ANYONE FANCY A GAME OF BRIDGE?
O’Brien double no Pipe dream
THURSDAY’S BEST BETS BANBRIDGE (1.30) rates decent each-way value in the Turners Novices’ Chase.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge returns, looking to back up victory in the Martin Pipe over hurdles a year ago.
Banbridge looked all class when winning the Arkle Trial at the November meeting but was not going to be top rank at two miles.
That was clear at the Dublin Racing Festival and he goes back up almost four more furlongs for this event.
Without question, Mighty Potter holds the key to the race.
Gordon Elliott’s young star has the X-factor and been brilliant over fences, including a classy win at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Odds of around even money might still look generous by the end if he lives up to his billing – but it’s a tight price about a horse who blew out at the Festival last year in the Supreme.
With money likely to come on the day for Appreciate It, due to the Willie Mullins factor, Banbridge may drift.
He’s two from two at the track, has won at the Festival and will surely run into a place if not winning, which gets your cash back with an each-way bet if Mighty Potter produces the goods.
He’s the one to take advantage if Elliott’s charge doesn’t fire. Day three of the meeting looks like it might be a good one for Cullentra House, though.
TEAHUPOO (3.30) has rocketed into thinking for the Stayers’ Hurdle after showing the step up to three miles is no issue, having been good enough at shorter to beat Honeysuckle in winning a Hatton’s Grace in December. The six-year-old is an improving horse and although there is a suspicion faster ground may catch him out, you’d hope the longer trip may offset that worry.
Dangers lurk everywhere. Gavin Cromwell’s Flooring Porter has won this race for this column the past two years and it is hard to jump ship.
But the horse has been fighting to get fit and the interrupted prep has to be a worry. Teahupoo looks the type to make a mark with Grade
One form in the book.
Shishkin is surely too tight at the prices to play in the Ryanair, so he’s best left alone as a single bet.
Even if he bolts up, forecast prices of 8/11 and 4/6 are too skinny and JANIDIL (2.50) is a better bet to land each-way money, as he did last year.
Some may play the Shishkin doubles with Nicky Henderson’s other hotpot LUCCIA (4.50) who seems hard to oppose in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
MONBEG GENIUS (5.30) looks an interesting contender for the super shrewd Jonjo O’Neill in the Kim Muir, while the handicaps are fierce.
An Tailliur is another O’Neill lurker, here in a race he’s won before in the Pertemps Final, but the vote goes to MAXXUM (2.10).
He obliterated rivals in a big-field qualifier at Leopardstown then ran a decent enough race without getting placed at the Festival in Ireland.
Maxxum landed an extra hike from the UK handicapper for this contest, suggesting the assessor is concerned.
Elliott also has Salvador Ziggy and The Bosses Oscar primed, meaning you can have a serious look at any one of his contenders. But six-year- old Maxxum, who is rocketing through the ranks in a similar style to 2017 winner Presenting Percy, gets the nod.