Paul Jacobs’ Value Plays
12.57 Naas – Ramillies
14.00 Sedgefield – Al Zaraqaan
15.10 Sedgefield – Upagainstit
15.52 Naas – Zoffanien
*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.
12.57 Naas – Ramillies
He will definitely be the shortest priced selection in this week’s column and not our normal port of call price wise, but I was hugely impressed by the novice chase debut of this Willie Mullins trained charge when he ran through the finishing line full of energy at Thurles at the beginning of December. That afternoon the selection jumped like an old hand and once asked for his final effort by Townend from the second last he was always in control up the final climb to win by a comfortable two and a quarter lengths.
The form hasn’t exactly been boosted by those in behind him since, but I thought that the son of Shantou had much more in hand than the finishing margin suggests and over these stiffer fences his jumping technique will count for plenty.
He will of course have to take a significant step forward in this much better race, even though I think that Cheltenham winner, Chemical Energy, was hugely flattered by the margin of victory last time out. With his small penalty, a bigger danger to the selection could come from Amrite who was in the process of running a huge race in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas before getting rid of Rachael Blackmore at the 11th obstacle.
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14.00 Sedgefield – Al Zaraqaan
If all eight stand their ground here this could be the most interesting betting heat of the day with the lightly raced mare Salsada (course and distance winner), unexposed Matchless and consistent Ashington all in the mix. But I thought that this looked a really good opening for the top weight who takes a drop in grade since running in a class two handicap hurdle at Musselburgh. That afternoon this former flat racer was always on the back foot and although he made stealthy headway from the top of the stretch, the six-year-old was always fighting a losing battle.
The key to his chance is a fast pace and a drying track and if we get good to soft ground here then it would undoubtedly enhance his chance. His best form on the level was on good ground and dropped slightly in the weights since that Edinburgh run and granted a clear round of jumping his finishing kick may prove too good for his seven rivals here.
15.10 Sedgefield – Upagainstit
Several of these have been crying out for a step up in trip, none more so than Zwicky whose form figures before his last run here were uninspiring to say the least, but he showed a lot more when a fair fifth to Socks Off (better off at the weights) here last time out and he may well be worth an each-way saver and/or forecast play with and behind my selection.
The daughter of Presenting was a fair second on her only start in points and has since not been disgraced in three novice/maiden hurdles. This step up to an extended 2m5f on better ground though could signal another uplift in her fortunes on her handicap debut off a mark of just 104.
Last time out the selection ran better than her finishing position suggested when fifth of 13 to Supreme Gift at Huntingdon. A closing fourth at the penultimate flight that day, she was basically outpaced afterwards and this greater test of stamina looks sure to suit her better.
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15.52 Naas – Zoffanien
I have already had an each-way investment on Buzz Light for this big field handicap hurdle with the son of Leading Light dropped in grade and set to run on much better ground, but this looks a solid each-way opening for the top weight on his easiest task for a long time.
Eighth of 22 in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 130, he has only managed two victories from 22 starts thereafter, but has run in some pretty smart company both over hurdles and fences, the pick of those runs coming when fifth of 12 to Annual Invictus in a class two, three mile handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November. He just failed to get up the hill that day and was promptly dropped back to an extended two miles at the Prestbury Park track when finishing his race off nicely to fill fifth to Punctuation at the beginning of December. A previous course and distance winner here, this stiff track will play to is strengths in a weaker grade and with Daniel King taking a further 5lbs off his back, the six-year-old now gets a chance to race off a mark of 124.
Paul Jacobs’ Value Plays
12.57 Naas – Ramillies
14.00 Sedgefield – Al Zaraqaan
15.10 Sedgefield – Upagainstit
15.52 Naas – Zoffanien
*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.
READ MORE
- Get all the latest Horse Racing News and Racing Tips at Paddy Power News
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- Cheltenham Tips: Ruby Walsh’s best ante-post bets for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
- Cheltenham Tips: Rory Delargy’s ante-post fancies for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
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