Hi
Please see below my three tips for Fridays racing:
Wells Gold – 3.45 Market Rasen – 2m 5.5F Handicap Chase – 33/1 Bet365 Boyles – BOG – 4 Places (33/1 Sky BV) – 1 Point Each Way.
Well’s Gold was a non-runner last time I put him up on 12 January, the write up for that race is below and details his chances.
The bonus today is his return to Market Rasen when he almost won on his chase debut off 90 and runs here off just 77.
He is a strong each-way play at 33/1 with Bet365 and Boyles who go 4 places and BOG (Sky and BetVictor also 33/1).
He is still value at 16/1.
Wells Gold – 1.20 Leicester – 2m 6.5F Handicap Chase – 50/1 Sky Paddy Power BetVictor – 4 Places.
Well’s Gold ran well for a long way last time out, only weakening late on. This was very much a step in the right direction as his baseline fitness is starting to build.
Considering he previously had 3 years off with only 1 run his form is starting to look encouraging.
Its interesting connections have added a tongue-tie today as horses can regularly suffer from a breathing issue after such a long time off.
His breathing must have been an issue on his last start which means that run can be upgraded. He was only beaten 16 lengths off a mark of 79 where he postmarked 76, so that was very promising.
Today he drops 4lb to a mark of 75 and is stepped up to 2F, which should bring out more improvement.
The good/soft, good in places ground is ideal for him and with Harry Bannister retaining the ride this looks like a great opportunity.
We can back wells Gold at 50/1, which I find astonishing considering he was only beaten 16 lengths last time out off a 4lb higher mark. So, we must take advantage and back him 1 point each way with Sky, Paddy Power or BetVictor, who all offer 4 places in this 13-runner event.
He still looks value at 20/1.
Please his my previous write-ups for more background information:
Wells Gold 12.20 Southwell – 2m 4.5F Handicap Chase – 33/1 Bet365, Ladbrokes, Coral – BOG – 1 Point Each Way.
I put up Wells Gold last time out, but he unseated the rider at the 4th. This was a soft unseat as he jumped the first three well, but just pecked slightly on landing and lost his jockey.
He is definitely worth another chance and with the Trainer having a winner of Xmas and Harry Bannister taking the ride (who has won for the smaller stable) he has a good chance.
Please read my previous write up below for more information on his chances.
I recommend 1 point each way at 33/1.
He is still value at 20/1.
Wells Gold – 12.15 Southwell – 3m 2F Handicap Chase – 66/1 Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook & BetVictor – 1 Point Each Way.
This 3m 2F handicap chase places a great emphasis on stamina and it’s unusual to see a race where not one horse is a proven winner over the trip. Even the two short-priced favourites are taking a big step up so there is every chance of an outsider winning this.
The one I like at a price is the 10-year-old Wells Gold, he started life as a 4-year-old in 3-mile Point to Points and demonstrated ability by winning one and placing in others.
He moved under rules for the very good Fergal O’Brien and after some quiet runs in maidens, he started to show his form, winning a 2m 5F handicap hurdle off 83.
Fergal soon switched him to chasing and took his hurdles mark of 90. The Bookmaker’s must have intelligence in Fergal’s yard as the market always seems to know when his horses are expected to run well and Wells Gold went off 3/1 favourite in a 12-runner handicap chase.
Now he didn’t win, but he jumped well and stayed on strongly for 3rd. It was the 2m 5F trip that was simply too short for him, only losing by 4 lengths.
Bearing in mind he won a point to point as a young 5-year-old and had stayed on in other P2P’s. Then it’s fair to say now as a mature horse he has plenty of stamina to see out today’s trip. This is further backed up by his breeding.
Now as a 6-year-old Well’s Gold looked to have a promising staying chasing career in front of him with him set to be rated 100 – 130, but injury has cruelly denied him. He was pulled up on his next start and must have done a tendon as he was sold on to a small P2P trainer.
They started his rehabilitation and kept him off for a year before bringing him back to the track, but that must have been too soon as he was then off for a further 2 years!!
