*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Uttoxeter 1.50 – Illegal Model
I thought that Kateson was a bitter disappointment for us last time out at Newbury and should have done better off his current attractive handicap mark while coming back to hurdling. Sidi Ismael is nicely treated but has endured a long and hard season. In a race where several look well in I am going to row in with the eight-year-old Illegal Model with the talented Lilly Pinchin on board. Returning to the track following a wind operation, this will only be his ninth start under rules, but staying has always looked his domain on deep ground and with his breathing now put right, a mark of 117 looks very viable based on the best of his previous form.
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Kempton 2.05 – Rockstar Ronnie
I have to say I am not convinced by Siroco Jo and even though he may have needed the run last time out, he was hardly turned over by a world beater and I much prefer the claims of the Skelton runner Rockstar Ronnie over Golden Boy Grey. The last named would almost certainly have preferred more dig in the ground, but the selection is well served by it being on top and that is the reason why he has been left on the sidelines during the worst going in the winter months. I understand he won’t be much of a price, but if the youngster rocks in here I suspect he could be on the cusp of something a lot bigger this spring.
Uttoxeter 2.25 – Young Bull
The step back up to three miles looks the right thing for Gustavian and he is hugely respected in what looks quite an open staying novices handicap chase, but the pick of the weights in this ground could be the very lightly raced eight-year-old Young Bull. With the talented Mario De Pail still unable to master the art of jumping and top weight Saint Palais hard to fancy under his welter weight my pick could take advantage of a lovely racing weight following his first run at Newbury after a 456-days break after only weakening in the closing stages when third to Nestor Park off a 2lbs higher mark last month.
Kempton 2.40 – Jay Bee Why
Back over hurdles, the error prone Zanza does interest me, while Masters Legacy simply has to be better than his run last time out at Cheltenham at the back end of January, both may also appreciate the return to this better ground. However, Jay Bee Why is the call here for festival winning handler Alan King. On his three starts over fences he has hardly looked a natural and rated 4lbs lower over hurdles, this flat track combined with a likely fast pace up front should see him settle into his race, something he hasn’t done on his three chasing starts. Indeed that is the key to his chance, to relax and get into a rhythm in what is admittedly a competitive event.
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Uttoxeter 3.00 – Boothill
This is for all intense and purposes the consolation race for those horses not rated high enough to get into the Coral Cup and Beauport will be the choice of many after a cracking running on effort behind Green Book at Sandown Park last month, finishing miles clear of the rest. I just feel he may find things happening to quickly here and Boothill may finally have his day in the sun. Harry Fry was very sweet on his chances of making graded company this year, but things simply haven’t gone his way. There was nothing wrong with his well punted comeback run behind Soaring Glory at Ascot, but he jumped awfully at Exeter and was way too keen in the Betfair Hurdle. Down to a mark of 132 and on more testing ground he looks nicely in here and is preferred to the Twiston-Davies charge and Irish raider Freedom To Dream.
Kempton 3.15 – Kalooki
Diego du Charmil served notice that his turn was just around the corner last time out and he comes here relatively fresh to boot, while I also have the utmost respect for the veteran Debece who has been given a real chance by the assessor, but after blowing out in the three and a half mile Grand National Trial and the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury the selection Kalooki enters calmer waters here off a nice weight. Only a pound higher than for winning a class three at Doncaster over Cat Tiger, the son of Martaline is at his best in a fast run race over this trip and this spring surface suits him so much better than the deep winter ground he has been running on.
Uttoxeter 3.35 – Young Dev
Several of these have either won or been placed in this marathon contest in the past and once again this will become a deep, deep test. Last year’s winner Time To Get Up is 2lbs lower than when waltzing away with the race last year and there could be more to come in his improvement locker, while 2020 hero Truckers Lodge is still 9lbs higher here, but a pound lower than when 7th last year. Wholestone made a remarkable comeback over hurdles at Haydock Park last time out and will relish this test, but with 18 set to go to post there is plenty of each-way value and despite being slightly out of the weights I believe this is the test the selection Young Dev has been waiting for. A reliable jumper, for some reason that side of things let him down on his only marathon start in the BMW Chase at Punchestown last April, but that came at the back end of a long and hard season, whereas he comes here relatively fresh and anything in the region of 16/1 would make him an interesting each-way play.
Paul Jacobs’ best plays:
Uttoxeter 1.50 – Illegal Model
Kempton 2.05 – Rockstar Ronnie
Uttoxeter 2.25 – Young Bull
Kempton 2.40 – Jay Bee Why
Uttoxeter 3.00 – Boothill
Kempton 3.15 – Kalooki
Uttoxeter 3.35 – Young Dev
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Saturday Racing Tips
- 9/1 punt among Timeform’s Kempton tips for Saturday
- 16/1 shout in Matt Chapman’s picks for Saturday’s ITV Racing
- Best Bets for Saturday’s Uttoxeter Racing
- 7 Sweet Picks for Saturday’s Thurles racing
- Tonight’s Wolverhampton Best Bets including a 9/1 NAP
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
