Here we go! Strap yourself in: one of the great weekends of the National Hunt season is primed and ready to swing into action, and here’s a few ideas to earn some shillings along the way.
We’ll strike early on Friday with a horse your correspondent has been waiting three months to see in the shape of Alan King’s Mount Helicon, who makes his English debut in Newbury’s 1.00 race the Q Associates Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
Thanks to Wikipedia for explaining the three-year-old is named after a Greek mountain – “one celebrated by Hesiod because two springs sacred to the Muses were located here: the Aganippe and the Hippocrene, both of which bear “horse” (ἵππος hippos) in their toponym. In a related myth, the Hippocrene spring was created when the winged horse Pegasus aimed his hoof at a rock, striking it with such force that the spring burst from the spot. On Helicon too was the spring where Narcissus was inspired by his own beauty”.
Anyway, if your punting tastes are more Ouzbeck than ouzo, content yourself with the following information:
A way ahead of tomorrow’s eight rivals on his Flat form when trained in France by the great Andre Fabre no less, he won twice in seven appearances on the level (both at Saint-Cloud), has been placed in a listed race at 1m 7f, and even finished fourth in Longchamp’s Group 2 Prix Noailles (beaten little more than a length).
He goes on a range of ground (he won on good and heavy) and has absolutely no concerns about staying the trip or race fitness according to the moles at Barbury Castle.
If that isn’t enough his stable rave about him, and if his hurdling technique is as good as the work watchers would have you believe, then he’s a penalty kick at Newbury tomorrow.
Inevitably the 33/1 antepost investment we advised about Mount Helicon in the Triumph Hurdle on here some seven weeks ago is long gone (now just 20/1 biggest with Ladbrokes), but row in with a bit of evens for Friday’s debut.
Perhaps he’ll eventually follow in the footsteps of his illustrious stablemate Katchit, winner of both the Triumph and Champion Hurdles, get yourself down to Newbury for a few early clues.
My old mate Lord Culcheth might have had a ruby or two too many of late, but he isn’t the only who’s suggested to me that Saintsaire could be worth a very small each way dabble when Saturday rolls ’round.
The quirky nine-year-old was held in high regard by Paul Nicholls and the team at Ditcheat not that long ago, but he seemed to fall out of love with the game, and ended up running abysmally in an appalling race at Uttoxeter back in April when last seen out.
What’s the attraction I hear you say? Fair question, but have a quick scout through his form figures, and you’ll see the race he contests at 1.35pm at Newbury, the Jim Joel Memorial run as the UK Hygiene Handicap Chase, is the very same one in which he’s bounced back to form with a victory the last two seasons on the spin.
Add to that the chance that a transfer to the immeasurably smaller stable of the capable Alex Hales has worked the oracle, (and the word is he’s trained him specifically for a pop at this race), and you’ll see why I’m prepared to risk a bit of my hard earnt at what looks certain to be a huge each way price.
The arguments will rage long and loud about what’s going to win the Hennessy at 2.40pm, but regular readers of this column will know my antepost voucher is hard coded with the words Character Building, and with 17 declared for the big race I see no reason to change my thinking now.
Racing off a nearly identical mark to when he was third in the race last year, John Quinn’s charge shoulders 10st 6lb, he remains unexposed as a staying chaser, and has the underrated Dougie Costello doing the steering.
He likes the track, is fit and raring to go after a bonus win over hurdles at Towcester, and will relish being back in the rough and tumble of a big field handicap chase. Take a bit of 7/1 each way with Bet365, he’s got a great chance of being in the money again this year.
If the Hennessy isn’t enough to get your pulse racing, then Newcastle’s big card is also live on Channel 4 if you’re sitting at home having a bet or two, and we’ve got a couple of cracking opportunities to back a winner.
Nicky Henderson isn’t exactly lacking for firepower when it comes to the two mile hurdling division, and one of his big guns Punjabi can take the WBX.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle by storm in the hands of Barry Geraghty.
The five-year-old ran some big races in defeat last season; second in the Tote Gold Trophy and third in the Champion Hurdle, but he finally got his name up in lights in Punchestown’s Champion Hurdle in April, before wins on the Flat at Newmarket and Sandown bought him a well deserved pick of grass and the opportunity to put his feet up for a month or two.
Said to have improved again over the summer holidays, he is going to be very hard to beat at Gosforth Park, even with the likes of former Champion Hurdler Sublimity and dual Fighting Fifth winner Harchibald in attendance – The standout quote of 11/8 with Coral reflects that very fact.
He’s going to go off a very warm order favourite, and the Geordies’ll be queueing ’round the block for a slap-up celebratory feast at Yummies takeaway in the Bigg Market if he goes in.
Finally, don’t be afraid to have a few quid on Harmong Brig to win the WBX.com Rehearsal Chase at 3.00pm on the same Newcastle card. His trainer Nicky Richards was already a fan of this race having won it with Direct Access in 2005 before Harmony Brig won it 12 months ago, and the omens are good for a repeat performance.
Just as he did before winning it last season he recently ran well at Cheltenham (6th to Parsons Legacy), and set to carry 10st 4lb, he can take a hand in what doesn’t look the strongest renewal of this valuable race.
Good luck!
Tom
Weekend Tips
Friday 28th November
1:00 Newbury – Mount Helicon
Saturday 29th November
1:35 Newbury – Saintsaire each-way
2:40 Newbury (Hennessy Gold Cup) – Character Building
3:00 Newcastle – Harmony Brig
3:30 ewcastle (Fighting Fifth Hurdle) – Punjabi
Check out all the latest Bookmakers Free Bets to be claimed on this weekend’s Horse Racing.
