Ruby to Rock as we seek a cross-card treble on Saturday
Published:
Saturday is set to be a bumper weekend of jumps action with the Betfair Chase and the return of Vautour likely to steal all the headlines.
But while we see Silviniaco Conti proving hard to beat in Haydock’s feature, there might just be some better value elsewhere on the card.
With seven races set to be shown live on Channel 4 there are plenty of chances to seek out a winner with a nice insurance policy in place.
If any of your selections find one too good, Ladbrokes will refund your stake as a free bet, up to £25 (full T&Cs here)!
We’re going for a big one though, with this trixie that will provide a very nice return if two oblige, while it could be a weekend maker if all three get their head in front.
Triumph Hurdle runner-up Top Notch falls into the ‘could be anything’ bracket after an excellent juvenile campaign, but whether he will need the run or find the ground too taxing on comeback means we are taking him on.
Paul Nicholls’ Irving was back to somewhere near his best when giving weight and a hefty beating to the reopposing Melodic Rendezvous in the Elite Hurdle last time.
With his handler expecting him to come on for that outing, he’s easy to side with.
He’s got form on soft ground that reads 121111 and with race fitness guaranteed, he’s picked to overcome the young pretender at Haydock.
The Coral Hurdle has long been the foil for horses who are proven at the top class, with Monet’s Garden the last winner to have not won a Graded race prior to the Ascot contest.
In fact, seven of the winners since his victory in 2004 had all won a Grade 1 race, suggesting that this isn’t one for the under-the-radar improving types.
In truth, none of the six runners in this field will see this testing ground as ideal, but while he was beating a long way by the progressive Kilcooley last time out, former Champion Hurdler Rock on Ruby gets the pick.
Back down in trip, he can be expected to put up a stronger performance in Berkshire.
Rarely running a bad race – he’s yet to finish outside of the first three over hurdles in 19 runs – Harry Fry’s star can land add another Graded success to his record.
A Saturday afternoon in November on soft ground wouldn’t be the same without Venetia Williams having a winner, and this is the one we think she could deliver it with.
The seven-year-old was an excellent runner up in the Badger Ales Trophy last time out, finishing clear of the third-place horse by 12 lengths.
He’s gone up 6lbs in the weights for that run, but with just seven chase starts to his name, there is reason to believe he can pull out more back down in class.
Being able to get his toe in over three miles looks to be the perfect race conditions for this son of King’s Theatre, and with stamina doubt surrounding a couple of his rivals in the shape of Vieux Lion Rouge and Toby Lerone, he could make a real test.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.
