Once again there is a full and exciting afternoon of live horse racing on ITV this Saturday. We’re looking at making the most of it with a confident bet.
Not every strong bet must be a short price and, more importantly, not every short-priced favourite is a strong fancy. There are a few rock-solid types running this Saturday however and we’re putting them into a live TV treble, along with including a bonus value bet.
Kingmaker Novices’ Chase – L’Eau du Sud
The first horse likely to be included in many a multiple bet this weekend comes in the 2.05 at Warwick, the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase.
Whatever happens, we know this is a good race and may have implications on the Cheltenham Festival market. The horse in question is L’Eau du Sud, trained by Dan Skelton.
The first price listed on Thursday has him as short as 1/4, but better is expected going into Saturday. The seven-year-old gelding is now three from three over fences, has won on different types of ground and has the speed to see off this bunch.
Though Rubaud may give him a good run at some point, he is fully expected to win and should get the treble off to a good start.
Warwick Mares’ Hurdle – Gala Marceau
The next at Warwick (2.40) is the Listed Mares’ Hurdle. In it, Dameofthecotswolds may attract some speculative each-way money while West Balboa may prove to be no pushover.
Willie Mullins however sends over his Gala Marceau, and she really should be winning this. Her strong past form includes a second at the Punchestown Festival to Lossiemouth and that alone is enough to win this at the weights.
True, after a setback she’s been off the track for 280 days but mitigating that are the facts that Mullins knows how to ready them, she is at least fresh, and she will have had the chance at her age to improve markedly since then. Her opening price was 6/4.
Game Spirit Chase – Sir Gino
Mullins’ biggest competitor these days is of course Nicky Henderson, and he has another potential star on his hands in the impressive shape of Sir Gino. He is taking part in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase (3.00 Newbury) and is a worthy odds-on favourite.
Odds of 4/9 is his opening price and it looks about right. Matata is no mug, while Libberty Hunter can outrun his price, but Sir Gino is different gravy. After winning all five of his hurdle races, including this year’s Fighting Fifth, he started off in very sweet style over fences in the Wayward Lad and looks every inch a star.
At the early opening prices, this treble comes in at around 7/2. Given the quality on show those are fair odds, and we may even get better than that as we get closer to race time.
The Value Bet – Hitman in the Denman Chase
When looking at these major live TV Saturday favourites, a potential value popped up.
Newbury’s 2.25 is the Denman Chase (Grade 2), a race in which Paul Nicholls has the favourite and former Gold Cup fancy Bravemansgame. His opening price of 9/4 seems to be based on his past exploits however and he does not look like the most obvious winner of this race.
Djelo may go well, but in Paul Nicholls’ other horse Hitman we have a real value shout at around 5/1. Freddie Gingell’s mount isn’t a prolific winner but he is still running to a high standard and is too big a price.