Tag: Arzal

Haydock Swinton Hurdle Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The new National Hunt season is under way and adjusting to life after Tony McCoy. Haydock stages a mixed card of flat and jump races on Saturday but the feature event is the two-mile Swinton Handicap Hurdle.

The bookmakers have chalked up Handiwork as the early favourite on the strength of his fourth behind Cheltenian at Ayr in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. That title is a little misleading as it is now a handicap and Handiwork is just 2lbs better off with the winner. The Steve Gollings-trained gelding stormed through in the closing stages and he has the assistance of Nico de Boinville in the saddle.

Cheltenian is now nine years of age but has always been a classy performer, winning the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham back in 2011. He was a game second to Violet Dancer at Newbury in the Betfair Hurdle and thoroughly deserved his victory at Ayr.

Tony Martin was narrowly denied in the Chester Cup when Quick Jack was just beaten by Trip To Paris on Wednesday. He is targeting another big handicap here with The Plan Man, a five-year-old son of Jeremy.

He was fourth to Some Article at Fairyhouse in April and got no further than the fourth flight before unseating his rider last time. Evan Williams saddles Court Minstrel and last year’s winner Ballyglasheen and neither has particularly inspiring form figures. The former has been cutting little ice against the top two-mile chasers recently while Ballyglasheen was never a factor at Cheltenham or Aintree.

Brian Ellison is represented by Vodka Wells, a two and a quarter length winner from Harvey’s Hope at Hexham last time. That was his first victory since joining the trainer from France and he could still be improving.

Barizan is another previous winner of this race having won in 2013 but he too has been struggling to show his form of late. Oliver Sherwood saddles Rayvin Black who tried to set the pace at Sandown recently but could not sustain the effort and faded into seventh. He was a very game second to Ebony Express in the Imperial Cup but that was a real slog and it may have taken its toll.

David Pipe’s Rathealy has won modest contests at Plumpton and Warwick, both in very testing ground. He is up 7lbs for his latest win but the one that really catches the eye is Harry Whittington’s Arzal. He ran no sort of race in the Imperial Cup but something was clearly amiss that day and he bolted up at Chepstow last time in a novices’ hurdle.

Handiwork @9-1 Paddy Power

Arzal @9-1 Ladbrokes

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Imperial Cup Preview

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Any punters hoping to top up their wallets before heading to Cheltenham will be dismayed when they see the card for the Imperial Cup. The race has attracted a 24-strong field worthy of next week’s County Hurdle at the festival and will take a good deal of sorting out.

The race that may hold the best clues is the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury won by Violet Dancer. Calipto finished fourth, Arzal sixth and Fascino Rustico fell three out when still in contention. A case can be made for all three but I am just siding with Arzal who was almost brought to a standstill when almost brought to a standstill by a fallen rival.

Jockey Paul O’Brien did well to sit tight and did not rush his mount back into the race, making late progress up the home straight. He was never going to threaten the winner but he looks better value than Calipto at almost twice the price. The Paul Nicholls-trained runner wore a hood that day but it has been left off on Saturday, presumably having made little or no difference. I am just not convinced that he is the sort of horse that will relish a struggle. O’Brien claims a useful 7lbs on Arzal which puts him in with an each-way chance.

Fascino Rustico seems a bit accident prone having taken his fair share of falls in his short career. He was slightly frustrating when trained by Nicholls and is giving Dan Skelton similar concerns. He moved well on the outside at Newbury but had just come under pressure when diving at the third last. The likely favourite is David Pipe’s Bidourey who has been winning novice hurdles easily and now steps up in grade. He will probably be kept right up with the pace but it can be a long way home at Sandown and he is still only four years of age.

Nicky Henderson did Betcirca followers a favour today with Lessons In Milan (tipped at 3-1) and that made it five winners from his last six runners. The Lambourn trainer seems to have his string peaking at just the right time to take on the massed ranks of Willie Mullins at Cheltenham. I’m hoping that applies to Top Notch and Whisper who are carrying my support at fancy prices next week.

He is represented here by the enigmatic West Wizard. He was ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle a few seasons back but has been beaten three times at odds-on. Last time out he came up against a smart recruit in Minella Rocco so it may have been no disgrace to finish seven lengths adrift. He obviously isn’t as good as Henderson originally hoped and must have had his training problems but I cannot ignore him with just 10st 8lbs.

William Hill and BetVictor are offering each-way down to fifth place on this race so check with your bookmaker when placing your bets.

Arzal @14-1 BetVictor

West Wizard @9-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4,5