Best bet for the horse racing this weekend at Wetherby and Newmarket

It has been a quiet week for me this week, just the two bets with no luck. I am not getting overly involved over the weekend either truth be told, it’s that funny time of year were the Jumps form is thin on the ground and the Flat form can’t always be trusted.  

Wetherby hosts the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase with some stars of the winter game on show. The simple problem is the four I could make a case for aint been seen for at least eight months if not longer and you are taking fitness on trust! I will be watching rather than betting. It’s a similar dilemma with the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle earlier on the card at 2.45, there’s a couple here I could like but it’s their first run in months. Next Destination is very intriguing on stable debut for Paul Nicholls having moved from Willie Mullins. Not seen on track since April 2018 if, and it is a big if, he is near his best I'd give him a big chance but how fit is he after 920 days off?  

I will be having one bet over the jumps in the 1.35 at Wetherby the 2m3½f bet365 Handicap Chase. Guy was a fair hurdler but looked to love the challenge of the bigger obstacles on his chasing debut when readily winning over 2m4f at Huntingdon earlier this month. He gets a big old rise of 12lb for that win but was well on top at the finish there and the rise doesn’t look enough to stop the five-year-old chestnut from going in again for the Twiston-Davies team. I am on at 3-1.  

They host three Listed races at Newmarket on the Turf where Alba Rose and Headman will both be short for their respective races. The third Listed race on the card is the Bet In-Play At MansionBet Ben Marshall Stakes over a mile at 3.15. Zakouski owes me as I tipped him when fourth earlier this month here at HQ in a Group Two. He was slowly away and out the back early before improving and then not knocked about when his chance had gone in the final furlong. Hopefully blew away a few cobwebs having not been seen on track since February. I still think the Charlie Appleby trained four-year-old has improvement in him yet and he is being readied for another campaign in Dubai come the New Year. If he is to get on the plane for the Carnival, he needs to be winning races such as this and I have given him another chance and taken the 100-30 about this one Friday afternoon.  

Be lucky