WHAT’S THE NICHOLLS SATURDAY PLAN? Harry Cobden has had to switch to Ascot on Saturday, instead of riding his beloved Bravemansgame at Haydock. What’s so good about his day at Ascot, why is Paul Nicholls so keen to have him there?
TEARAWAYS TEST FOR BIG CHASE HOPE: The more immediate question is whether December Gold Cup contender, Le Milos, can cope with two tearaway hurdlers on a front-runners track this afternoon.
WILD ABOUT HARRY AT ASCOT
IT’S a brave man’s game as a Jumps jockey, and on Saturday Harry Cobden has to bite his lip and ride at Ascot, while his King George winner is partnered by Daryl Jacob at Haydock. What are the Ascot rides Paul Nicholls is so keen for Harry to take:
⭕ 12.10 Saturday, Ascot (novices hurdle) Farnoge was ‘very professional’ when winning his bumper at Uttoxeter in March and hit the ground running on his return, taking a Newton Abbot novice hurdle from the front in October.
⭕ 1.30 Saturday, Ascot (1965 Chase) Harry on Pic D’Orhy, rated 162, could meet the 173-rated Shishkin if, as reported, Shishkin swerves the Lancashire Chase clash with Bravemansgame.
Can Paul Nicholls catch Shishkin out with one 11lb inferior but described by the trainer as ‘a good horse no longer novicey at his jumps.’
⭕ 2.05 Saturday, Ascot Hurdle Harry rides Blueking D’Oroux, winner at Ascot already, runner-up in a big-feld novices hurdle at the Grand National meeting at Aintree, and a Cheltenham class-2 winner on his return at Cheltenham in October.
He’s only a four-year-old, taking on the enigmatic Goshen, who is rated 16lb higher but giving him only 7lb, and Nicholls is optimistic.
⭕ 2.40 Saturday, Ascot (mares’ handicap hurdle) Sabrina, winner of a mares’ trophy at Ayr, out of a place only once in her last eight starts
⭕ 3.50 Saturday, Ascot Paul Nicholls has a fifth ride of the day for Cobden in the bumper. Regents Stroll, a Walk In the Park gelding.
VERDICT: Saturday is no walk in the park for Harry Cobden but you can see his trainer’s point: he’s saddling a collection of young bloods who are a doorway to the stable’s future.
JET-PROPELLED FRONT RUNNERS
⭕ 1.40 Market Rasen Le Milos last won a hurdle race four years and two months ago off 125 but hurdles rating has been raised 21lb to equate to his massive improvement over fences.
Team Skelton want this winner of the Newbury Gold Cup (3m 2f chase) last November, and a finisher in the Grand National, to be readied here in this Pertemps Network qualifier.
His target is the December Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham in 23 days’ time, when he’ll go to war with 151.
On the plus side, he won last year straight after the summer break and his form from his holidays, long or short, is 41432112.
What will make it hard for him today is that we’re on drying ground, where some nimble hurdling can be expected from one or both of the two front-runners, Jet of Magic and Giovanni Change.
Giovanni Change tailed off at Uttoxeter in July, said to have been sulking, after losing the lead to Jet Of Magic, who made all, quickened clear and turned the race into a procession.
Giovanni Change has to bounce back from being pulled up again since but both Uttoxeter and the last-day flop at Aintree can be put down to his detestation of left-handed tracks. He has won four times right-handed at Market Rasen.
It’s an interesting rematch with Jet Of Magic (3.85 offers) and Giovanni Change (11.5) at Betdaq Betting Exchange odds where we can back both to leave the chaser struggling for pace on the tricky oval track.
BRED TO DO THE SAME AGAIN
⭕ 2.15 Market Rasen Now he switches to fences, we can expect more of The Same from Olly Murphy’s Irish Point winner.
Out of a mare by Robin Des Champs, he broke his maiden over hurdles here at Market Rasen in the Spring.
Robin Des Champs got Vautour, dual chase winner at the Cheltenham festival; Sir Des Champs, Irish champion novice chaser; and Quevega, winner of nine races in a row.
If you prefer to check out his own sire, Network, you’ll find more of the same: 14 of his progeny have earned six figures, prominent among them Sprinter Sacre and Delta Work.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 3.6 The Same
⭕ 2.25 Newcastle James Moffatt sent out five horses to win consecutively in two days at Hexham and Kelso earlier this month: five runners, five winners, all ridden by Charlotte Jones.
His first entries since are today and tomorrow, starting here with Charlotte taking 3lb off Vocal Duke in this handicap hurdle, and with a 10lb claimer on Grand Soufle in the same race.
Grand Soufle and obvious danger It’s A Love Thing have no form on today’s heavy ground, whereas Vocal Duke seemed to love it at Carlisle. BETDAQ 4.9.
DAQMAN’S BETS
1.40 Market Rasen (win 10)
BET 3.5pts win JET OF MAGIC
BET 1pt win GIOVANNI CHANGE
2.15 Market Rasen (win 13, nap)
BET 5pts win THE SAME
2.25 Newcastle (win 10)
BET 2.5pts win VOCAL DUKE
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