afew for saturday 23/11/2013

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1:50 Haydock – Best Odds Guaranteed With Betfair Sportsbook Handicap Hurdle


Zuider Zee travelled like the winner at Huntingdon recently, jumping well throughout and looked set to win, only to be found out close home by Hidden Identity. The pair finished a long way clear though and it could be good form. I was there that day and he did not look 100% fit in the parade ring, so I expect improvement from him. He has gone up in the handicap though, but he was a classy horse on the flat (rated 108 at his peak) and has winning form on soft ground, so should run a big race. He faces a serious opponent though in BLUE FASHION, who looks a major danger. I was really impressed with him on his debut for Nicky Henderson, finishing fourth at Auteuil. He was only three and a half lengths behind Ptit Zig that day, who has gone on to win at Grade One level this month. A rating of just 143 could under-estimate him, especially as he had only just joined Henderson’s team when running at Auteuil, so he could have improved a lot. He looks a potentially high class recruit and could be a class above these.


2:40 Ascot – Coral Hurdle


There may only be four horses declared, but we could be in for a cracking race. Annie Power is unbeaten in seven starts and could be very good. All of her wins have been on testing ground though and conditions will be different at Ascot. ZARKANDAR is a serious opponent for her as he is unbeaten on right-handed tracks (three wins from three starts) and is unbeaten when fresh (four wins from four starts), he has also never been beaten over two and a half miles when completing the course, but admittedly that was just one run. That run was against The New One though who is favourite for the Champion Hurdle, so he sets a high standard. There may not be much between them on the day, but as he is the outsider of the pair, Zarkandar is my selection.


3:00 Haydock – Betfair Chase


This looks a fantastic renewal of the race and whoever wins, will have to be a top class horse. Bobs Worth is unbeaten going left-handed and is the one to beat, but I feel Haydock won’t play to his strengths and he had such a hard race in the Gold Cup, that I want to take him on. SILVINIACO CONTI is my idea of the winner. He is a strong stayer that usually jumps really well. He really impressed in winning this race last year and on ground that suits, can win again. I am not sure there is much value in his price though, but at longer odds Long Run looks great each-way value at 12/1. Until last time out, he had never finished out of the first three in 18 starts and is a proven class performer. He has run well in this race before and an excuse for his last run has been found. The extra distance of this year’s race should also be in his favour, so he looks the value call.




3:05 Gowran Park – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novices’ Chase


DOGORA makes his chase debut and should prove too good for the opposition. He made a big impression on his hurdles debut last season, making all to win easily at Limerick and then came out best in a close finish with Dalasiri at Gowran Park. He finished last season by finishing third in a Grade One race behind Diakali and could be even better over fences. He receives lumps of weight from his opponents and with the Willie Mullins team in such fine form; he should make a winning debut over fences.