JACOBS’ Crackers

Five-time Naps Table champ Moorestyle’s best bets…

SUNDAY SERVICE

PERFECT PIRATE can take advantage of decent ground and a drop in grade to land the nap selection in the staying handicap chase at Uttoxeter at 2.10 today.

Ben Pauling’s charge was pushed in at the deep end on his seasonal debut when 11th of 19 behind Sam Red at Cheltenham.

His young rider did not give him a hard ride and he dropped 5lbs in the handicap for that run.

And with Nico de Boinville taking over in the saddle, I suspect we will see a huge performance.

The six-year-old gets the vote over the lightly raced Sandy Beach and Lough Derg Farmer.

OH LAND ABLOOM may be able to defy top weight in the feature handicap hurdle at 2.40, while the drying ground will definitely be in the favour of DRILL BABY DRILL in the finale at 3.40.

Trainer Gordon Elliot has an amazing 12 of the 25 runners in the valuable Troytown Handicap Chase (2.30) at Navan but his squad could be eclipsed by the Willie Mullins’ trained MINELLA BEAU.

The selection was a well-backed favourite for the Munster National three weeks ago and was making ground on the leaders when falling.

He is set to race off the same mark and once again he has ground conditions in his favour.

Elliot’s pair Poormans Hill and Squouateur are the biggest dangers.

The Grade Three Monksfield Novice Hurdle at 1.00 can go to impressive maiden winner FIRST APPROACH, while the best bet at Exeter could be the lightly raced seven-year-old SYDNEY DE BAUME in the staying handicap hurdle at 1.20.

NEXT WEEK

The weather will play a huge role in the valuable Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase at Newbury on Saturday but with give in the ground, COO STAR SIVOLA looks a good bet.

Winner of the three mile handicap chase at Cheltenham in March, the six-year-old only has a 6lbs pull with favourite Elegant Escape for a 10-length beating at Sandown.

However, this severe test of stamina will suit him better and the 33-1 on offer looks too big to refuse.