FARKE PRAISE FOR STYLISH STRUGGLERS
VALUE SCOPE Two 8-1 winners in last two weeks. See who Steve Jones is tipping today.
DANIEL FARKE hailed the style of Wycombe and manager Gareth Ainsworth as top meet bottom tomorrow.
Norwich will aim to take a step closer to a top-flight return but they visit a Wycome side who have lost only one of their last four matches, winning two.
Farke (above) said: “I really do like them. I like what Gareth is doing.
“He has delivered for years and they go with their style.
“They always want to bring their style on the pitch, try to bring their offence and I like this, I like this bravery.
“It is a sign of their fighting spirit that they go into their games with a lot of bravery and togetherness.
“It is fantastic what they are doing. I would like them to stay in this League because it is good to have these characters.”
SOMETIMES the answer to a problem is staring you in the face – or in Jose Mourinho’s case, sitting in tracksuits behind him.
Tottenham fans were heartened in their last two games at West Ham and in the Europa League that the perennial substitutes Gareth Bale and Dele Alli were finally given a proper run and were showing their form of old.
Bale, particularly, seems to have found that swagger and cutting edge to his game that made him a world-beater for Real Madrid.
Against a stubborn Burnley defence tomorrow, Spurs will need a bit of invention and pace, so the Special One will surely play Bale from the start.
The Welsh wizard is a tempting 11/2 with Betfred to open the scoring for Spurs and 2/1 with Skybet to notch at any time against Sean Dyche’s side.
AL DANCER should thrive when given the chance to tackle three miles for the first time in the Close Brothers Handicap Chase (3.35, ITV4) at Kempton today.
A high-class chaser in the novice ranks last season,
Nigel Twistondavies’s (right) grey returned with a victory at Newton Abbot in October.
Ridden by the trainer’s son Sam, Al Dancer was strong at the finish when third to all-the-way winner Coole Cody in the two-anda-half-mile Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham the following month.
My selection had no luck in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at the home of jump racing four weeks later, losing all chance when hampered by a faller at the fifth fence and coming home ninth.
The key to Al Dancer’s chance is the step up in distance. He runs as if the extra yardage will bring out further progress, and the eight-year-old is fancied to net the £42,713 first prize.
BEAT the bookies with a cunning bet in the Vertem
Eider Chase.
SPRINGFIELD FOX (3.15) hasn’t been able to show what he’s capable of this season but this marathon Newcastle contest should bring out the best in Tom George’s grey.
He was unbeaten in three Irish point-to-points and he took well to fences last season when a wide-margin winner on his first two chase starts.
Both those victories came on testing conditions when he galloped his rivals into the heavy ground from the front.
This season’s form figures do not inspire confidence but he has excuses. The ground had dried out too much when pulled up in the Welsh National and 3m1f around Wincanton was
VALUE SCOPE
always going to be too sharp for him. This 4m1f slog on testing ground should be much more to his liking. Have 1pt each-way at 10-1.
There’s a decent card at Kempton and the Close Brothers Chase is a competitive affair. Most firms are paying out on five places and there are two runners I like.
THE BUTCHER SAID (3.35) has caught the eye travelling well in similar races a couple of times this season. His finishing efforts have been disappointing but he will love the decent ground.
Olly Murphy’s hope has had another breathing operation since he last ran and I like the fact the hood he usually wears has been taken off for the first time in a couple of years. Have 1pt each-way at 12-1.
The other one I like is
YOUNG WOLF
(3.35). His autumn form gives him a chance and his prominent tactics are often a help around Kempton. He is way overpriced at 28-1 so have 1pt each-way.
Earlier on the card, TOP MAN (1.15) has sound claims. He went well for a long way when sixth in this last year and it doesn’t look as competitive this season. It didn’t work out for him over fences but he ran well when fourth over today’s track and trip on Boxing Day and the two-month break he’s had since is in his favour as he goes well when fresh. Have 1pt each-way at 28-1.
GUY (4.10) will love the decent ground. He bolted up on his chase debut at Huntingdon and his progress has been hampered by a wet winter.
He’s been freshened up by a nice break since finishing third last December at Hereford in a race that’s worked out very nicely.
Have 2pts each-way at 9-1.
with FIVE top tips