Andy Holding picks out three bets for Thursday's racing at Newbury and Newcastle.
TIP 1: TREASURE PLANET – 1-point win
Best odds of 3/1 at bet365, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral, Sky Bet, Paddy Power and others while publishing.
You get the feeling each winner nowadays tastes a little sweeter for Paul Nicholls and TREASURE PLANET, one of 18 notched up by the Ditcheat handler so far this season, rates a strong choice to add another to that list in the hands of one of the most accomplished conditional riders in the field.
The four-year-old handicap hurdle run at Chepstow’s opening fixture always takes some winning and this year’s renewal proved no different, the son of Footstepsinthesand having to dig deep to get the better of the persistent Way To The Stars.
Posting a good speed figure in the process, he proved he is just as useful over the minimum trip as he is over further and, having already registered a decent effort over today’s course as a juvenile, a return to the wide-open spaces of the Berkshire venue is viewed as a big positive.
TIP 2: MOON CHIME – ½-point each-way (five places)
Best odds of 10/1 at Sky Bet (five places) while publishing.
MOON CHIME has his stamina to prove but he arrives here in the sort of form that warrants a chance being taken on the eight-year-old seeing out the three miles at the first time of asking.
The Pether’s Moon gelding is better known for his exploits over two miles, but he was in the process of running a career high when capsizing at the last in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow last time out over 2m4f and, unlike some of today’s field, there are no question marks regarding his fitness.
Whether he would have won for certain at the Welsh venue is up for debate, but the form couldn’t have worked out any better since and he didn’t appear to be stopping at the time.
The other big plus in his direction is the form of his yard, with four winners from their last 10 runners, and he is well worth a punt at his morning price to see whether he can qualify for the final of this series.
TIP 3: EMPTY NEST – 1-point win
Best odds of 9/4 at bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes, PricedUp and Coral while publishing.
EMPTY NEST couldn’t quite match motors with the race-fit Rule Me In over today’s C&D last week, but it was a performance that took his form at the track to 21232, and he looks sure to be more dangerous with that valuable run under his belt.
In keeping with his profile, Mark Walford’s inmate always takes a run or two to hit top gear and last week’s effort, albeit a better result than in most previous seasons, was indicative of that trend.
However, the way he jumped and travelled throughout the strongly run 2m4f journey offered massive encouragement for future events and connections are well within their rights to have a crack at today’s prize, with the eight-year-old clearly giving out the signals he is raring to go again.
