Today's Horse Racing Tips: Big Price Plays In The Betfair Hurdle

Hopeless! That is the best way I can describe yesterday’s selections. The tone was set early on in the afternoon with Demachine finishing second after hitting an in-running low of 1.1 on Betfair. Very disappointing runs from the fancied trio of Emitom, Newtide and Notachance followed before my biggest priced pick, Kepagge, also failed to land a blow.

Away from my bets, it was absolutely fantastic to see Goshen return to winning ways and confirm himself as a genuine Champion Hurdle contender. I was also delighted to see the gutsy Dashel Drasher, who I’d tipped up to win his last race, record a Grade 1 victory at Ascot. However, the afternoon was marred by the fatal injury to the popular veteran L’Ami Serge and the heart attack suffered by the Oliver Sherwood-trained Sevarano. Thoughts, of course, are with all connections.

There is another fantastic day of racing ahead, and I have picked out five bets across the cards at Newbury and Market Rasen.

Newbury Tips

13:50 – 3m Betfair Weighed-In Podcast Weekly Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

This looks a good opportunity for the lightly-raced seven-year-old SOUTHFIELD HARVEST (1 point win bet at 7/2) to record a third career success. A bumper and maiden hurdle winner, he has since finished second in both starts over a shorter trip this season. His latest effort saw him pull 24-lengths clear of the horse in third, and he shaped as though this step back up to three miles would really suit. He should also appreciate the slightly better ground at Newbury and is the representative of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. Jeremy Scott and Matt Griffiths teamed up to win the Grade 1 feature at Ascot y

15:35 – 2m½f  Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3)

This looks a terrific renewal of the Betfair Hurdle and I am taking a chance on three runners at big prices. I am expecting Richard Johnson to make a bold bid from the front aboard the progressive ANNUAL INVICTUS (0.5 point each-way bet at 16/1), who has won his last three starts by a combined distance of 25-lengths. The fact that he defied a double penalty in his last race suggests that he could be well treated off just 10-9 today. Priced at 66/1 for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and dropping back down in trip, he should be strong at the finish.

Another that would be suited by more of a stamina test, which is likely given the frenetic nature that this could be run at, is GUARD YOUR DREAMS (0.5 point win bet at 20/1). He made an impressive hurdling debut at Bangor in September before disappointing there next time out. He then bounced back to form with an authoritative 10-length victory back at the Welsh course two starts back and stepped up in class to land a competitive Sandown handicap 50 days ago. Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has won three of the last seven renewals of this race, with son Sam aboard for two of those successes.  

My final pick is WILD MAX (0.5 point win bet at 20/1) who took his record to 4-6 over hurdles with a commanding victory at Doncaster last time out. Angus Cheleda, claiming a very useful 7lbs, keeps the ride today and will be hoping to give Paul Nicholls another win in the race. This improving six-year-old travels really strongly in his races and that could be a big asset in this big field.

Market Rasen Tip

15:15 – 2m½f  MansionBet’s Faller Insurance Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)

Kim Bailey and David Bass have both been in excellent form of late and can land another winner courtesy of AJERO (NAP – 1 point win bet at 10/3). Having finished second on his hurdling debut, he has gone on to win both starts since (by 7-lengths and 1-length) and now makes his handicap debut. This front runner has finished his races strongly and has been given a wind operation since his last run. He has shown plenty of signs of inexperience, which is understandable given that he has raced just four times, so he remains open to plenty more improvement. Blakeney Point, who can be forgiven his latest run as he made a mess of the first hurdle and could never recover, and Miss Heritage, an in form and classy mare, complete the shortlist.