*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
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Paddy Power and Frank Hickey have picked out their best bets ahead of a bumper weekend of racing action.
Speaking on the latest episode of our From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, the dynamic duo have each provided a trio of picks across Saturday and Sunday, either side of the Irish Sea.
- Check out all the latest Horse Racing tips and previews now
Paddy Power
14.35, Curragh (Sat) – Fiscal Rules
Lancaster House is back here, having won this very well last year. It all went a bit pear-shaped after that win but he has a decent chance. However, I’m actually going to go for FISCAL RULES here. He was second in a listed race at Cork over 6f and has only run twice over 7f – beaten a head by Wichita on his first run and then four runs ago he won his maiden well at Cork. The drying ground will suit, and Jim Bolger’s stable is in decent form.
14.25, Ayr (Sun) – Anna Bunina
The Scottish Champion Hurdle is always an open race, and this renewal looks a very winnable race. For example, I’ve backed Thyme White about fifty times and he’s just not that good but he’s in the mix at the top of the betting, so that would suggest it’s not the best race ever. I would love to see a local trainer win it, but I’m going for another smash and grab job with ANNA BUNINA. I think Brian Hughes could get a big win under his belt, and this goes back to the Belfast Banter form – which is now Grade 1 form. Anna Bunina was 5½l behind in the County Hurdle, which isn’t that far, but was 125/1 that day. She outran her odds, and with Brian in the saddle that could be an each-way play.
14.45, Newbury (Sun) – Chindit
This is generally an okay trial for the Newmarket classic. I started off with CHINDIT and said ‘okay, I’m going to find something to beat him’ but I just couldn’t. Fundamental is second-favourite but the way he has been tried, I don’t think he will be considered one of the best horses the Gosdens have ever had. Chindit is really straight forward, and on good ground he wins. It was soft in the Dewhurst when he was well-beaten into ninth but all of his form says he comes from the back, and makes smooth headway. It looks like everything comes easy to him and he has loads of ability. He will just be better than these.
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Frank Hickey
18.45, Nottingham (Sat) – Coley’s Koko
Nigel Tinkler wouldn’t be noted for having debutant juvenile winners but he had a useful bunch of juveniles last season, namely Ubettabelieveit (who won the Group 2 Flying Childers and was third in the juvenile turf sprint at the Breeder’s Cup) and Acklam Express (who won at listed level last season and has been placed in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint this season).
Admittedly, the yard have made a slow start to the season but they did have a winner at Newcastle on Thursday evening and I think it is significant that COLEY’S KOKO was only 8/1 on debut at Thirsk last July. That turned out to be a strong maiden with winner Umm Kulthum winning at Group 2 level before getting narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. The second Digital is rated 81, the third Blind Beggar is rated 84, the fourth Ballintoy Harbour won her next two and is looking at getting a mark in the low 80’s while the sixth Bedford Flyer is rated 90.
Coley’s Koko was disappointing on her second start at Beverely but there was some promise when fourth at Musselburgh beaten 4l, with the three in front of her all rated in the high 70’s or low 80’s now. She then had a run in a handicap at Bath in September but you can put a line through that run as she took a bad step a couple of furlongs in and was lucky not to come down. She has actually been dropped 2lbs to a mark of 60 and I’ll be shocked if she can’t win at least one handicap this season.
13.00, Newbury (Sun) – Snow Lantern
Richard Hannon’s SNOW LANTERN hasn’t been seen since last July when she was second on debut to Zabeel Queen at Ascot over 7f. Zabeel Queen went onto finish third in the May Hill Stakes and fifth in the Fillies Mile and this daughter of Frankel has been nibbled at already for the 1,000 Guineas where we saw warm cash for her at 25/1 earlier.
14.45, Newbury (Sun) – Chindit
The Richard Hannon stable has won this with Barney Roy, Olympic Glory and Dick Turpin and CHINDIT can follow in their footsteps. He won his first three races last season including a listed contest at Ascot and Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster where he looked a Group 1 winner-in-waiting and generated a decent time figure on the day.
He didn’t get the best of runs when a well-beaten ninth in the Dewhurst Stakes but I’m pretty sure the soft ground that day was the main reason for his underperformance. He can get back on track now.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Paddy Power and Frank Hickey’s best bets this weekend
Paddy Power
14.35, Curragh (Sat) – Fiscal Rules
14.25, Ayr (Sun) – Anna Bunina
14.45, Newbury (Sun) – Chindit
Frank Hickey
18.45, Nottingham (Sat) – Coley’s Koko
13.00, Newbury (Sun) – Snow Lantern
14.45, Newbury (Sun) – Chindit
Saturday tips
- Horse Racing tips: Frank Hickey’s 6 selections across the tracks on Saturday
- Horse Racing tips: Paddy Power’s pair of punts at the Curragh on Saturday
- Horse Racing tips: Paul Jacobs’ 5 to keep the dream alive on Saturday
- Horse Racing tips: Brendan Duke’s 3 super plays at the Curragh on Saturday
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