Hi
Please see my five picks for Saturday:
Portentoso – 5.05 Wincanton – 2m 5F Handicap Hurdle – 66/1 Bet365 Coral Boyles – BOG – 1 Point Each Way. – 5 Places.
Portentoso looks like a fascinating contender in this handicap hurdle. He showed fair form in native France, winning 4 races over 2m 2F to 2m 4F, posting consistently around 110 to 120 on soft and heavy ground.
The 7-year-old has moved to Sam Holdsworth, a small point-to-point yard, and has run 5 times in the UK, and seen his mark drop from 114 to just 88.
He has been running on unsuitable good ground for 4 of his 5 runs, so it is no surprise that he hasn’t been showing form.
Portentoso returned for three runs this season, all in the space of 6 weeks, and coming from a small yard the fitness will be improving with racing, which has very much been the case.
He had a tongue tie applied last time, which implies a breathing issue arose on his second start, and he ran well. Being held up before being outpaced on the fast ground and staying on to be a never nearer 7th, postmarking 74.
Now he returns to a soft surface he looks to have a good chance of getting involved, especially off that low mark, and at 66/1 we have to get involved.
I’m recommending 1 point each way.
He is still value at 25/1.
Kalooki – 2.40 Haydock – 3m 4F Handicap Chase – 40/1 Betfair Sportsbook, Betfred – BOG – 4 Places (Bet365 – 40/1 but 3 places) – 1 Point Each way.
This is a Grand National handicap trial and it’s going to take some getting on the prevailing heavy Haydock going.
Kalooki still looks unexposed over chases with 8 runs, especially over staying trips. He has shown decent form, getting to a rating of 145 which has all been over 2m 4F up to 3 miles.
He could easily improve for the step up to 3m 4F. Indeed, his previous jockey, Richard Johnson (Champion Jockey) said Kalooki loved the soft ground and is a real stayer in the making.
Well, if we believe that statement, now Kalooki is coming to his prime and full strength, then we should take a chance that he could win today.
At 40/1 he is the right price to find out, so I recommend 1 point each way.
He is still value at 20/1.
Jepeck – 3.58 Wincanton – 2m 5F Handicap Hurdle – 14/1 Ladbrokes, Bet365, Coral – BOG – 3 Places – 1 Point Each Way.
The 13-year-old Jepeck has been brilliant for connections, winning 15 races and placing a further 17 times from just 59 starts.
When he hits form, he retains it for a series of runs, so the fact he won two runs ago over today’s course and distance and followed that up with a good 3rd behind a well-handicapped horse on the ground was too quick all bodes well.
He runs today with a 10lb claimer that nets his mark down to the same as when he won last time, and the ground is riding suitably soft, so he has his conditions.
At 14/1 he looks a solid 1 point each-way play.
He still looks value at 10/1.
Jean Genie – 2.48 Wincanton – 3 Mile 1F Handicap Chase – 15/2 Ladbrokes, 888 (8/1), Bet365 (9/1) – BOG – 1 Point Each Way.
Jean Genie went in my notebook last year when it looked like he needed soft ground and a 3-mile test to be at his best but was running on ground that was just too quick for him.
He has still been running well, but now he gets the soft ground he looks interesting.
Charlie Price is back on board, who been on Jean Genie’s for his best runs, and this Wincanton race is much easier than his Cheltenham assignment last time out.
Unfortunately, we have missed the price on him, as he was trading at 12/1 last night, but he has been supported into 15/2 generally, but you can still get 9/1 with Bet365.
I, therefore, recommend 1 point each way.
Rogans Fancy – 5.00 Newcastle – 1m 4F Handicap Hurdle – 33/1 Coral, Boyles – BOG – 4 Places – (Ladbrokes 33/1) – 1 Point Each Way.
Rogans Fancy started life in three 2 mile National Hunt flat races and posted some fairly consistent figures with a postmark high of 88.
Connections decided to switch him to the flat and in his 3 maidens they have played around with his distances bringing him back to 1 mile and 7F, and under the circumstances did well to postmark 51 over an inadequate mile.
The handicapper has allotted a mark of 54 and he steps up to 1m 4F which should see a much-improved performance.
From a good draw, I’m hopeful of a big run and at odds of 33/1, he looks superb each-way play.
I, therefore, recommend 1 point each way.
He is still value at 20/1.
