Best bets for the horse racing Saturday 15th December

There is some decent jumping action to be enjoyed this weekend with races at Doncaster and Cheltenham. They are though mainly fiendishly difficult heats so I am leaving alone betting wise as I think it could be a punting minefield!

For the purposes of winning a few quid, and that is what this site is ultimately about, I am keeping to what I know bets this time of year the All-Weather. They race at Newcastle and Wolverhampton on their Tapeta tracks and as it is an early start, first race 12.20, I am putting up the horses that will be punted on in plenty of time. I will grab the best prices I can when the satchel swingers chalk-up. 

At 12.55 up at Newcastle, they have the 2m½f Betway Stayers Conditions Stakes (All-Weather Championships Fast Track Qualifier). Godolphin owned Festival Of Ages was entered at Kempton on Friday night but comes here to tackle this significant increase in trip for Charlie Appleby. The lightly raced 4yo gelding was second on debut at three to the useful UAE King. He then won over 1m4f at HQ in the July of that year and was put away. He won on his return to the track after 489 days off at Kempton over 1m2f last month. In a year that the Marathon Championship on the All-Weather looks wide open could prove a stayer to stick with over the coming months if getting the trip. Watersmeet, second in the Marathon Final betting ante-post, is an obvious danger having got back to winning ways last month.

At 3.15 they face a mile for the Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost EBF Novice Stakes. Enchanting Man goes for Charlie Appleby (I know I have been obsessed this week) making his racecourse debut. By Dawn Approach out of winning mare Al Baidaa he should be suited by the trip. Interestingly the chestnut has already been gelded so clearly they are hoping to pick some prizes up with him as he won’t be getting any of the 320,000 Guineas he cost going through the sales rings twice back in the breeding sheds! I will be taking a chance on him as this looks a fair opportunity to get off to a winning start.

Finally, Another Angel has been improving all year and must have a chance in the lucky last at 4.20 the Betway Sprint Handicap over 5f. The 4yo gelding clearly likes the five-furlong strip here and looked to me to have a bit more under the hood yet when winning over C&D on the 5th. I think he can win this before taking a step-up in class next time.

Up at Wolverhampton they face1m4f for the Betway Vegas Handicap at 6.45. I think Flood Defence should be able to get out and to the front here nice and early bouncing out of stall 3 which will suit the four-year-old. The filly is down in class as she has dropped to 62 in the OR’s, below her two winning marks, and with Teodore Ladd taking off a handy 5lb a big run is expected. I will be backing her to get back to winning ways.

Be lucky