Daryl Carter is taking aim at Saturday’s racing. Our top tipster has eight selections from Sandown, Musselburgh and Leopardstown alongside an exclusive Virgin Bet offer that provides new customers with £20 in free bets.
DOLOS (1.15 Sandown, 1pt win, 7/1)
DOLOS looks out of form on the bare figures, but he is the choice of Harry Cobden, and he is now 15lbs lower than when runner-up in this contest last term. He has been dropped 15lbs in three runs this season – two of which came at Ascot, where his form figures read 8/9, 7/7 3/5, 3/3, 10/14 1/4 (this race the favourite unseated, and there was a 100/1 chance in the small field).
I am not convinced that track is his favoured course, but Sandown certainly is with form figures of 7217122, and outside of Grade 1 company, they read 21122. He went with a good bit of zest on his latest start suggesting in the early stages and was given a relatively easy time of things. This would have been his target by all accounts, and Harry Cobden is back on for the first time since running in this contest last term. The good ground is in his favour, and he is handicapped to have a big say, so gets the vote.
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GLORY AND HONOUR (2.40 Musselburgh, 1pt win, 6/1)
GLORY AND HONOUR ran a solid race in a deeper contest than this at Cheltenham seven day’s ago, and the quick turnaround suggests he has come out of that race in good form. He did best of those ridden prominently but ultimately found the hill too much at the finish to be beaten into fifth by nine lengths.
He was poorly positioned when the taps got turned on and back on a right-handed track with an easy finish and a sharper test. He looks the way to go. The handicapper has been generous and dropped him three pounds for his latest effort, and this looks like a very winnable contest.
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UNEXPECTED DEPTH (2.45 Leopardstown, 0.5pt win, 14/1)
Top weights aren’t usually the way to go here, but a chance is taken on UNEXPECTED DEPTH in a very deep contest. The lightly-raced eight-year-old was far better than the bare result here in December, having been forced six or seven wide around the bend but made rapid headway and was eased down towards the finish.
He has a good record in big field events at this venue (finished second in this race last year), and the fitting of the first time cheek-pieces is likely to see him improve. He is entitled to improve for his seasonal return run and a tilt at this contest for the second time looks to have been the plan.
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COBBLER’S WAY (2.45 Leopardstown, 0.5pts e/w, 33/1)
COBBLER’S WAY looks wildly over-priced if all the better, for his recent chase run at Christmas, where he shaped well for a long way before tiring on the back of an 18-month break. He reverts back to hurdles, is back on good ground (the latest heavy wouldn’t have suited) and makes his handicap debut off a lenient opening mark of 142, inclusive of the jockey claim 137.
He was an excellent runner-up to the smart Latest Exhibition on his last visit to this course, and he has been judged too harshly for that Punchestown run in December. He is unexposed over 3m and is in desperate need of a stiff test at this trip on good ground. Just two of his runs have come on good ground (both here), and they both yielded excellent results. He comes with risks attached, but I can’t let him go off at this price.
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DANS LE VENT (2.55 Sandown, 0.5pt e/w, 9/1)
DANS LE VENT should find this track to his liking, and he has been crying out for a step back up to 3m after doing best of those held up in the Lanzarote when the leaders dictated the pace. He is remarkably consistent, but he improved for the step back up to 3m at Haydock when winning in an excellent time and on the bridle.
He was better than the bare result at Cheltenham in the Relkeel Hurdle behind some smart performers over a trip too short, and the return to a sound surface today will certainly benefit him. There is still mileage in this handicap mark of 142, and it’s hard to see him out of the frame here.
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BORN PATRIOT (2.55 Sandown, 1pt win, 12/1)
Back in October, BORN PATRIOT was a huge eye-catcher at Cheltenham, and connections have booked Kevin Brogan to negotiate his three pounds rise for finishing a three lengths second behind a subsequent winner. Things didn’t go right for him that day, and he had to wait for a run, and although finishing strongly, it was just too late.
He is very unexposed, and it’s interesting that connections had the option of running at Leopardstown on Saturday but have chosen to come here. He is on the upgrade and should appreciate this likely fast pace on offer. His jumping needs some work but is lightly raced and has caught the eye in both of his handicap starts, which suggests he has a big pot in him.
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THE WOLF NAP (3.45 Musselburgh, 1pt win, 5/2)
THE WOLF has plenty going for him today as he goes beyond three miles for the first time in his career, and his recent performance at Cheltenham would give connections confidence that he will see out this extra mile. He is firmly on the upgrade and looks the best-handicapped horse in the field, with his RPR’s rising with each start this term.
The handicapper has given him every chance to get his head back in front by leaving his mark within a pound or two in his last three starts, and he bumps into two horses handicapped to the hilt in Highland Hunter and Mighty Thunder. Captain Cattistock and Step Back are feared, but the return to good ground for the selection is just another positive in a race there for the taking.
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A WAVE OF THE SEA (3.50 Leopardstown, 1pt win 15/2)
A WAVE OF THE SEA won this contest last year off 9lbs lower, but it looks as though the race has been the plan yet again with the eye-catching booking of Shane Fitzgerald who is excellent value for his 5lb claim. He drops back from 3m to 2m today for the first time over fences since scoring in this race last term, and he seems to like it at this track with a record of F1513.
The blinkers are back on in place of the cheek-pieces which he wore in the Kerry National Handicap Chase ( ironically, Shane Fitzgerald rode the stablemate and winner Assemble that day), and the return to this distance looks like a positive. He is still only six and could be fairly treated enough to pull off the double.
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DARYL CARTER’S BEST BETS
DOLOS (1.15 Sandown, 1pt win, 7/1)
GLORY AND HONOUR (2.40 Musselburgh, 1pt win, 6/1)
UNEXPECTED DEPTH (2.45 Leopardstown, 0.5pt win, 14/1)
COBBLER’S WAY (2.45 Leopardstown, 0.5pts e/w, 33/1)
DANS LE VENT (2.55 Sandown, 0.5pt e/w, 9/1)
BORN PATRIOT (2.55 Sandown, 1pt win, 12/1)
THE WOLF NAP (3.45 Musselburgh, 1pt win, 5/2)
A WAVE OF THE SEA (3.50 Leopardstown, 1pt win 15/2)
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