Best bet for the horse racing this weekend

It’s a funny weekend of horse racing as there is plenty of Graded action over the Jumps and a couple of meetings on the All-Weather but truth be told nothing much that got me really excited as a betting proposition. That said with Storm Eunice having ravaged parts of the country on Friday there’s every chance they’ll be plenty of meetings called off anyway.  I have had one bet. 

Bristol De Mai goes in the Grade Three William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock at 2.40 over 3m4f. The grey is at his favourite track and has his going, it's heavy up there, so has a chance but has to give them all a fair lump of weight over what may be a slightly longer than ideal trip. Had he been an each-way price I may have got involved but at 9-2 the Bookies aint taking a chance and neither is old Girdy!  

Best bet for the horse racing at Ascot

One that did jump out at me earlier this week was due to run in the Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at 1.50 over the three-miles. I really quite liked the chances of Does He Know; he began his Chasing career with wins at Chepstow and the Cheltenham back in October before losing his unbeaten tag in a Novices Chase back at Cheltenham in November. That form doesn’t look so disappointing now as the winner that day Threeunderthrufive has won twice since and is amongst the favourites for the National Hunt Challenge Cup at the Festival. I held off from a bet early in the week as the going description being soft was concerning me and we have had the two storms since! The going is now soft and likely to get softer with the rain forecast for Saturday so I am leaving him alone.

the highlight of the day at 3.38 is the Grade One 2m5f Betfair Ascot Chase with an eight-runner field. It looks proper competitive with Fakir D'Oudairies, Fanion D'Estruval ,Saint Calvados, Mister Fisher, and last year's winner Dashel Drasher all rated within four or five pounds of each other officially. With Lostintranslation and Waiting Patiently representing the older brigade, and not without chances if finding their old form, and Two For Gold not completely out of the reckoning stepping up in class it should be a great watch. Saint Calvados was a fair third in King George VI Chase at Kempton on his first run for Paul Nicholls last time out. Lightly races in 2021 it’s easy to forget he only just lost out in the G.1 2m4f Ryanair Chase in 2020. The drop back in trip here from three-miles and soft underhoof conditions should both help his chances and at 9-2 overnight I think he is worth an investment. Fakir D'oudairies is feared most but being prone to an error as he is I think he is worth taking on.  

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