Betfair Stayers Handicap Hurdle - Antepost Selection

The Betfair Chase meeting is one of the best meetings of the year especially when they used to have a 2 day meeting. Many a time was spent at Haydock on the Friday in torrential rain before it normally cleared up on the Saturday for Betfair Chase day. This was back in the day of the Fixed Brush handicap hurdle over mini fences, unfortunately in the past few years they've resorted back to standard hurdles which has detracted from the race in my opinion.

On a side note it was a frustrating time over the weekend with 2 antepost selections at the Cheltenham November meeting finishing 2nd. Notlongtillmay was put up at 14/1 and was 2nd to an impressive winner, whilst Lookaway was 2nd to a McManus handicap blot at 12/1. Byker was a non-runner which means the profit stands at +2.8pts for the antepost column. Hopefully we can go one better with a selection below.

This years edition might lack a superstar but Crambo might hold a decent chance of improving further up the ladder off a mark of 139. Whilst, surprise surprise, Paul Bryne holds another handicap favourite coming over the Irish Sea. 3/1 and 11/4 for both don't hold any value although I think Crambo looks the most likely winner, and a horse I've had in the tracker since the summer.

Further down the betting list Gowel Road could be an interesting horse to follow over this trip as he's bred to be all stamina, and comes here after over 400 days off the track. Definitely one for the tracker going forward, whilst Santos Blue will come on for his 2nd to the aforementioned Crambo at Aintree. Any rain will be a negative for him potentially but Skelton is a cracking target trainer and has mentioned this race for him. One to keep in mind.

Bold Endeavour will run his race from the front and is tough as old boots, expect him to be involved when he turns in Infront in the home straight whilst another potential improver coming into his second season over obstacles is Howlingmadmurdock - who finished 5th in a grade 1 at Aintree.

There are 2 that catch my eye at this stage however. First up is a horse who is, without doubt, better than a 125 rated horse - Dubrovnik Harry. It looks like this horse has come to hand after a stop-start campaign last season. Strongly fancied to be a graded chaser by his trainer Harry Fry, he bombed out at Exeter first time over fences last season. A wee break over Christmas entailed before a crack at 2 handicaps over hurdles where he never fired. Last seen in a Pertemps qualifier last month at Cheltenham, he caught the eye thst day staying on strongly into 4th and his trainer mentioned he may go back over fences with the Pertemps Final in March there if things go wrong. Entered in a novice chase at Exeter on Sunday, he was confirmed for this race however and I'd like to think they'd take their chance off 125 especially if there is anymore rain around in the Lancashire area in the week. However he won't be a bet due to the question marks remaining over his appearance, but is one to keep an eye on if confirmed to take his chance.

The one who I've had in the tracker and have been waiting for confirmation of his entry for Saturday at the 5 days declaration stage is LORD SNOOTIE. He's been in my tracker since he caught the eye at Galway last month. Travelling strongly before making a mistake, he was catching the eye against the winner Buddy One (won against since), and if he can brush up his jumping he can outrun his odds here.

It's worth noting that Lord Snootie had only ran 5 times over hurdles before he attempted to plunge a 3 mile handicap over the Irish Sea at the Punchestown Festival last season, where he jumped left and made another crucial error at the wrong time before finishing 5th in a race littered with good handicappers. This was after a fine 2nd at Uttoxeter in March finishing behind a current 143 rated horse in Trelawne. Visually and on paper, Lord Snootie looks much better then a mark of 123 and is worth plunging at odds of 25/1 for the big staying handicap hurdle at Haydock on Saturday

Bets:

Lord Snootie 1.5pts ew @ 25/1 (Coral)

Profit and Loss (Antepost Column)

+2.80 (3 selections)