Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Racing Tips
12.45 Windsor – Vincenzo
13:10 Navan – Healdsburg
14:07 Carlisle – Wakool
15:40 Windsor – Onewaywest
*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.
12.45 Windsor – Vincenzo
There may only be five runners in this two-mile handicap chase, but the make-up of this race makes it a hugely interesting betting event. What we basically have here are four hold-up/midfield horses, but with just the one forward running entry; namely my selection, VINCENZO.
From a handicapping perspective, there is no real standout, although I was impressed by the way that Helnwein went through his belated seasonal comeback race at Warwick behind Telepathique. Jumping well throughout, the top weight looked all set to score between the third and second last when I think that he probably blew up, and subsequently, Tom Cannon wasn’t hard on him.
Alan King’s charge looks like the biggest danger to the selection as he looks sure to get a good tow through the race. Making his chasing debut, the selection has mainly run over two and a half miles in his seven runs over timber, but on several occasions, I have thought that he barely gets home over that extended trip. This drop to the minimum distance around a track which should favour his forward running style makes him the obvious play here in what looks a tightly knit novices handicap chase.
13:10 Navan – Healdsburg
I have to admit I have yet to strike in one of these lower-grade big field-staying handicap hurdles in Ireland this season, but this looks like a suitable medium to play in, with more rain expected at this stiff track.
The Story So Far is less exposed than most in this 18-runner field and, on a couple of occasions last year, signalled that this could be his set-up, especially when he took a late fall at Limerick, having previously finished behind the very smart Mercurey at Punchestown. So a mark of 111 less Alex Harvey’s 5lbs claim makes him of interest at a price.
Boston Beach is even less exposed, having visited the race course on just three occasions, and Gordon Elliott does well with his young horses taking on moderate seasoned campaigners at this level, while the handicapper has given Rodney Bay a real chance off a mark of 104 with Sean Flanagan a positive booking. Royal Cave would probably have won had he not fallen at the last at Fairyhouse, but I’m not sure this deeper ground will be his cup of tea.
In the end, though, I have come down on the side of HEALDSBURG who was very green when he returned to the track in September.
Since then, the son of Vendangeur has made steps forward, and he should be ready for his peak performance on his handicap debut off a rating of just 100. His last run in a maiden hurdle at Tipperary was way better than his finishing position of sixth suggests, and his small yard has found him a very interesting opening here, up to this trip for the first time.
14:07 Carlisle – Wakool
Several of these entries need to win to get a hike in the weights to even contemplate making the Pertemps Final in March at Cheltenham even if they ‘qualify’ by making the first four.
Top weight Gwennie My Boy is probably worth another chance after completing a hat-trick of wins earlier in 2024 off marks of 113, 117, and 126. He then ran in the highly competitive Betfair Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park in what were desperate conditions but could never get the chance to enhance that record when he took a soft fall at the fourth flight. Tried and tested in deep ground and set to race off the same mark here (137) this is quite obviously an easier task for him.
Shallow River was also progressive last year, but he has been absent for some 46 days since going out like a light on his return at Newton Abbot. Despite being beaten some 27 lengths, the handicapper has been kept on the same mark, so the vote goes to the Alexander charge, WAKOOL, who has undergone a wind operation since the back end of last season when he was seemingly struggling to get home on his final three starts beaten a total of 162 lengths.
The eight-year-old made his comeback at Ayr at the beginning of November, only weakening when approaching the second last. This will be his second run since his operation and he is set to run off a mark below 130 for the first time in two and a half years. If that run has brought him on then he should be ready to step up here.
15:40 Windsor – Onewaywest
This was probably one of the most competitive races of the day, and there are several each-way players worth a second look.
Old Time Chaser is a lovely-looking scopey-looking horse who, in time, will make a lovely chaser, as his name befits. This trip over this sharp track though may not play to his strengths, and unless there is significant market support I am happy to let him slip until he races over a more galloping track and even wait for him to go chasing.
Fourtowns has been knocking on the door of late and ran another good race when beaten by three and a half lengths by Court Cian at Uttoxeter. The problem is that his consistency stops the assessor in dropping him in the weights. His last three starts have been off 105.
Top weight Douglas DC hails from the same school of consistency but is respected off top weight. However, it is the Ben Pauling charge, ONEWAYWEST, that comes here with the ability to leave behind his current mark of just 109.
A half brother to graded winner Birchdale, he started off his hurdling career well last year with placed efforts at Huntingdon and Ffos Las before he looked set for victory at Wetherby just under a year ago when he was injured.
Working nicely at home there is a chance that he will possibly need the run, but he should be leaving this grade behind in due course and is a massive player here if the market speaks in his favour.
Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Racing Tips
12.45 Windsor – Vincenzo
13:10 Navan – Healdsburg
14:07 Carlisle – Wakool
15:40 Windsor – Onewaywest
*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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