I’m up in Haydock for what promises to be the race of the season so far The BetFair Chase and it looks certain to be one big race that does live up to the hype.
Long Run attempts to rebuild his reputation after what was a real stinker of a performance in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby recently. Sometimes horses come on a massive amount for their first run of the season but this is going to have to be epic as he looked as laboured and as slow as Andy Bell going to the bar at Fakenham on Tuesday. More of that later!
We have Bobs Worth as favourite and who can begrudge him that after he made two appearances last year and won them both, those races being the small matter of the Hennessey Cognac and the Gold Cup. He beat Tidal Bay in the first of those triumphs though he was getting weight and it’s possible they will be closer. Tidal Bay is now in the veteran stage for a chaser and if he were to win today it would be the horse and very possibly his trainer Mr Nicholl’s finest hour, surely it’s beyond him.
The Ditcheat maestro has another dart to throw of course in the shape of last years winner Silvianiaco Conti who fell three out in the Gold Cup when going ominously well. He is a horse best caught fresh and he will be wound up to produce his best today and it’s a race this yard have mopped up. Throw in the Mighty Cue Card and The Giant Bolsterer and you can see we have a stellar line up. The Don however still thinks he hasn’t mentioned the winner yet but he is about to and it’s the David Pipe trained Dynaste who I think is going to spring something of a surprise here.
He was Ante Post fave for the Paddy Power but significantly Pipe has decided to come here instead. The likely pace and flat track are expected to be perfect for this fellow. Yes he has to find improvement on ratings but his yard feel he has improved over the Summer and if they are right he is in with a huge chance. His last win at Aintree another flat track oozed class and if he switches off early on he could nab them all after the last.
Our friends at Ladbrokes are in remarkably generous moods by going 1/4 odds on this race so lets grab their 6/1 and grab it very tightly and lets make Dynaste each way The Dons Saturday special.
Let me end by sharing my favourite moment of what my fellow columnist Simon Holden described on Thursday as a mini Betfan summit as he myself and Andy Bell all arrived at Fakenham for what I’d hoped would be a quiet uneventful day. Usually when I have the misfortune of being where one or the pair of them are it’s at a big track where I can avoid them sadly at Fakenham that proved difficult if not impossible.
Mr Bell is not my favourite person and I’m sure the feeling is mutual but I must congratulate him on a one liner which several hours later safely back home in Newmarket had Penny asking me what I was still chuckling about. Mr Holden a somewhat vain man it’s fair to say was dressed as though he was attending a days shooting at the nearby Sandringham Estate in a tweed cap with matching trousers finished off with a black Barbour coat.
Someone enquired had he gone colour blind when he informed the gathering around the parade ring “I think I look like a country gent.” Quick as a flash a grinning Andy Bell replied “You’re half right pal!” Superb!
Have a great Betfair Chase day whatever your dressed in, I’m making good profits for my members and the success will keep on and on this jumps season so as always… Trust in The Don!
Back next Saturday.
The Gambling Don
http://go.betfan.com/1000/119
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