The 2018 Buck House Novice Chase betting tips given by Horsebetting.com say Mitchouka is worth a bet to provide trainer Gordon Elliott with another winner of the extended 2m 2f Grade 3 contest at Punchestown on Wednesday, 17 October. Ornua comes into the contest in fine form and is a slick jumper, so rates the main danger. Winter Escape, meanwhile, is a talented but fragile sort who also holds claims following an impressive success last time out. For full details why, read our 2018 Buck House Novice Chase betting tips preview.Mitchouka a solid bet in Buck HouseTrainer Gordon Elliott has been the man to follow in recent runnings of the Buck House Novice Chase, so his Mitchouka looks to hold outstanding claims of landing the spoils in this year’s renewal of the Grade 3 contest run over an extended 2m 2f at Punchestown on Wednesday (15:40).
The County Meath handler has won the race twice in the last three years courtesy of The Game Changer (2015) and Death Duty (2017). They were both owned by Gigginstown House Stud and Mitchouka also sports their famous maroon and white colours, so looks to have a bright future ahead of him.
This four-year-old was a French import who developed into a really useful hurdler last season after joining Elliott. He won four of his 10 outings and also posted a string of solid efforts in defeat in graded company.
The last of those successes cam in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse where the son of Creachadoir came from off the pace to assert at the last and easily beat Mastermind by 2 1/4 lengths. Mitchouka then ran below par when pulled-up in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival when sent off a well-backed 8/1 joint second-favourite, but quickly bounced back and showed that running to be all wrong when a fine 2 1/2 length runner-up to Saglawy in a Grade 2 back at Fairyhouse.
Those efforts earned Mitchouka a hurdles rating off 140, yet connections always believed he would come into his own when going chasing this season. Having been sent off 2/7 favourite on return to action at Gowran Park 11 days, he was all set to make a winning debut over the larger obstacles when coming to grief at the last and four lengths clear.
Mitchouka hadn’t been asked a serious question and had the race at his mercy. Prior to that, he had jumped really well and not put a foot wrong. It was a typical novicey error which cost him the race and he is sure to have learned from it.
As a four-year-old he receives a hefty weight-for-age allowance in this from his five rivals and has just 10st 6lb to carry. Given that he was rated 140 over hurdles, and receives 13lb from Cadmium who has the best chasing rating in the line-up of 145, it makes his claims glaringly obvious at the weights.
So, granted a clear round, this looks a great opportunity for Mitchouka to gain some valuable compensation for his Gowran mishap. We therefore had no hesitation in making him the main selection in our 2018 Buck House Novice Chase betting tips.Ornua sure to make a bold bidOrnua has to shoulder 11st 8lb and give weight all-round. That is not going to be an easy task, but he comes into the race in fine form and is a consistent sort who looks sure to give it his best shot, so therefore rates the main danger to Mitchouka.
This Henry De Bromhead trained seven-year-old has won three of his last four starts, and looked better than ever following a 60-day break when beating the aforementioned Cadmium by 3 3/4 lengths in a nine-runner Grade 3 at Roscommon. Ornua jumped for fun at the head of affairs and only had to be ridden out under hands and heels to readily fend off the runner-up.
He now meets Cadmium, who held every chance, on just 3lb worse terms. Given the authoritative manner in which he got the job done, that doesn’t look enough to see the tables reversed. Ornua also had stable companion Classic Theatre a further nine lengths back in third, so has nothing to fear from that re-opposing rival.
The seven-year-old has a really likeable attitude and is clearly going the right way. He likes to use his slick jumping to put rivals under pressure, so – if there any any chinks in Mitchouka’s armour – Ornua looks the most likely one to take advantage. However, giving 16lb to that rival is a monster ask and in reality he will need Elliott’s charge to underperform if he’s to notch career success number six in this.Winter Escape not to be underestimatedWinter Escape opened his account over the larger obstacles at the third time of asking last time out at Galway in good style and is another that cannot be discounted. This seven-year-old looked a smart prospect when winning his first start over hurdles for then trainer Alan King and also ran very well when fifth of 25 to Arctic Fire in the County Hurdle at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival.
The JP McManus owned son of Robin Des Pres has endured lengthy breaks throughout his career due to niggling injuries and has clearly not been the easiest to train. However, he shaped really well on debut for current trainer Aidan Howard when chasing home St Stephens Green in a 15-runner beginners chase at Galway, then showed the benefit of that run when going one better at the same venue last month.
Winter Escape took the the running after the eighth travelling smoothly. He then asserted in the home straight to quickly out the race to bed and easily beat Sympa Des Flos by 11 lengths. It was a performance which suggested there were plenty of more races to be won in this sphere with him – if he stays sound.
That is a big “if” given his profile, but Winter Escape is undoubtedly a talented sort and remains open to progress after just nine starts. He was won four of four of those and should be up to making his presence felt in this. Thus he had to feature in our 2018 Buck House Novice Chase betting tips.Your Next Bet
