Jake Price is up 30pts across his last three Oddschecker articles, check his three tips for Saturday's racing.
12:45 Sandown
Tip 1: GABRIEL'S GETAWAY - 1pt Win
Although double declared in case Sandown succumbs to the frost, the first preference for GABRIEL’S GETAWAY is to run in Esher rather than Somerset - and to me he looks to have really strong claims despite an unseat at the first at Kempton 7 days ago when sights were set a lot higher for the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Handicap Chase.
Prior to that unlucky outing he had been enjoying quite a successful season however, as after chasing home Bad at Kempton on his first start after wind surgery, he then went to Ascot on the 1st November and stayed on extremely strongly to only be denied 0.75 lengths by Teddy Blue (134) in a Premier Handicap. That came off a mark of 131, and had there been another 100 yards or so then he probably would have gotten up to win.
His next start back at Ascot for the Hurst Park 21 days later was very much a similar story, as once again he came from the back and was a late closer into 4th place behind Calico (154) - but the ground was rain softened that day which made his task that much tougher. He's since been dropped 1lb to a mark of 132 however, and this contest is clearly more suitable than the Kempton race where he was racing 3lbs out of the handicap. Keep Running has only one way of going so he will tow them along nicely, but now off an 11lbs higher mark of 140 I think he will struggle at the business end. Vanderpoel has also gone up 8lbs for winning a race which fell apart, so I think this will set up nicely for the selection.
14:40 Wincanton
Tip 2: MALDINI MILANO - 1.25pt Win
A novice with some really nice form under his belt who is now making Handicap debut off a very workable mark is MALDINI MILANO, and he looks the exact type that Paul Nicholls excels with in sending to a winnable race at a local track like this.
This Bumper winner made a good hurdles debut at Newton Abbot in September when finishing second behind dual subsequent winner A Pai De Nom (124), and following that effort he looked to have top claims at Fontwell when disaster struck at the first obstacle and he ended up unseating Harry Cobden.
Midnite
A few days later at Plumpton he finally could make ends over 2m4½f however, as he stayed on really nicely to beat Boxing Day Handicap winner Daylatedollarshort (114) and subsequent Novice Hurdle winner General Briar (116) quite comfortably in first-time cheekpieces. As such, his form lines very much suggest than an opening mark of 114 underestimates his ability now tackling handicaps, and I like that he steps up slightly further in trip to 2m5½f here as it should suit.
MALDINI MILANO 1.25pts Win @ 4/1
15:35 Sandown
Tip 3: HOT FUSS - 1pt Win
I have been banging the Dance And Glance drum all Autumn so I was very happy to see him collect at Ascot before Christmas, but the form of that narrow victory was very much trumped 24 hours later by HOT FUSS, who went down on his sword in the Premier Handicap Hurdle when finishing runner-up to Wilful.
In the December of his Juvenile campaign this Tom Dascombe horse recorded a course and distance victory, and he ended last season with a very credible 4th place in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 122. Connections tried him back on the flat a few times afterwards, but he would eventually return to hurdles at Newbury in November.
Running in the ever competitive Gerry Feilden Handicap Hurdle, he raced far too keenly in the early stages when rather foolishly trying to take on Tutti Quanti for the lead - and come the closing stages he ultimately paid for it. Switching from cheekpieces to a visor for Ascot however, on this occasion he raced much more efficiently in a prominent position, and he stayed on strongly to the line when splitting Wilful (142) and Alexei (148). Raised 2lb to a mark of 125, he surely has to have top claims here now dropping all the way back into Class 3 company.
