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.
Supreme second can go one better
Ballyadam has been banging heads with Appreciate It on recent outings but, free from his presence on Grand National Festival Saturday, now stepping up in trip looks the one to be on in the 2m 4f Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree (14:25). Now trained by Henry De Bromhead for Cheveley Park Stud, this six-year-old won an Irish point before joining Gordon Elliott.
After a couple of runners in bumpers last season, the Fame And Glory gelding made an impressive hurdles debut at Down Royal. Ballyadam then made an effortless step up to Grade 1 level at Fairyhouse in November. He has never had the pace to go with Appreciate It in three subsequent starts.
First finishing fourth and losing places close home in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, Ballyadam got much closer to his long-time rival at the Dublin Racing Festival. Despite there being 24 lengths between the pair in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last time out, he is well worth a crack over a longer distance.
Rachael Blackmore now takes the ride for the first time on Ballyadam. That could be key, especially if she turns up in Cheltenham form. Despite the presence of the progressive My Drogo in the field, Ballyadam gets the vote at 11/4 with 888sport now escaping the shadow of Appreciate It.
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Also on Grand National Festival Saturday, the chief supporting race is the extended 3m Liverpool Hurdle (15:35). Roksana has put her best foot forward over this trip throughout the campaign, so she looks a solid each-way play. Trained by Dan Skelton, this mare was desperately unlucky loser in the race two years ago.
Roksana was chinned close home by re-opposing rival If The Cap Fits. She went down fighting by a head. This is the first time since that she runs on good ground. A win in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby on reappearance was her next outing over the rough trip.
From there, the nine-year-old tried the Long Walk on heavy ground around Ascot. Although overhauled by both Paisley Park and Thyme Hill who re-oppose, again she stuck to the task well and went down by a couple of lengths. Roksana may be able to reverse form on a sounder surface. The top two in the betting command respect, however.
She has since bolted up in the Warfield back against her own sex and then a keeping on third in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Roksana can do at least as well, if not better, here and odds of 6/1 with bet365 look a free each-way bet here. Watch out for bookmakers paying extra places on Grand National Saturday in this and other events.
Come On Teddy the staying handicap hurdle selection
Opening Grand National Festival Saturday is an extended 3m handicap hurdle (13:45), where Come On Teddy is another each-way play. Trained by Tom George, this seven-year-old has hit the frame on each of his previous three starts. Although racing off 10lb higher than his last success around Cheltenham, Come On Teddy ran really well off 134 at Cheltenham.
Prior to that, however, he was a staying on third in a Pertemps Qualifier at Warwick when no ideally placed. Jonathan Burke got the ride back aboard Come On Teddy for the Festival, however, and he filled the same spot in the Final behind Mrs Milner. His current mark looks workable in this less competitive contest.
Come On Teddy is 15/2 with William Hill, who pay five places, to hit the frame again. He looks a solid each-way bet on a day when we also see Shishkin run in the 2m Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase. As Nicky Henderson’s stable star is long odds-on for success, we put a handicap selection up rather than put him up.
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