With chief tipster Andrew Mount taking a well deserved break, GG’s editor Tom Aldridge is standing in to provide his best bets for the racing on Wednesday 18th October. He made a superb start on Tuesday, with 9/2 shot Can’t Change History running out an easy winner at Hereford (tipped at 13/2) and Enthused (9/4 – advised at 9/2) winnning cosily at Huntingdon.
He gives four selections for Wednesday’s racing, including a confident NAP on the Wetherby card.
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Posted: 5.19pm October 17th (Odds correct at time of writing)
2.25 Wetherby – UKANTANGO (2pt win – 11/4 generally)
UKANTANGO was by far the best of these over hurdles, and Olly Murphy’s gelding looks to have been found a fantastic chance of making it a winning start over fences. The 6YO won two of his six races over hurdles and ran well in a couple of Grade 2’s last season, but was last seen finishing down the field at Aintree back in April. However, the ground was soft that day, and his best form has come on better ground (form of 123 from three races on good ground), so the good ground here will be ideal.
The current leader of the Jump Jockey Championship Sean Bowen is booked for the ride (his only ride of the day), and his 50% strike-rate when riding over fences here last season proves his quality when riding at Wetherby. He was on board when Ukantango finished runner-up in the Grade 2 Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdles at the Cheltenham November meeting last season, and he would be my number one choice to ride any horse over fences at the moment, so I see his booking as a major plus to the selections chances.
I’m confident he’ll be an even better horse over fences and connections appear to have found the perfect opportunity for him to make a winning start. He rates as my NAP of the day.
4.08 Wetherby – WHIZZ KID (1pt E/W – 9/2 generally)
I think Richard Newland’s WHIZZ KID is worth taking a chance on in this. He did most of his racing last season in higher quality races than what he will face here, and there appears to be plenty in his favour on his seasonal return.
First and foremost, he’s had wind surgery for the third time – the other two times he raced following wind surgery saw him win easily at Catterick and finish runner-up at Musselburgh in the other. The ground is also in his favour, with the best of his efforts in recent years coming on good ground. The final point I have to mention is conditional jockey Luke Scott takes off a valuable 7lb off his back, so with that taken into account he’ll be receiving weight from his chief market rivals Fransham and Hidalgo De L’Isle.
At the prices, I think he’s well worth backing, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go off much shorter than his current price.
5.30 Kempton – EZRA CEE (1pt win – 5/2 Bet365, 9/4 generally)
Peter Chapple-Hyam’s colt EZRA CEE caught the eye on debut, finishing third in a good looking contest at Newmarket last month, and with that experience under his belt I fancy him to get his head in front at the second time of asking.
He finished ahead of Aidan O’Brien’s Psalm that day, who has since gone close in a better race back in Ireland, so the form is looking fine so far. In-form jockey Oisin Murphy is booked for the ride, who has a solid 24% strike-rate at Kempton this season – that strike-rate improves to 35% when focusing on his 2YO rides there, so his booking is a huge positive to the horse’s chances.
He’s sure to know more following his debut effort, and this doesn’t look an overly strong race. I’m wary of the Roger Varian runner Al Saif, but I do feel Ezra Cee will be up to the task here and he should be capable of winning this.
5.45 Bath – KILLALOAN (1pt win – 10/3 Bet365, 3/1 generally)
Paul Nicholls has sent three horses to this race previously – two of them won and the other finished third. With that in mind, KILLALOAN should have a big chance here, reverting back to flat after a strong season over hurdles in his last campaign.
The five-year-old won three races over this trip over hurdles earlier this year, and hasn’t been seen since pulling up in a class 2 novice hurdle at Sandown back in April. He’s rated 124 over hurdles, so you’d think a flat mark of 66 is well within his capabilities. Nicholls has booked Jim Crowley for the ride, which looks a shrewd move when you consider he has a phenomenal 50% strike-rate when riding at Bath over the last five years.
So with his trainers excellent record in the race, the jockeys fantastic form at Bath and the horses far superior rating over hurdles, Killaloan should have a big chance of winning this.
10 To Follow – Jake Russell’s Horses To Follow For The 23/24 Jumps Season
The 2023/24 Jumps Season is underway and we’ve got all our team to give their ’10 to follow’ for the NH season. Jake Russell is the first to give his selections, which include a Olly Murphy runner who he has down as the most exciting Novice Hurdler to follow this season! JUNTA MARVEL (Willie Mullins)…
Tue 17 Oct 2023Tom Aldridge’s Best Bets
2.25 Wetherby – UKANTANGO (2pt win – 11/4 generally)
4.08 Wetherby – WHIZZ KID (1pt E/W – 9/2 generally)
5.30 Kempton – EZRA CEE (1pt win – 5/2 Bet365, 9/4 generally)
5.45 Bath – KILLALOAN (1pt win – 10/3 Bet365, 3/1 generally)
Tom Aldridge’s tips for Wednesday 18th October 2023.
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