Four bets for the weekend’s big handicaps

BENSON did this column a massive favour a year ago when landing the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle after being put up at 16-1 (he went off at a starting price of 11/1). In truth, he faces a stiffer task in the same race tomorrow because he is both one year older and running off the top weight of 12 stone in a fiercely-completive 18-runner handicap.

However, with more rain forecast between now and the off, along with his trainer Sandy Thomson in fine form (six winners from his last 15 runners for a 40 per cent strike rate over the past 14 days), I am happy to stay loyal to this battle-hardened warrior on his 26th visit to the racetrack.

Benson, a nine-year-old grey gelding, is arguably a better horse over two and a half miles rather than the two mile distance of tomorrow’s contest at Kelso (2.50 p.m.). However, with a likely fast-run race and with fairly soft ground to slow up the speedier types, I expect jockey Ryan Mania to hold him up again near the back of the field before picking off rivals in the last quarter of a mile. Back him 1 point each way at 12-1 with bet365, paying six places.

The forecast favourite Under Control looks an improver for the J.P. McManus/Nicky Henderson owner/trainer combination but he is far too short in the betting for me at around 7-2 and, if the ground came up very soft he might not even run because he has targets at the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival too.

I will, however, go into the race double handed because I am also keen to back course and distance specialist CRACKING RHAPSODY, who was first and second at this track in his last two runs, both in small-field handicaps. I think this lightly-raced five-year-old gelding will be better suited to the hurly-burly of a bigger field and he can outrun his odds.