Free Horse Tips this weekend for Henri The Second, The Big Breakaway, and more from Ed Quigley
Renowned Horse Racing Tipster and Journalist Ed Quigley, aka 'Longshot Ted' offers up his best bets for Saturday''s TV action, and picks out some of the other horses who have made him sit up and take note, on what should be a cracking weekend of sport.
Saturday Advice:
Henri The Second, 1.50 Sandown, e/w - BetVictor
Fine Casting, 2.25 Sandown, e/w - BetUK
Casa No Mento, 3.00 Sandown, win - BetUK
Lac De Constance, 3.35 Sandown, win - BetVictor
Mucho Mas, 4.10 Sandown, e/w - William Hill
I am going to kick things off with HENRI THE SECOND (1.50). He boasts winning C&D form, and testing ground should prove no bother to him.
Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard are absolutely flying, and this strapping individual makes plenty of appeal. He will have the burden of top weight, but this future chaser is a proper stamp of a horse who can cope with conditions. Winner of the Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle at this venue, a thorough examination of stamina will be right up his street as he returns to the scene of his best performance to date.
Harry Cobden takes the ride on the 6-year-old for the trainer who is aiming to win this for the third time in four years. At around 9/1 he looks more than a fair price in my view and gets the each-way vote.
Always a fascinating spectacle, it will be time for the Imperial Cup at 2.25, and there are plenty of each-way angles in here with underfoot conditions bringing in horses to the mix who may not have belting recent form, but can get the job done in the mud.
In my view, it may be risky to get too caught up on weights and measures, and the ability to handle the ground will be the salient factor here. Ben Pauling is having a terrific season, and FINE CASTING has to be a major player with his proven ability to handle testing underfoot conditions.
Two of his four career wins have come on ground described as Heavy, and he has winning form over much further which will clearly be of big benefit here. He isn't totally devoid of pace either, so it wouldn't be a shock if he were to run well, dropping down in trip with everything in his favour. Luca Morgan takes the ride on the 7-year-old who has solid each-way claims.
Rewind the clock to 12 months ago, and Luccia was bolting up at the Esher venue, and it will be fascinating to see if we have a Mare of that calibre lining up in the Listed Mares Bumper (3.00).
It may have only been a Hereford Bumper she won last time out, but the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained CASA NO MENTO put in an impressive performance when scooting clear by a dozen lengths on Soft ground. That bodes well in regards to this assignment, and she looks more than capable of the potential to make an impact at this level. Sam Twiston-Davies takes the ride for his father on this exciting prospect.
We had a shock at Exeter last month, as hotpot LAC DE CONSTANCE fluffed his lines as an odds-on favourite, but he has a fair chance to get back to winning ways here (3.35). The Dan Skelton charge didn't jump all that well on much quicker ground than ideal at the West Country venue last time out in a disappointing run.
However, this unexposed sort will be much happier with underfoot conditions here and if he can get back to the same form which saw him thump Hudson De Grugy by 20 lengths at Kempton at the back end of last year. Harry Skelton takes the ride on this talented individual who has the ammunition in the locker to get back to winning ways here.
I've been discussing the good form of the Ben Pauling team who numerically are having their best season since the Cotswold Handler took out his licence, and they are represented by MUCHO MAS (4.10).
This is an unexposed stayer who powered through the mud to win at Lingfield in December and has been freshened up since. He really thrived stepping up in trip on that occasion, and a 5lb hike in the weights looks perfectly fair. Luca Morgan is in the saddle and the duo can get involved at the business end of proceedings on ground that promises to suit.
The Cheltenham Festival is looming large, and with ground conditions becoming softer than anticipated, it really has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons, with punters and connections scratching their heads at the last minute.
Cut in the ground will be no issue for the Joe Tizzard trained THE BIG BREAKAWAY. He has been hitting the crossbar in recent times, but has assured stamina and loves cut in the ground, so this frantically run race could play to his strengths. He has some smart form at Cheltenham, and it wouldn't be a shock were he to hit the frame at a big price.
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Don't forget Ed will be back on Monday with his Weekend Review, discussing all the key talking points and fall-out from the major races.
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