Hi
Please see my four tips for Saturday:
Sutton Manor – 2.45 Hexham – 2m 7F Handicap Hurdle – 20/1 Bet365 – 2 Points Each Way.
Sutton Manor was originally with Gigginstown set up and was a classy individual in Ireland running 5th at the Punchestown Festival in a 3 mile handicap hurdle off 139 and when transferring to chases closely behind Gold Cup winner Presenting Percy.
He suffered a tendon injury and was sold onto current connections who slowly nursed him back to fitness last season and but for falling twice over chases would definitely have won a race.
Sutton Manor returns to action today back over hurdles and whilst we have to take his fitness on trust, one thing we can say is that he is incredibly well handicapped over hurdles off just 112.
To put it into context that 5th at Punchestown off an Irish handicap mark of 139 equates to an English mark of around 145.
It could be that connections are just giving him a run out over hurdles to regain confidence after his latest fall, and he may need the run, so this tip does come with caveats.
Nevertheless his ability over hurdles is unquestioned Sutton Manor doesn’t have the same jumping issues over hurdles. He will love the soft ground and the 3 mile trip is ideal for him.
At 20/1 with Bet365 is huge and I am going in 2 points each way.
He is still value at 8/1.
French Crusader – 1.50 Chepstow – 2m Handicap Hurdle – 16/1 Bet365 – 1 Point Each Way.
Nicky Henderson has been I sparkling form over the past few days, just as the Jumps seasons properly gets underway. H e has had 5 winners from 11 runners in the last 14 days and he has his string in fine fettle.
That bodes well for French Crusader who had the distinction of chasing home the rampant Epatante in a hot handicap hurdle back in 2019. She was off for two years before making a return earlier this summer where she was out of sorts on both runs.
She returns today after a mini break and hopefully Nicky has ironed out her problems. The fact she returns at this meeting which earmarks the proper start to the jumps season I feel is significant and off just 129 she looks very well handicapped.
The odds of 16/1 with Bet365 looks huge and I recommend 1 point each way.
She still looks value at 8/1.
Elusive Artist – 8.30 Chelmsford – 1m 2F Handicap – 30/1 Paddy Power – 1 point Each Way.
Mark Johnston sends the unexposed Elusive Dream over this 1m 2F trip for only the second time in his career and he looks just the type to improve for the step up in trip.
He has already shown his liking for all-weather with a win off 64 on handicap debut over 7F and a close second at today’s polytrack Chelmsford course.
He has flopped twice on grass, once on heavy, the other on good/firm and a return to all-weather is very much a positive.
Elusive Artist was gelded, and I think something was troubling him for his two runs in early summer but now he returns to the track he looks just the sort to run up a sequence of wins over 1m 2F to 1m 4F over the winter.
We can back him at 30/1 with Paddy Power which looks superb value and I recommend 1 point each way.
He still look value at 14/1.
Goobinator – 3.35 Newmarket – 2m 2F Handicap – 25/1 Bet365 – 1 Point each way.
Goobinator has been I fine form this summer with two decisive wins in competitive staying handicaps.
The Owner and trainer has history in plotting big handicap wins with dual purposes horses as Overturn won the Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate before going to run second in a Champion Hurdle.
Now I’m not suggesting he is that class over jumps, but at the bottom of the handicap off a mark of just 86 he looks to have plenty of upside on the flat and has already proven stamina over jumps.
He has an ideal draw in stall 2 and is likely to run prominent, tracking just behind the leaders which is ideal in this this race.
There are plenty of dangers, but he has a strong chance of getting involved at the finish and I therefore recommend 1 point each way.
He is still value at 14/1.
