Hurst Park Handicap Chase betting tips here at Horsebetting.com for the valuable 2m contest at Ascot on Saturday, 24 November. Ozzie The Oscar drops in grade following a fine second last time out, so looks worth a bet to land the spoils. Modus hails from the in-form yard of Paul Nicholls and looks weighted to go well, so is feared most. Duke Of Navan, meanwhile, makes plenty of each-way appeal in a competitive affair at the odds on offer. Read our in-depth 2018 Hurst Park Handicap Chase betting tips preview below for more details on these horses’ chances.Ozzie The Oscar the one to be on in Hurst ParkOzzie The Oscar ran a cracker when runner-up last time out, so now eased in grade looks decent value to go one better and land the spoils in the 2m Hurst Park Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday (15:15). This Philip Hobbs trained seven-year-old was a useful hurdler who has quickly made up into an even better chaser, winning three of his six starts over the larger obstacles.
In the last of those at Warwick back in May, the son of Socar made virtually all and ran on gamely giving lumps of weight and a 2 3/4 lenghs beating to Kapstadt. He had San Benedeto a further eight lengths behind in third and now meets that re-opposing rival on just 5lb worse terms.
Ozzie The Oscar was then given a break and made a pleasing return to action when a three-length third to Silver Streak in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las, where he only weakened late on and lost second close home to be beaten three lengths.
That was a prep run for a crack at the valuable Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup over an extended 2m 1f at Exeter, and Ozzie The Oscar put in a bold bid to make all before going down fighting on the run-in by half-a-length to God’s Own. He again had San Benedeto in-behind, with that one being beaten a further seven lengths into third.
It was an effort which suggested there were plenty of nice prizes to be won with Ozzie The Oscar, and the drop back down to the minimum 2m trip looks sure to suit. Although raised 3lb for that, the gelding remains open to plenty more progression over fences and a revised mark of 154 does not look beyond him.
Ozzie The Oscar is a classy sort and, with underfoot conditions ideal, looks capable of defying top weight in this lower grade class 2 affair. Thus he features as the main selection in our 2018 Hurst park Handicap Chase betting tipsModus a major player for in-form NichollsModus heads the betting at the time of writing and hails from the in-form yard of Paul Nicholls. This eight-year-old has always been held in high regard and boasts a terrific strike rate of 57 per cent over fences, having won four of his seven starts over the larger obstacles.
This JP McManus owned son of Motivator is a clever, rather than fluent jumper who is prone to making errors, but gets away with them on most occasions. That proved to be the case on seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham last month when he beat Duke Of Navan by a head in a seven-runner affair.
After being held-up by Barry Geraghty, who has 67 per cent strike rate on him, Modus made mistakes four from home and three out when making progress. He quickly recovered the lost ground to take up the running at the penultimate fence and looked set for a comfortable success at that stage.
However, he then began to idle up the stiff run-in and, after getting headed, rallied strongly to get up in the shadow of the post. It was a tenacious display and the front two pulled nine lengths clear of the well-handicapped Foxtail Hill.
That gives the form a solid look and makes a 4lb rise in the weights for Modus look fair. A revised rating of 150 still looks exploitable, as he was rated 156 over hurdles. So, with Geraghty once again in the saddle, and underfoot conditions to suit, Modus looks sure to make a bold bid to follow-up and therefore in our Hurst Park Handicap Chase betting tips rates the main danger to Ozzie The Oscar.Duke Of Navan the each-way optionGiven that narrow margin that he was beaten by Modus at Cheltenham, Duke Of Navan looks well worth considering as an each-way betting option as he now meets that rival on 3lb better terms. Trained in Penrith by Nicky Richards, this 10-year-old is a six-time winner over fences who has a 29 per cent strike rate in the grade.
His last success came at Doncaster back in January where he rallied bravely to beat Bigmartre by a short-head off a mark of 130. Duke Of Navan backed that up with a fine 6 1/2 lengths third to Theinval off 145 in a Listed contest at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting.
The form of the latter reads well in the context of this class 2 contest and Duke Of Navan runs in it off just 3lb higher. That gives the son of Presenting every chance from a handicapping perspective and he is entitled to strip fitter for his recent run at Cheltenham.
Connections have also booked top Irish rider Danny Mullins to do the steering, replacing regular 3lb claimer Ryan Day. That is very eye-catching and he looks the ideal partner to deliver hold-up performer Duke Of Navan late on the scene.
This race should also be run at a strong gallop which will suit; so, at the odds on offer, Duke Of Navan had to feature as the each-way punt in our 2018 Hurst Park Handicap Chase betting tips – a race where some bookmakers are paying four places.Your Next Bet