Paul Jacobs’ Horse Racing Tips
13:00 Exeter – Madakat
13:15 Fairyhouse – Givehimthehonour (each-way)
14:40 Cheltenham – Ed Keeper
17:15 – Newcastle – Admiral D
*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.
13:00 Exeter – Madakat
This looks competitive for the level with no less than five last-time-out winners in the field of nine. The best of that quintet could turn out to be course and distance winner Danton who kept on strongly up the home stretch. I thought that a 4lbs penalty was just about right, but this stiffer test on deeper ground makes him a leading player in a race where there should be plenty of pace.
However, at the weights he may not be able to deal with the lightly raced Phillip Hobbs’ runner, MADAKAT, who I thought was mightily impressive at Chepstow first time up, despite running pretty green, and then travelled nicely through a better race over three miles at Ascot last time out before being outpaced on that quicker surface at the Berkshire track.
Set to race off the same mark here, he has plenty of untapped potential still and an even bigger factor could be this deeper ground which he seemed to relish at the South Wales venue.
13:15 Fairyhouse – Givehimthehonour (each-way)
Glorytogod Tom came from some way back to win over two miles at Wexford last time but was still very strong at the finish and this extra half mile should be right up his street especially as there is more improvement to come on only his fifth start under rules and I couldn’t put anyone off him.
The mare Lovely Reaction was unlucky last time out after being very well backed at Clonmel in a novice handicap chase (off 97) after being badly hampered and is set to race off the same rating here back over timber and is rightly respected but the each-way ‘value’ nod goes to Paul Nolan’s charge, GIVEHIMTHEHONOUR.
He is finally given a chance to stretch out his stamina after running over two miles on his hurdling starts to date. He looked a really strong stayer when landing his only point-to-point at Castlelands and the fourth that day has run well in a hot maiden hurdle. Three miles will suit in time, but a fast run two and a half is a great starting point off a rating of just 102.
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14:40 Cheltenham – Ed Keeper
A competitive-looking staying hurdle and I could readily make a strong case for at least half of the field of 10. I am hugely wary of the veteran performer Jatiluwih who has a cracking record fresh and has been given a real chance by the assessor running off a mark of 131, his lowest rating running at this trip; the market will possibly tell us more.
Still, he is about to turn 11 and the percentage call for me has to be the Sam Thomas charge, ED KEEPER, in the hope that he will go off at around 4/1 and there is money for the hat-trick-seeking Butch. The last named is rated an 11lbs better horse through two novice wins and is set to have only his seventh start over timber.
However, the selection is just as progressive and I loved the way that he travelled through the race when landing a fair class two event at Newbury at the beginning of the month without being put under maximum pressure at the back end of the race. A 9lbs penalty quite obviously requires a clear career best, but there is loads more left in the locker based on that run as his stamina is tested even further here.
17:15 – Newcastle – Admiral D
Tacarib drops back from a mile after being way too keen and not seeing it out at Chelmsford last time out.
A fast run six is perfect for him as we saw over this course and distance in November when he won the Wentworth Stakes in really taking style. He is a player if getting the breaks late on alongside Brewing who we have yet to see the best of and another Hannon charge, Gisburn, who has been running consistently on the sand of late and will surely play a part if the openings come in the closing quarter mile or so.
But the nod goes to Richard Fahey’s ADMIRAL D who won a nice pot at Kempton Park two outings back and then didn’t get the run of the race when a never nearer third of six over this course and distance off a slack pace.
There is bound to be better gallop on here and if Cam Hardie can get him settled in mid-pack I fancy that his power-packed finish can see a return to winning form.
Paul Jacobs’ Horse Racing Tips
13:00 Exeter – Madakat
13:15 Fairyhouse – Givehimthehonour (each-way)
14:40 Cheltenham – Ed Keeper
17:15 – Newcastle – Admiral D
*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.
FANCY SOME MORE?
- Matt Chapman’s back with his ITV Racing Tips for New Year’s Day
- Mick Fitzgerald’s got 7 super selections forITV’s races
- Timeform take you through the January 1 Cheltenham card with a punt for EVERY race
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