and he will surely pick up a decent prize before too long.

If that meeting has blown away the cobwebs for National Hunt fans, they can now look forward to the return of the Gold Cup winner in Haydock’s Betfair Chase on Saturday. This race has been dominated by Paul Nicholls, largely with the help of a certain Kauto Star but also with Silviniaco Conti winning last year.

Not everyone was convinced by Silviniaco Conti, even though he hardly put a foot wrong on his way through to the festival. His unfortunate tumble at the third last left a load of unanswered questions and we could get some answers this weekend. It certainly appeared as though he was travelling as well as anything at the time but it was too far out to make a confident judgement. Nicholls admitted to being gutted whilst Ruby Walsh was his usual unflappable self and refused to be drawn on whether or not he’d have won.

With Walsh now enjoying a rich harvest for Willie Mullins in Ireland and Daryl Jacob riding at Ascot, it falls to Noel Fehily to partner the gelding on Saturday. The trainer has stressed that it is only logical that Jacob rides Zarkandar and Al Ferof and points out that Fehily has ridden the horse to victory earlier in his career.

Bobs Worth only appeared twice last season, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. For those of us who are old enough to remember, it revives memories of Henderson’s training of See You Then prior to his Champion Hurdle victories. We won’t be seeing much more of Bobs Worth this season but it seems safe to assume he will be fit enough.

Looking beyond the big two, you have to respect Dynaste after David Pipe’s Sunday four-timer. His horses seemed to keep finding extra, reminiscent of Pipe senior in his glory days. This is a cracking race as I see Silviniaco Conti and Dynaste as the two horses most likely to give Bobs Worth a run for his money at Cheltenham in March.

Tidal Bay is an intriguing runner after his fine win over hurdles at Wetherby but will need everything to go right to win this. Long Run is best watched after his poor run first time out whilst I am still not convinced that Cue Card will stay this trip. I think 11-4 is a fair price for Silviniaco Conti and 7-1 is too big for Dynaste with Pipe in flying form so I’ll take those two against the field.

Silviniaco Conti 11-4 BetVictor

Dynaste 7-1 Coral

Grand National Meeting Day 1 Preview

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In theory, picking winners at Aintree is a lot easier than picking winners at Cheltenham. The fields tend to be smaller and the Cheltenham festival form ought to stand up. Of course it is not always that simple but it is a reasonable place to start.

The opening race of the meeting Liverpool’s version of the Triumph Hurdle. There is no Our Conor on show here but disappointing favourite Rolling Star bids to redeem his reputation. Nicky Henderson’s French import was sent off 5-2 favourite for the Triumph but never really looked like justifying the plunge. Even allowing for the exceptional winner, it was surprising that he could do no better than sixth place. On his previous outing he had beaten the Paul Nicholls-trained Irish Saint by two and a quarter lengths and that horse has been saved for this meeting. Nicholls had been considering going for a 2 ½ mile novice event with him and I just wonder whether he will have enough pace for Aintree’s flat two miles. although there is a question mark about whether he will be fast enough over 2 miles here. Flaxen Flare won the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle decisively but had been well beaten on his two previous starts.

Silviniaco Conti looks like nap material in the Betfred Bowl (2.30). He looked certain to be involved in the finish of the Gold Cup before he fell at the third last and he also has winning form at Aintree. Nicholls had been quite bullish about his prospects before the race and had always emphasised that he would come on a great deal for his victory at Newbury. Had he stood up, I’m sure he would have finished ahead of The Giant Bolster and Cape Tribulation at the festival. Mouse Morris wanted to run First Lieutenant in the Gold Cup and the horse was left flat footed by Cue Card in the Ryanair. He may again have to settle for second place.

The Aintree Hurdle (3.05) looks like being a classic but I’m staying loyal to Champion Hurdle form with Countrywide Flame. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner ran a fine third at the festival and holds Zarkandar on that form. Nicholls is applying blinkers to the latter whilst Grandouet is difficult to weigh up after an early fall in the Champion. I am surprised that The New One is the ante-post favourite and am yet to be convinced that he is a Champion hurdler. I still think that anything over 4-1 is a steal for Countrywide Flame.

I don’t usually bet on Hunter Chase races and I’ll be giving The Foxhunters Chase (3.40) a swerve. Nicky Henderson has chances in the last three races with Kid Cassidy (4.15), Captain Conan (4.50) and Ericht (5.25). Kid Cassidy finished second to Alderwood in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham but has to carry top weight here. I haven’t previously been a fan of Captain Conan but I thought he ran a good race behind Benefficient whilst Ericht finished fifth in a huge field in the Coral Hurdle. It could be worth putting them together with Rolling Star in the hope that the Henderson team has a field day. Stranger things have happened!

Silviniaco Conti (Nap) Even money with Totesport
Countrywide Flame (n.b.) 9-2 with Paddy Power

Henderson Super Yankee:
Rolling Star 5-2 with Bet Victor
Kid Cassidy 13-2 with Totesport
Captain Conan 15-8 with William Hill
Ericht 14-1 with Bet365