Horse Racing Betting Tips: Man to give Frost an end of season Present
AS WE draw the curtain on another National Hunt season, there have been a number of memorable moments.
One of those was certainly Altior’s world record-equalling 18th straight win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Nicky Henderson’s superstar is a once in a lifetime horse and we are lucky to have witnessed him in action.
For those travelling to Sandown tomorrow, they were hoping to see the nine-year-old take on Paul Nicholls’ Cyrname, the highest-rated horse in training, in the bet365 Celebration Chase (3.00pm).
However, the forecast quick ground has ruled out Nicholls’ inmate and has left Altior long odds-on to win the race for a third successive year, which barring a major surprise he should do with minimum fuss.
No one will forget Bryony Frost’s epic win aboard Frodon in the Ryanair Chase in a hurry.
She became the first female jockey to win a Grade One over fences at the Cheltenham Festival and I fancy her to cap off another incredible season in tomorrow’s feature, the bet365 Gold Cup (3.35pm).
Frost rides PRESENT MAN for the in-form Nicholls yard with this race looking the plan for a while.
The nine-year-old has only run three times since finishing third here twelve months ago, winning the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton for a second year on the bounce on his seasonal reappearance, before running pretty well in the Becher Chase on ground that was too soft for him.
He was last seen finishing a tailed off fourth at Taunton in mid-January, but you feel he’s been saved for this and must go well off just a three pound higher mark than last year.
The son of Presenting looks a good each-way bet at 16/1 with Coral.
Last year’s winner Step Back has been very well-supported in the build-up, but he hasn’t shown much this season to suggest he’s able to win this off a 10lb higher mark.
Instead, of those at the top of the market, I prefer THE YOUNG MASTER at around 9/1.
Neil Mulholland’s horse seems to have been around for an eternity, but he’s actually only 10 and his form this season has shown the fire very much still burns bright.
After a solid enough run to finish eighth in this race last year, he kicked off the season with two good wins at Chepstow and Cheltenham, before being pulled-up in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in December.
The ground was pretty soft that day which probably put paid to his chances and back on a more favourable surface, he ran really well in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.
The handicapper has kept him off the same mark here which could make him dangerous considering he won the race in 2016 off six pounds higher.
While The Young Master is a fairly obvious selection, my final choice, FLYING ANGEL, takes a bit more explanation.
The eight-year-old looked a potential star when taking two graded novice chases in 2017, but hasn’t really built on that and has failed to get his head in front since.
This term he’s been consistent in handicap company without ever really challenging, though his last two runs at Cheltenham and Aintree point to the fact he could have another big run in him.
He was a very good fifth in the Ultima, before travelling well for a long way in the Topham and he’s actually been dropped a pound for that.
On the best of his novice form, a mark of 141 will surely underestimate his ability, so given he’s available at 25/1, he must be worth keeping on side.
BILL ESDAILE’S BET365 GOLD CUP 1-2-3
1 PRESENT MAN
2 THE YOUNG MASTER
3 FLYING ANGEL