Hi,
Please see my three picks for Saturday:
Green Book – 2.55 Sandown – 3 Mile Handicap Hurdle 6/1 Ladbrokes Coral Bet365 – BOG – 2 Point Win.
Green Book was a well-backed favourite for the Lanzarote handicap hurdle in January but was unlucky, travelling well behind the leaders, when he was brought down by a faller.
Today he steps up to 3 miles, which will suit this stamina ladened sort who ran well at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood over 2m 4F (flat).
Venetia has her string in fine form and with Green Book being unexposed over hurdles he can gain compensation today.
Green Book is 6/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral, and Bet365 and looks like a rock-solid bet at 6/1.
I, therefore, recommend a 2 point win.
He is still value at 5/1.
Deise Aba – 3.30 Sandown – 3 M Handicap Chase – 11/2 Ladbrokes, Coral Bet365 (6/1) – BOG – 2 Point Win.
Deise Aba is a real Sandown specialist, with 2 wins and a 2nd place.
Those two wins have been in this race in 2020 & 2021 (off 135 & 137).
He showed his form is strong this year when just being touched off by Highland Hunter, who went on to finish second in the Welsh Grand National.
Deise Aba returns for the hattrick today off a workable mark of 142 and I’m expecting connections have him spot on for today.
Farinet is a big danger, but I doubt the going will be soft enough for him.
I’m recommending a 2 point at 11/2 on Deise Aba with Ladbrokes, Coral, and Bet365 (6/1).
He is still value at 9/2.
The Little Yank – 2.45 Leopardstown – 3 Mile Handicap Hurdle – 100/1 Bet365 Ladbrokes, Coral – BOG – 6 Places – 1 Point Each way.
This is a cracking handicap hurdle, and whilst it’s a valuable pot in its own right, many of the field will be using this as a final prep race for Cheltenham Festival, consequently, it’s not as competitive as one might think.
The obvious ones at the head of the market are Rightplacerighttime (6/1), who went off favourite for the valuable fixed brush hurdle at Haydock (finished 6th) and J P Mc Manus’ Prior Park (6/1) who is on a hattrick and looks progressive.
However, I’m keen on the chances of The Little Yank. He has been very busy over the last 9 months with over 20 starts, so you’d think he is exposed, but he has been running over 2 miles and 2m 4F’s primarily in graded races picking up place money.
I like him today because all his best form, including his wins, have been on good/yielding ground so he gets his surface for the first time in quite a few runs.
The Little Yank has run well in handicaps, including a close 3rd at Galway Festival off 120, and a 4th of 12 off a mark off 128. Both these runs were over and inadequate 2 miles.
The Little Yank has generally improved with racing this season and now he steps up to 3 miles on the fastish ground I feel his mark of 122 is workable, especially with a good 5lb claimer on board netting his mark down to 117.
The market has chalked him up at 100/1 with Bet365, Ladbrokes, and Coral, who offer 6 places and BOG and I feel he is worthy of 1 point each way.
He is still value at 25/1.
