DOUBLE HANDFUL

FOR many people the National Hunt season really comes alive when the BetVictor Gold Cup chugs around in November. This valuable handicap is contested by some teak-tough, battle-hardened beasts and this year’s renewal looks as open as ever.

Where do you start trying to pick a winner in this highly competitive 20-runner field?

At the top of the market the layers are finding it hard to split Nicky Henderson’s Rather Be and Mick Channon’s Mister Whitaker and I find that puzzling.

On pure form alone, Rather Be has to be the preference.

The two horses clashed at the Festival in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap over course and distance, with Rather Be finishing second to Mister Whitaker by a head.

Rather Be has a massive 9lb swing in the weights over Mister Whitaker today for that margin.

In addition, today’s race will be run on better ground, which will suit Rather Be. All in all, Nicky Henderson’s horse looks a worthy favourite but at just 5-1 he’s a still a tad short.

I will hedge my bets by offering one of my pals down the pub an evenmoney match bet that Rather Be beats Mister Whittaker.

I once bet a guy in the boozer a tenner that less than four players in the Spain squad would sing along to their national anthem. There are no words to the Spanish national anthem. Kalondra looks a decent bet on ratings but seems to have a worrying habit of stopping in front. Last year’s winner Splash Of Ginge is surely carrying too much weight as is Frodon.

Baron Alco is a horse who will pop up and win a race at a good price this season, but not today. KING’S SOCKS hails from the highly successful Pipe yard. He looks very well weighted, has had a wind operation and (according to David Pipe) has had this race as a long-term target. He looks a knocking each-way bet.

"Racing is the only sport in the world in which you are penalised for winning, and even worse, finishing second. But that's handicapping for you and we all know the rules" — Mick Channon