*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
14:21 Uttoxeter – Landen Calling
With the relatively small fields on show on drying ground, Sunday’s cards are pretty difficult to find the value and it could even be that this boy goes off favourite for this novices handicap hurdle over three miles. However, I was hugely impressed when I saw him in the flesh land a 15-runner staying event at Uttoxeter last month and he has every chance of following up here off a 7lbs higher mark.
On that occasion, the lightly raced six-year-old was racing on the fastest ground (good) he had encountered in his nine race career and he seemed to relish it. Travelling well and jumping economically, LANDEN CALLING led coming out of the back stretch and steadily drew clear for an emphatic four length success. The addition of blinkers was also a factor in his winning performance and if the forecast stays dry he has every chance of seeing off Ludlow winner You Name Him.
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14:47 Kelso – Canelo
This is the one slightly left-field selection for this afternoon, because I expect my Punchestown pick to be very well backed. Formerly with Alan King, CANELO had, in his formative years, looked as though he could turn into a genuine National type following a class three novice handicap chase win at Aintree off a mark of 130 followed by a decisive success over no less a mare than Snow Leopardess in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby off 142. Despite two fair runs in the Skybet Chase and Grimthorpe Chase, both at Doncaster, the wheels then began to fall off and on his next seven starts he was beaten an aggregate of a huge 208 lengths!
That obviously prompted a move of stables to help freshen him up and his first start for Ben Haslem was a deal more promising than the end result of a 54 lengths sixth of seven suggests. For the chestnut gelding ran well for a long way in that three mile contest at Hexham and it was only after making a right old hash of the third last that he dropped back with the stiff uphill finish firing the final nail into his coffin. The combination of good ground, a flatter speed track and the drop in trip could well be the answer. Although it takes a degree of loyalty to back him, off a handicap mark of 117, that is a chance I am willing to take.
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15:40 Punchestown – Willaston
Handicap plots are normally met with a squeamish hands up in the air protest by most punters, but they are, by and large, planned within the rules of racing and it could well be that this son of Morozov can take a leap forward in form and in the betting to land this open-looking staying handicap hurdle. Four runs over hurdles have so far yielded WILLASTON a single success in a Gowran Park 2m 4f maiden in October and although the fifth that day has since won twice, the placed horses in behind have hardly advertised the form in a positive fashion.
However, there are reasons to believe that my pick has plenty of room to improve on that run with the main and pivotal factor being that he is set to try three miles for the first time here. Last time out in a well run handicap hurdle at Tipperary he very much caught the eye being settled a long way back in rear by his inexperienced jockey before making some stealthy late headway through the final half mile to be beaten 18 lengths and sixth of the 14 runners. That surely was a ‘sighter’ for this step up to 3m and with the assessor having dropped him another 1lb, I expect he will be well supported through the day.
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15:49 Fontwell – Jersey Wonder
This looks a tight staying handicap hurdle and you could make out a case for all of the four final entries based on their previous form in the last 12 months. Good News comes here in cracking form and on a four timer following wins at Plumpton (2) and Warwick and has been beautifully placed by his astute trainer going up from an initial mark of 100 to only 107. However, this represents a stiffer task and he will need a career effort to make it four on the bounce. Bottom weight Presenting Yeats isn’t so well treated, but after a 154 day break he should be cherry ripe for his third run back and a fast pace up top will play to his staying strengths, while although only 1-21 in his career, Warranty looks as though a step up to this trip for the first time may bring about a modicum of improvement.
However, it is Oliver Sherwood’s charge that looks the one to be on. A winner off 120 last year, JERSEY WONDER has suffered several niggly problems since then resulting in only six runs in over a year. Following 123 days on the side lines, he ran with plenty of promise on his comeback when an eight length fifth of nine at Market Rasen. He travelled really well that day until his rider had to take a pull two out when they got blocked off and once that momentum was lost he was never going to land the gold medal. I’m not sure the handicapper watched that race properly as he dropped him to 119 and that looks well within his winning compass here.
Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Tips
- 14:21 Uttoxeter – Landen Calling
- 14:47 Kelso – Canelo
- 15:40 Punchestown – Willaston
- 15:49 Fontwell – Jersey Wonder
*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
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