Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Song For Someone appeals most in wide-open Aintree Hurdle
Song For Someone ran too bad to be true last time out, so now back up in trip can bounce back and looks each-way value for the 2m 4f Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle on Thursday (15:25). One of six horses in the field off an official rating of 158, he’s the youngest in the line-up aged six.
Trained by Tom Symonds, Song For Someone is seven from 14 over hurdles and a three-time Grade 2 winner. He ran out an unchallenged five-length winner of the Ascot Hurdle over roughly this trip back in November. That victory was all the more impressive because the Medicean gelding carried a penalty.
He also defied one when landing the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, beating re-opposing rival Silver Streak who has won a Grade 1 since. Song For Someone was never at the races last time out, making no defence of his Kingwell Hurdle crown.
The heavy ground at Wincaton just didn’t suit him, so the return to a sounder surface here is much more like it. Putting a line through that, he may be overpriced for the Aintree Hurdle. David Bass now takes the ride for the first time. It would be no surprise if Song For Someone bounced back here, and odds of 13/2 with Betfair say he can.
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McFabulous heads dangers
Many will fancy their chances here. Market leader McFabulous has been laid out for this by Paul Nicholls. The seven-year-old, who should have a big future chasing next season, took advantage of his extended novice status and landed the Persian War at Chepstow on reappearance.
McFabulous found 3m at Newbury stretched his stamina, but soon bounced back with victory in the Relkeel Hurdle. Although beaten at odds-on by re-opposing rival Brewin’upastorm in the National Spirit at Fontwell last time out, that unique track may not have suited the Milan gelding.
He now meets the winner on 6lb better terms. There was 5 1/2 lengths between Brewin’upastorm and McFabulous at the line, so that could well be enough for reversing the form. The Aintree Hurdle has been a long-term target for the latter with Nicholls expecting a good Grand National Festival with his runners.
Taking all that into account, McFabulous could give Song For Someone plenty to think about. He’s the 100/30 favourite with William Hill for the spoils here. Brewin’upastorm, meanwhile, opened a bigger price than Irish raider Abacadabras, who fell in the Champion Hurdle.
Jason The Militant and Buveur D’Air other possible each-way bets
Trying the trip for the first time is Jason The Militant. Trained by Henry Be Bromhead, this seven-year-old gave 9lb and a 7 1/2 lengths beating to Petit Mouchoir in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle last time out. Although on the upgrade here, the son of Sans Frontieres was only just behind Abacadabras on his penultimate start.
The difference in prices for the Aintree Hurdle doesn’t reflect the neck and short-head distance between them in he Morgiana at Punchestown. Jason The Militant also comes into the race off a victory, whereas Abacadabras has to prove he’s no worse for the Cheltenham tumble. It makes the former look one to consider each-way at 7/1 with Betfair here.
A past Aintree Hurdle winner in Buveur D’Air also skipped the Festival and runs here instead. Trainer Nicky Henderson insists the 10-year-old will come on for his reappearance at Haydock. The JP McManus owned dual Champion Hurdle hero probably needed it after 420 days off the track.
It’s just a question of whether the horrific hoof injury Buveur D’Air suffered in the 2019 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle ended him as a force at the highest level. There probably won’t be a more popular winner at the entire Grand National Festival. If able to recapture his best, then odds of 11/1 with William Hill are massive.
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