The 2019 Tolworth Hurdle betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts say Rathhill is the one to be on in the 2m Grade 1 feature contest at Sandown on Saturday, 5 January, following an impressive winning debut under rules. Elixir De Nutz brings some very solid winning form into the race and looks the obvious main danger. Grand Sancy, meanwhile, is a progressive sort and another with claims in a fascinating renewal. Read our in-depth 2019 Tolworth Hurdle betting tips preview below for full details on these horses’ chances.Rathhill a tasty Tolworth puntRathhill looked a hugely exciting prospect when making a winning debut under rules, so is strongly fancied to take the step up into Grade 1 company in his stride and land the spoils in the feature race at Sandown on Saturday, the 2m Tolworth Hurdle (14:25). This six-year-old hails from the yard of Nicky Henderson, who is the most successful handler in the contest having won it five times courtesy of New York Rainbow (1992), Minella Class (2011), Captain Conan (2012), Royal Boy (2014) and L’Ami Serge (2015).
After shaping with bags of promise when runner-up on his sole start in an irish point, the son of Getaway was snapped up by leading Irish owner JP McManus and sent to join the Seven Barrows handler. He was highly-touted ahead of his first start over hurdles in a 20-runner affair at Newbury last month and really lived up to the hype.
Rathhill travelled strongly throughout on the heels of the leaders under Barry Geraghty and cruised into contention three from home. After jumping the last in second, he then quickened smartly to readily beat Nordic Combined by 1 1/2 lengths.
Impressive rules debut
It was a most taking display, under a very tender ride, especially given that it was Rathhill’s first run in 403 days. He is a strapping sort who looks sure to come on a bundle for that outing and Henderson has made no secret of the high regard in which he is held.
He is currently a top-price 20/1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Summerville Boy won this 12 months ago, before going on to capture the Grade 1 curtain raiser at the Cheltenham Festival. Rathhill needs to be winning this to have any chance of following in that one’s footsteps and does face some smart rivals.
However, he has bags of untapped potential and, judged on the manner of his Newbury success, is one that needs keeping seriously onside. We fully expect Rathhill to justify favouritism and takes this en route to bigger and better things. That’s why we had no hesitation in making him the main selection in our 2019 Tolworth Hurdle betting tips.Elixir De Nutz the main dangerElixir De Nutz is a progressive sort who has some very strong form in the book, so looks the obvious danger to Rathhill. Since shaping with stacks of promise when runner-up at Cheltenham on seasonal reappearance, this Colin Tizzard trained five-year-old has won two contests at the same venue in taking fashion.
In the first of those, the Terry Warner owned son of Al Namix made all and found plenty for pressure to beat the highly regarded Itchy Feet by 1 1/4 lengths in a five-runner Grade 2. Elixir De Nutz showed a really willing attitude, and has since given 10llb all-round and a 1 3/4 lengths beating to Jarveys Plate.
He again made all and stayed on powerfully when challenged to score a shade comfortably. The runner-up has since gone on to slam the very highly regarded I Can’t Explain by 13 lengths in a Listed contest at the same venue, so that gives the form a very solid look.
Elixir De Nutz is clearly going the right way and may well not get the credit he deserves, as he is an out-and-out galloper who grinds the opposition into submission rather than produce a telling turn of foot at the end of his races.
There is no arguing, however, that he is a very talented sort with a big future. This is by far his stiffest task to date but – if allowed to dominate Elixir De Nutz – could prove a tough nut to peg back. A bold to land the hat-trick looks assured, so our 2019 Tolworth Hurdle betting tips say he can give Rathill most to think about.Progressive Grand Sancy can’t be discountedTrainer Paul Nicholls loves nothing more than landing big prizes on a Saturday, and his Grand Sancy is another with claims in a fascinating renewal. This five-year-old has been kept busy this season and won three of his five starts.
In the last of those in a Listed contest at Haydock, Grand Sancy got outpaced three from home before rallying strongly to get up on the long run-in and beat Cause Toujours by two lengths. The front two pulled miles clear of the rest and there was lots to like about the way in which he got the job done.
The son of Diamond Boy was then far from disgraced last time out when fourth of 21 to Mohayyed in the valuable Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot last month. After being held-up, his cause wasn’t helped by a mistake two from home having made progress to chase the leaders.
To his credit, Grand Sancy then stuck to the task well to be beaten six lengths in what was a very competitive renewal. It was a fine run by a novice against some seasoned and experienced handicappers, and one which commands him to plenty of respect in this line-up now pitched back into novice company.
Grand Sancy looks sure to give it his best shot; so, at the odds on offer, he appeals as the each-way value in a race in which bookmakers are paying a quarter of the odds for two places only. He thus completes our 2019 Tolworth Hurdle bettings tips.Your Next Bet
