The 2018 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts say Lalor is a worthy red-hot favourite to land the spoils in the Grade 1 contest over 2m at Sandown on Saturday, 8 December, following an impressive debut success over the larger obstacles. Trainer Paul Nicholls has a good record in the race, so his Dynamite Dollars, who chased home Lalor last time out, looks the logical forecast choice. Pingshou, meanwhile, was a classy hurdler who looks capable of outrunning his odds. Read our in-depth 2018 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase betting tips preview below for more details on these horses’ chances.Lalor taken to turn on the style at Sandown Lalorcould not have been more impressive when making a winning debut over the larger obstacles, so looks a worthy red-hot favourite to take the step back up into Grade 1 company in his stride and follow-up in the 2m Henry VIII Novices’ Chase on Tingle Creek day at Sandown on Saturday (13:50).
Trained by Kayley Woollacott, this six-year-old was a top-class bumper performer who rounded off last season with success as the highest level when landing the Top Novices’ hurdle at Aintree. After making good headway headway to challenge three out, he quickly took up the running and found plenty when pressed when challenged between the final two flight.
Lalor then pulled clear on the run-in to beat Vision Des Flos by 2 1/2 lengths in the hands of champion jockey Richard Johnson. It was a really gutsy and classy display which marked this strapping sort out as the type to do well when sent chasing. That view was confirmed in no uncertain fashion when he landed a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month in terrific style.
Impressive in Arkle Trial
After tracking the leaders under Johnson, the son of It’s Gino took up the running three from home travelling powerfully. Lalor then drew readily clear between the last two flights and, after a superb leap at the last, only had to be ridden out to easily beat Dynamite Dollars by seven lengths.
He put in an electric round of jumping and it was a performance which suggested he had the potential to go right to the very top as a chaser. Lalor is currently a top-price 5/1 joint-favourite for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival next March on the back of it.
Although not officially the highest rated in the line-up, he looks in a potentially different league to his five rivals. So, with Johnson – who is three from three on him – once again in the saddle, this looks Lalor’s for the taking granted a clear round. We find him impossible to oppose and had no hesitation whatsoever in making him the main selection in our 2018 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase tips.Dynamite Dollars the obvious forecast choiceGiven that the aforementioned Dynamite Dollars chased home Lalor at Cheltenham, he looks the obvious one to do so yet again and the most likely to take advantage should the red-hot jolly fail to live-up to expectations. This Paul Nicholls trained five-year-old kept on for pressure to go down by seven lengths, but never had any chance of landing a blow at the easy winner.
Prior to that he had looked a useful recruit to the chasing ranks when scoring in good style at Market Rasen. After tracking the leader, Dynamite Dollars took up the running two from home and then only had to be driven clear after jumping the last well to readily beat Highway One O One.
He has nothing to fear from the re-opposing runner-up, and it was a performance which suggested there were plenty more races to be won this season with the son of Buck’s Broom. However, Dynamite Dollars now meets Lalor on exactly the same terms as when they clashed at Cheltenham, so it’s very hard to make a case for him turning the tables.
Nicholls does, however, has a very good record in the race having won it six times – including three of the last seven renewals. He clearly believes it’s worth having another crack at Lalor and such tactics in the past have paid handsome dividends for the Ditcheat handler.
It’s also interesting that two of Dynamite Dollars’ three career successes have come at right-handed tracks. He may well be a better horse going clockwise; so, if that is the case, then his chances in this may be a bit better than they first appear. He features among our 2018 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase betting tips as a solid straight forecast bet to chase Lalor home.Pingshou open to progressDiakali is unbeaten in three starts over fences since joining trainer Gary Moore and his official rating of 153 is the highest in the line-up. That commands him plenty of respect, but he doesn’t have the same scope as some of his rivals. One of those is Pingshou, who shaped quite nicely when a distant fourth to Lalor at Cheltenham following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
After disputing the lead, the Colin Tizzard trained eight-year-old took up the running at the seventh. He then made a mistake at the ninth, but remained prominent unto getting outpaced turning for home. Pingshou made another mistake at the second last before staying on again to be beaten 22 lengths.
It was an effort which was not devoid of promise, given that Pingshou was entitled to be ring rusty on his first outing for 572 days. He looks sure to come on a bundle for it and it’s worth remembering that he was a top class novice hurdler in 2016/17.
Entitled to come on for run after layoff
The son of Definite Article was impressive when landing a Grade 1 at Aintree’s Grand National meeting by 4 3/4 lengths and then far from disgraced in a similar grade affair at the Punchestown Festival when third to Cilaos Emery off a rating of 150.
Those efforts show that he is a classy sort and he was rated 1lb higher than Lalor over the smaller obstacles. It does look a big ask for him to turn the tables with that rival and Dynamite Dollars, but there are undoubtedly races to be won with Pingshou.
It would be no surprise to see him outrun his odds and possible sneak into the frame should one of the “big two” underperform. Hence he features as the each-way option and completes our 2018 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase betting tips.Your Next Bet
