Best bets for the horseracing this weekend

The British winter has done it again and racing at Newcastle is off today meaning we do not get to see Constitution Hill as hoped. Nicky Henderson has said he is far from certain to line up in a rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown next weekend.  Henderson is apparently concerned the rescheduled race may leave too little time between that run and Constitution Hill’s next target  the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. I am having two bets, one here in the UK and one across the pond. 

Best bet for the horse racing at Newbury

Mahler Mission looked like he was going to go very close, if not win, the G.2 3m6f Wellchild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase at the Festival back in March before taking a tumble two out. He blew away the cobwebs with a seasonal debut run at Carlisle over an inadequate 2m4f last month and can get back to winning ways in the 3m2f  Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 2.50 with this trip much more to his liking. Ben Harvey takes 3lb off from his mark of 153 and I expect to see him up the pointed end throughout before showing his stamina and going clear up the long straight here. I have a bit of the 8-1 early. 

Best bet for the horse racing at Del Mar 

Silver Knott runs in America this evening again in the G.1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar off at 11.25 our time. The Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old, who was beaten a nose in last season’s G.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, has made four consecutive North American appearances since finishing down the field in the G.1 2,000 Guineas. After finishing third in the G.2 Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont in June, Silver Knott returned to the same course the following month to come home fifth in the G1 Belmont Derby. Silver Knott was denied a clear run when taking third in the G2 Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs in August before a half-length second in the G2 Twilight Derby on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Santa Anita in early November. Charlie Appleby said “Silver Knott travelled down from Santa Anita to Del Mar and enjoyed an easy couple of weeks before getting back into his routine. Everyone has been very happy with him and it looks as though he has put on a bit of condition. Stall one is fine – it’s better to be drawn down the inside compared to a wide slot – and Jamie Spencer has ridden Silver Knott before. Hopefully, we can get a clean run round and I’m sure that he will be competitive again. It would be nice if he can get his head in front.” 6-1 is available with Coral and I have that.