Horse Racing Tips: Paul Jacobs’ value plays across the tracks on Sunday

Value's the name of the game when PJ's in town and he likes Ladybank in the 3.55 at Naas.

Paul Jacobs Byline for Jumps Racing

By / Horse Racing Tips / 2 months ago

Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Racing Tips

2.25 Naas – Battle It Out
2.55 Naas – Rebel Gold
3.55 Naas – Ladybank
4.10 Hereford – One Eye On Vegas

    *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.

      2.25 Naas – Battle It Out

      There are some really interesting entries for this valuable Listed novice handicap chase and the most obvious player has to be the progressive and prominent player Evies Vladimir who simply relished the deep conditions last time out at Fairyhouse last time out taking his record over fences to 2 from 8. Of course he is going to need another significant step forward here in this better grade, but unlike several of his rivals, he at least comes here in top form from a yard having a fabulous season. Gavin also has the mare La Malmason in the field.

      A winner at Cheltenham in December, she made a good comeback following a short break when just needing it behind Lar’s Lass last time out at Punchestown so expect another step in the right direction here. JP has no less than four in a field of 10 and the least likely is Hands of Gold who although pushed into some tough novices has shown an aptitude for making holes in fences so the value play could well be the lightweight selection Battle It Out. He has taken his time to get the hang of jumping a fence, but last time out over an extended two miles at Fairyhouse he put in his best performance, being outpaced from three out before staying on nicely down the home stretch. There is definitely more to come from the selection.

      2.55 Naas – Rebel Gold

      After finishing a respectable 15 length second to Energumene in the Hilly Way Chase of 2022, Epson de Houx’s form has simply fallen off a cliff. Moved from Henry de Bromhead to Gordon Elliott he has shown precious little in two runs since then over an extended two miles and then three, but would have claims if bouncing back. Stable mate Ash Tree Meadow has won his last two in very different circumstances, landing the Galway Plate in great style before winning a match at Down Royal. Really deep ground would be a concern for him, but he is favoured by the weights here and is likely to start at prohibitive odds.

      Ferny Hollow comes here following 791 days on the sidelines and has a good record when fresh. The maestro wouldn’t be running him unless he thought he could make his mark again at graded level and along with ATM will dominate the market. But in the circumstances, this is ripe for a shock and the son of Gold Well Rebel Gold could be the one to side with. Fairly lightly raced for an 11-year-old, he came back from a short break to run a fair fifth to Madara and although he needs more here fancy he will outrun his price here and by some way with doubts about the top ones in the market place.

      3.55 Naas – Ladybank

      The main aim for most of these in this Pertemps Qualifier will be to make the first four to gain entry into the final next month at the Cheltenham Festival, but several will need to win to get a hike in the weights to entertain a possible place in the line-up with a mark in the high 120’s possibly needed. Top weight Maxxum was brilliant and brave at Leopardstown last time out, but had a desperately hard race and is one to oppose here in this smaller field, while novice Cleatus Poolaw is interesting thrust into a handicap following a runaway maiden win at here over an extended two and a half miles.

      He could be dangerous and the betting will tell us plenty about how strongly he is fancied by connections, but I am sweet on the mare Ladybank, who has always looked as though a thorough test would suit her since her maiden hurdle days when she forced a dead heat with Princess Zoe at Punchestown. She was fairly highly tried thereafter running in the Dawn Run Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, not disgraced, and at the Punchestown Festival. Her comeback run off a mark of 121 was a quiet one behind El Champo and he she has been off the track since. However, staying will be her domain and expect a big step forward here.

      4.10 Hereford – One Eye On Vegas

      This two and a half mile handicap hurdle has no strength in depth to it even at this level and looks ripe for one of the last time out winners to go in again. David Maxwell has his doubters, and he is no more than average in the saddle, and that weakness is magnified in a small field where tactics come into play more often than not which puts me off the lightly raced In D’Or. It doesn’t mean that the Venetia Williams’ charge can’t win as he is the least exposed, but the partnership is not for me.

      Following several shall we say eye catching runs in maiden and novice hurdles, Sammy’s Guarantee came good at Doncaster last time out following a second wind operation and could well move on from that off a mark of 111. However, I prefer the Stuart Edmunds charge One Eye On Vegas lower down the weights. I was impressed by the way he travelled through the race when accounting for Lady Balko at Leicester when pushed out up the final climb at the East Midlands’ track. The runner-up has won since and a rating of 97 may not stop the double attempt here.

        Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Racing Tips

        2.25 Naas – Battle It Out
        2.55 Naas – Rebel Gold
        3.55 Naas – Ladybank
        4.10 Hereford – One Eye On Vegas

          *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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