Saturdays Racing News

14th December 2018

Every racing publication seemed to use the same play on words on BetVictor Gold Cup day at Cheltenham. One of the fancied runners and this column’s tips was a horse called Rather Be. The headlines questioned where anybody would rather be than at the home of jumps racing on its biggest day outside the Festival. Rather Be was brought down four fences from home when running a great race in the feature. It's speculation whether Rather Be would have won that race but the horse has been backed into favouritism for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The International Hurdle on the same card could have implications for the betting on the Champion Hurdle. The ante post favourite at the time of writing is the mare Laurina who has won four races from four starts while trained by Willie Mullins. The horse won the mares’ novices’ hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March by 18 lengths. She receives a seven pounds allowance from the male horses in the Champion Hurdle and that advantage could be crucial up the hill. She also gets weight on Saturday.

>>> Lucky 7 Naps +102.75 Points So Far This Month <<<
>>> £1,027.50 Betting At £10 A Point <<<

Mullins has trained some brilliant female hurdlers including Quevega who won the Festival Graded race for horses of her sex six times. Annie Power was another brilliant mare but she only ran in the Champion Hurdle because the connections’ first choice, Faugheen, was injured and missed the race. It could be a tip in itself if Laurina is being targeted at the Champion Hurdle which currently looks like a one-horse race. Buveur D’Air, the winner in the last two years, looks a mile ahead in the division and burst the Samcro bubble at Newcastle last time out.

It's debatable whether there should be any weight allowances in championship races which identify the best horse. Annie Power beat My Tent Or Yours by less than five lengths in the 2016 Champion Hurdle but carried seven pounds less weight. There is an argument for saying My Tent Or Yours was the best horse on the day. He has now been retired without winning the Champion Hurdle a race in which he finished in the frame three times. If Laurina is a genuine contender she must win with something in hand in the International Hurdle on Saturday.

>>> Two Percent Club +95.48 Points So Far This Month <<<
>>> £954.80 Betting At £10 A Point <<<

The Caspian Caviar sponsored race is the second of the two big handicap chases at Cheltenham before Christmas. Baron Alco won the BetVictor race last month and is entered on Saturday. However, the race conditions are different and everything worked out well for Baron Alco in the first handicap. Winning both races in the same season is a big ask and others are preferred including Frodon for Paul Nicholls and Bryony Frost. The horse finished second behind Baron Alco but is weighted to reverse the form even though the jockey no longer has a claim. Rather Be has the better credentials.

The horse is well-handicapped with Baron Alco and Frodon and could be carrying much more weight if the mishap in the BetVictor race could have been avoided. The horse was going exceedingly well at the time and looked the most likely winner. However, the accident took place a long way from home and Rather Be was not definite to get the trip and outstay the rest of the field. From a betting perspective and to use the play on words again I’d rather be backing the horse and not Baron Alco, Frodon or any other runner in the field. Even so the banker of the day if taking part is Laurina in the International Hurdle.

Have a great weekend,

Best Wishes,

BetFan