Badger Beer Handicap Chase Tips: Old Boy Can Master Wincanton
Despite the Elite Hurdle in the slot before the Badger Beer Handicap Chase being the more prestigious race, with just three runners in that contest most eyes will be fixed on this big field handicap for betting purposes. Billy Grimshaw is in a forgiving mood and likes one at a double figure price here...
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The obvious place to start when trying to find the winner in here is with favourite The Changing Man, who brings very smart novice form from his last campaign when splitting Stay Away Fay and Grey Dawning and will receive weight from plenty in here. Joe Tizzard really likes this horse and this race has been the plan for months now, so racing for the first time since wind surgery and with a tongue strap on I expect him to be bang there. At 11/4 though, he makes no betting appeal.
Second favourite Lord Accord could lead them all a merry dance off the front end if he is on a going day, however he was flattered by the impression of his win last time out following his closest rival falling when coming to challenge and as such looks underpriced. I am also put off a touch by the presence of ownership mate Moufasa from team Ditcheat, however Wincanton is a front runners' track and that means in a match bet between those two I'd be with Lord Accord. I just won't be backing either.
I have always loved the strong travelling REMASTERED and at the ripe old age of eleven, I'm hoping the team let him dictate how he wants to run here and let him get to the front or at the very least sit prominent. As mentioned, Wincanton is a track for front runners where those who are ridden patiently often run out of time to reel them in, so while some of Remastered's more trademark performances have come when travelling strongly to take a long time leader, I'm hopeful Tom Bellamy is brave in this and goes for the lead from the word go.
Remastered's 2023/24 campaign was a winless and fruitless season but the eleven year old proved he still retained plenty of zest and ability when a ready winner here over C&D last time out after a six month hiatus. The rise of five pounds in the weights won't help but I'm hopeful he's reborn in 2024/25 and if he is, a bold show can be expected.
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I had a long look at Forward Plan in here for Anthony Honeyball and despite the pace bias at the track, would rate him as the main danger despite his propensity to be waited with until the very last minute in most races. He had a brilliant 2023/24 campaign but it started with a whimper in this race when he finished sixth of seven finishers, not really travelling with fluency and clearly needing the run. The fact he is in here as his first run once more in 2024/25 concerns me, but if Honeyball has him firing to the levels he showed when winning the Bet365 at Doncaster and the Kempton Coral Trophy he'll be in the mix.
Al Dancer was the horse just beaten at Kempton in that aforementioned race and he is another with a lot going for him in here. He likes the layout of the track, is a prominent type and seems in his later years to be a real early season horse. He has the burden of top weight in here but that is negated by a seven pound claimer, so he cannot be discounted. He also runs well fresh, but although he is the same age as Remastered I am more confident on our pick's chances considering we have seen him show something positive already this season after his break now he has hit double figures.
We have mentioned Lord Accord, Al Dancer and Remastered who are three of the four horses who may well be vying for the lead, but the one who could nick it from them all and attempt to go wire to wire is Gustavian. He is another for Anthony Honeyball in here and runs from four pounds out of the weights, however if Gavin Sheehan is enterprising he may well be bold and try to nick the race off the front end. Hopefully Bellamy on Remastered is wise to that threat.