TRM Raceday Preview - 29/10/2021 (Wetherby)

I don't think it will just be me who's really looking forward to this weekend with cracking cards at Wetherby and Down Royal. National Hunt fans will be licking their lips at the return of proper racing, and the return of Envoi Allen too - I hope he can get himself back on track with a win in a poor enough chase. Friday looks a decent card to get through and my thoughts are below. Just to keep you updated, from now on, I will put up the profit and loss levels for the raceday previews below. Not many websites do this, so I will try and be as transparent as possible.

P/L: Raceday Previews = +27pts (20 selections)

Antepost = -3pts (1 selection)

Wetherby 2:05 - 3m (3m45y) bet365 Novices' Chase

No bet for this one but it's a race I will be watching with interest. Ahoy Senor was put up by @Ruby_Tuesday59 at 50/1 for the RSA, and you'd be hoping the Grade 1 winner will win this competitive novice chase first time out. Barbados Bucks is highly rated by his trainer, and he won't be the last horse to bomb out in the Albert Bartlett, and might be a horse for the National Hunt Chase if Nicholls can get plenty of experience into him. The other horse worth watching is Ashtown Lad who finished a decent 4th in an open handicap at Aintree on his last run of his novice season, and could be a horse who could compete in lucrative long distance handicap chases in the future.

Wetherby 2:40 - 2m bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Oliver Greenall is an up and coming trainer who has a few decent horses to go to war with this season, and I'll take a chance on HERBIERS who blotted his copybook last time out. Pulling up at Chepstow, he made a mistake early on and never really got going. I think he's the best horse in this field with his win at Sandown last season being very eye-catching form. I just hope he hasn't come back with a physical issue after his head scratching run at Chepstow but I don't mind forgiving a horse one run. His main target of the year is the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle according to his trainer in a stable tour, and I expect this race may be a stepping stone to get him back on track for a tilt at that said race. Hopefully there won't be too much rain that will deluge the ground tomorrow, although he has won in soft ground before.

Other notable mentions go to Blakeney Point, who is always consistent and his beating of Ingelby Hollow at Perth reads OK - as Ingleby Hollow has run well twice since. Whilst the former Jessica Harrington trained GOT TRUMPED - moved to Sandy Thomson - who is inconsistent enough but will win off a UK mark of 120 given the lack of competitiveness in this country compared to his previous residence across the Irish Sea. If he doesn't get his head in front in this race then expect him to go close sometime soon off 120.

Selections:

Herbiers - 1.5pts e/w @ 8/1 (Bet365) *WILL UPDATE WITH MORE PRICES LATER*

*NOTEBOOK GOT TRUMPED FOR FUTURE RACES*

3:50 Wetherby - 2m3½f (2m3f85y) Cash Out At bet365 Handicap Chase

A trappy contest especially given the early prices by William Hill (anyone who can get on early prices with these bastards deserve a medal) with 4 joint favs at 5/1 currently. Magic Saint will run his usual consistent race but I think his main target will be the Grand Sefton at Aintree in December. Good Boy Bobby runs his best races in the early part of the season, but I think he flatters to deceive over fences and is best left alone, he also seems a bit of a tart - promising a fair bit but never delivering. Eclair D'Ainay is the most interesting out of the joint favourites and the one who I think will win this race. The form from his last 2 races - finished 2nd in both - hasn't been franked but the Skelton gelding had to give a stone plus to each horse, so he shouldn't be judged on either run. Only run 9 times under rules, I expect this Network gelding to be competing in good handicaps towards the end of the season.

Galahad Quest is interesting especially with the forecast rain but I'll give a chance to the Venetia Williams trained LASKALIN, on his first run over fences in the UK. I actually thought he could be an interesting runner in the Paddy Power Plate at the Festival - however he was pulled on the day due to the better ground. Wetherby are due a few millimetres of rain overnight and he could be an interesting horse to catch first time out on softer ground although he may need a little further than this trip. Venetia has had success with first time runners from France, notably Fanion D'Estruval in 2019. Assuming they get the rain that is predicted, Laskalin has some decent form in France including competing in graded races and could be worth a sniff at the 12/1 being offered by William Hill.

Selections:

Laskalin - 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (Bet365) *PRICES TO BE UPDATED*