Jake Price lists three standout betting options for Wednesday's racing cards at Newton Abbot and Huntingdon.
13:51 Newton Abbot – Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m5½fSee All Odds
TIP 1: VOL ROYALE - 1pt Win
Best odds of 10/3 at bet365 while publishing.
Whilst it is certainly exciting to see Real Quartz back on the track following a lengthy absence, I do think that his price is far too short on return - especially as connections are envisaging him having a campaign over three-miles, and this trip of 2m5½f could therefore serve as a bit of an ideal starting point without pushing too many buttons. With that in mind I am happy to leave him after 319 days, and instead I thought VOL ROYALE was worth a chance.
This 6yo was very progressive for Kayley Woollacott last season, as after being brought down at the first and then running down the field in a competitive race at Chepstow - where he actually went into my tracker due to the style in which he travelled before fading late on. He then went to Hereford and put in a lovely performance to beat subsequent winner Gnomon (123) by a very easy 6 lengths. Under a penalty he then followed up at the same track in January, where he was able to give 7lbs and a beating to the useful Aguellid (124).
On Handicap debut connections tried him over two-miles once more, but he never really seemed to get into the contest that day at Chepstow, where perhaps he just doesn’t enjoy the undulating track. Back at Hereford in March however he finally stepped back up in distance to 2m3½f, and despite carrying top weight of 12st, he stayed on strongly all the way to the line to score nicely. Only raised 4lbs for that win to a mark of 124, this 2m5½f trip should be what he wants at this stage, and Sean Bowen takes the ride for the first time.
14:51 Newton Abbot – Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) – 2m1fSee All Odds
TIP 2: WESTERN CROSS - 1pt Win
Best odds of 4/1 at 10bet while publishing.
Another tracker Horse from last season was WESTERN CROSS, who was added after his Hurdles debut at Hereford in January when running a nice race for third in a competitive Novices’ Hurdle. The winner was the sadly ill-fated Loaded And Locked who had looked smart for Emma Lavelle, the second was Glancing Jack (122) who is a very well handicapped Horse for the Dan Skelton yard, and the fourth was Race To Base (121), who has subsequently finished second in the Novices’ Championship Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.
The strength of that form saw him sent off 6/4f for his next start at Taunton where he was simply far too keen in Heavy ground and did not get home in fourth place, and on his next start at Exeter in March a Hood subsequently went on, and the main objective was just to get him to consent to settle in the rear of the field. Sean Houlihan did a good job in educating him, but his SP of 40/1 told you everything you needed to know about his motives that day.
Market moves are always worth taking note of though, as on his next start back at Exeter in April things could not be more polar opposite. On this occasion he was backed like defeat was out of the question and went off the even money favourite, and he lined up prominently to make all of the running. It was a very nice performance to go on and score by 8 lengths, and he really was not challenged to do so. Since then he has been raised 5lbs to a mark of 114, but he will now return this season having learnt how to be a racehorse, and that surely means there can only be more improvement to follow.
15:36 Huntingdon – Handicap Chase (Class 4) – 2m4fSee All Odds
TIP 3: CLAP OF THUNDER - 1pt Win
Best odds of 4/1 at bet365 while publishing.
The scorching early season form of Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies has slowed somewhat, but in fairness they were going at an unsustainable rate, so it is hardly a surprise. They are still in form however with 5 winners from their last 23 runners for a 22% strike rate, and I like that they are focusing their attention on the weaker card of the day at Huntingdon - where CLAP OF THUNDER surely has to have top claims on his second attempt at Chasing.
This 6yo was a decent Novice Hurdler, winning a race at Ascot by 4.75 lengths in November 2024 before then going down the Handicap route and finishing fifth in a decent contest at Cheltenham off a mark of 120 just 13 days later. He bumped into the likes of Julius Des Pictons (138) and Tripoli Flyer (141) back in Novice company after, but then was put away with last season in mind.
Following wind surgery he was sent off the 10/3jf to win a competitive two-mile Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon last December where he led but was headed before the second last when finishing a decent fourth, but the performance that interests me most about him was his Chase debut at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Once again he was well backed into an SP of 15/8f, and I thought that for the most part that it was a very accomplished jumping display. He certainly learned from a few minor errors early doors, and heading down the home straight he was winging his fences.
The problem however was that he was still being asked to race over two-miles, and when the taps were turned he was no longer able to use his cruising speed. Dual subsequent winner Kykorock (124) and singular subsequent winner Benmore (116) were able to go past him after the last, and despite sticking on Clap Of Thunder had no answers. That should be completely different at Huntingdon where he gets to tackle 2m4f for the first time however, and I think this Class 4 contest should be an ideal place to try it.