Connections have been incredibly patient and in August this year, Wells Gold returned to the track over a wholly inadequate 2m 2F in a handicap hurdle race where he was allowed to just pop round at the back. He jumped well but was outpaced and never ridden out and was only beaten 38 lengths, postmarking 58. This might not sound great, but under the circumstances, this was a very pleasing rehabilitation run.
He has been off another 4 months, but I don’t mind that as he will be over the dreaded bounce factor that can mean a horse underperforms on the second quick run back off a long absence.
What I like about him today is the switch back to chasing, where he remains hugely unexposed. Connections have stepped him right up to 3m 2F and have reapplied the cheekpieces that he wore for his best form with Fergal’s yard.
I read some race comments and Well’s Gold is a lazy horse who will only just do enough and the cheekpieces just help sharpen him up.
These weren’t on for his reappearance in August 2021 and I’m glad they have chosen today as the time to reapply them.
This coincides with the eye-catching booking of the very good Charlie Deutsch who is one of the best chaser jockeys on the circuit (No 1 jockey with Venetia Williams) and has a 19% strike rate over the big obstacles.
Reading between the lines I suspect Well’s Gold glass legs flared up after his August outing, so without wanting to push him too soon they have just kept him ticking over for the last 4 months. So hopefully his base fitness is now in place.
If he weren’t race fit, I think they would be keeping him over hurdles for another prep run, probably over a short trip, so the fact they step him up to 3m 2F and send him chasing with a top jockey on is a very good sign.
Well’s Gold looks well enough handicapped off a mark of 77 on his hurdles form and is hugely unexposed over chases that suit him. Amazingly we can back him at huge odds of 66/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, BetVictor and get 4 places in this 12-runner field, this is a tremendous value!
The big risk is his fitness over the trip, but I’m very much prepared to take the risk at the price, so I recommend 1 point each way at 66/1.
Beaufort West – 1.50 Lingfield – 2 Mile Handicap Chase – 50/1 Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, BetVictor – 1 Point each way.
This is good prize money for a Friday meeting and is competitive for the grade.
The market leaders have all shown a winning mentality, progressing well.
A horse that relishes the heavy ground will be the decisive factor here, as well as being on a good mark.
Beaufort West ticks both those boxes and can be backed at huge odds of 50/1.
His form has been patchy since he won for Colin Tizzard, but when you look through his form, the bad runs all seem to coincide with the faster ground. Whereas his victories have been on heavy and soft.
When you look at his high knee action it does make sense, so the fact he gets his heavy ground today is significant.
On his stable debut for Andy Irvine, he ran a stormer to finish a 2 length second in a good heat behind High Up In The air, who went on to win twice more. With the third going on to place in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham.
That was off a mark of 128, and amazingly he is running here five starts later off 115.
With his love for deep winter ground, Connections must have eyed this race as a primary target, so his first two runs will have been preps for this.
He no horse will be better handicapped than him, so at 33/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook and BetVictor, we have to get involved and I recommend 1 point each way.
He is still value at 16/1.
Destrier – 3.35 Lingfield – 2 Mile Handicap Hurdle – 40/1 Ladbrokes. Corals (Bet365 66/1) – BOG – 4 Places.
This is worth almost £100k, so is awesome prize money and it’s attracted three runners from Ireland who are all prominent in the betting.
Again you will need to be well handicapped and whilst Detrierer has shown precious little in his two starts this season, the shrewd Skelton yard wouldn’t have sent him here if he was a no-hoper.
It’s rare for a horse rated 117 to sneak into a valuable handicap off its proper mark and with his good 7lb claimer netting that down to 110 that’s amazing for connections.
His racing weight of 9st 9lb in the prevailing heavy conditions is a double bonus, but the real gem about Destrier is his back class.
Destrier is 9 years old and has already shown his class by finishing 3rd in the coveted Haldon Cup. That was off a mark of 151 and was only beaten 3 lengths. That was a chase, and he is over hurdles today, but with him running off a net 110, he would have a huge chance if he bounces back to form.
This is a 12 runner race and the market are offering 4 places and we can back him at 40/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral, with Bet365 offering a huge 66/1!
This must be taken and I recommend 1 point each way.
He is still value at 20/1.
