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.
Aintree step up in trip should suit Chantry House
The second of four Grade 1s on Grand National Festival Friday is the 3m 1f Mildmay Novices’ Chase (14:50). Many are in with chances here, but Chantry House shaped like this stamina test should suit. Trained by Nicky Henderson for JP McManus, the seven-year-old took his form to a new level last time out.
That came when profiting from an early fall by red-hot favourite Envoi Allen in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. Chantry House won that by staying, so connections go up in trip with him as a result. As he is a son of Yeats, the extra distance shouldn’t be a problem at all.
Chantry House doesn’t appear to have any worries from the re-opposing Shan Blue, although he did land the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton over Christmas. Espoir De Romay from the Kim Bailey stable is also unexposed as a stayer, so he might be the biggest danger.
Henderson has saddled five winners of the Mildmay, including two of the last three. Another stable to follow here is the Colin Tizzard yard, who have two of the past four victors. Fiddlerontheroof and The Big Breakaway were both placed behind Monkfish at Cheltenham when last in action. Chantry House is the form horse, however, and odds of 2/1 with Betfair look just here.
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Later on Grand National Festival Friday is the extended 3m Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (16:40). Paul Nicholls was very bullish about Bravemansgame before Cheltenham, but he was only third in the Ballymore. The step up in trip promises to suit, but he’s plenty short enough at a standout 2/1 with Boylesports to bounce back.
Instead, Cape Gentleman for the thriving Emmet Mullins stable looks well worth backing at bigger odds. A lightly-raced five-year-old by Champs Elysees, he won the Irish Cesarewitch on the Flat on just his second start for the yard and is since two from three over hurdles.
Although pulled up on his penultimate outing at the Dublin Racing Festival, Cape Gentleman has since proved his well-being on his first British outing. He faced a really strong challenge from Calico in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle around Kempton, but showed a gutsy and game attitude by prevailing in their tussle.
The runner-up has since won easily at Warwick, albeit when entitled to do so. Now trying an even longer trip on decent ground, Cape Gentleman looks value at 7/1 with William Hill for a team in great form of late.
Another angle here is Oscar Elite, who’s a bigger price than Streets Of Doyen to confirm the Albert Bartlett form. The latter looked no match for the front two, so Tizzard’s Cheltenham runner-up looks a great each-way bet at 10/1 with Betfred, who pay four places on the Sefton.
Belfast Banter an each-way bet to reach Top
In the 2m Top Novices’ Hurdle earlier on Grand National Festival Friday (14:20), Dusart has missed so much of the season with a setback, but made a very taking debut at Newbury in the autumn. Henderson’s charge beat subsequent Betfair Hurdle hero Soaring Glory, and is 3/1 with bet365 to pick up where he left off. My concern is his fitness.
On that score, Belfast Banter has no worries and looks a great each-way alternative. Trained by Peter Fahey, this six-year-old Jeremy gelding took the County Hurdle at Cheltenham three weeks ago. A race like this demands more, but the way he ran on well up the famous hill for a 33/1 success suggests he can make his presence felt at a higher level.
Belfast Banter has also seen the form of his second at Naas on his penultimate outing franked by the winner. Echoes In Rain bolted up in another Grade 2 at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival. Two miles definitely looks the trip of this former Dan Skelton inmate too. Belfast Banter is 9/1 with bet365 for the frame again at Aintree.
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