Jake Price's Betting Tip For Novices' Handicap Chase

TIP 1: FOUR SPRINGS - 1pt Win

Best odds of 13/8 at bet365 while publishing.

This Novices' Handicap Chase shouldn't take a whole pile of winnings at Southwell, and as such. I am happy to take the shorter price about the stand-out candidate in FOUR SPRINGS for the Ben Pauling team.

This impressive 22 length point-to-point winner was purchased privately for Tim Radford, and last season he enjoyed a decent Novice Hurdle campaign. On Hurdles debut last November he was a nice winner over 2m on decent ground at Hereford when beating Liam Mera Kai and Kool Kid quite easily, and then at Market Rasen under a penalty he ran well for third behind Japetus (124) and Quaviste (113). He was given wind surgery in January following that defeat, before returning at Warwick in February for an EBF Qualifier, and he ran well enough in second behind Sinnatra (141).

Considering it was a qualifier for a series final it made no sense to get too close to that rival however, and a five length defeat convinced the handicapper to leave him alone off a mark of 118. Sent off a 10/1 shot for that very competitive Sandown contest, with first-time cheekpieces also fitted.

Having raced prominently he quickly lost his position at the third last however, and he was quickly pulled up before the second last flight. The official reason stated on the day was that he was unsuited by the soft, heavy in places ground, and that excuse is certainly acceptable considering a fair few horses didn't get home. If we put a line through that effort then, this future Chaser will surely be much more at home over 2m on decent ground at Southwell.

Ben Pauling still thinks he is well handicapped off his rating of 118, and as such he surely will be capable of dispatching of these rivals with conditions in his favour - he just needs to jump around as well as you would hope a horse with point-to-point experience to do.