The veteran Botox Has has caught PJ’s eye on Windsor’s valuable jumps card.
Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Value Tips
13:50 Windsor – Nells Son (each-way)
14:25 Windsor – Botox Has
14:40 Fakenham – Gata Ban
15:35 Windsor – Neo King (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
13:50 Windsor – Nells Son (each-way)
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but off 155 last year, what a certainty Matata was in this race. Behind him that day were Harpers Brook (4th – 139) and Sans Bruit (5th – 138). This duo are 7lbs and 3lbs lower in the ratings respectively and could easily step up on their runs last time out, but will need to do so. The last-named was outclassed in the Desert Orchid Chase, beaten some 26 lengths by the hugely progressive Thistle Ask.
Harry Skelton prefers Mirabad, unexposed over fences and possibly better than his handicap mark suggests, although I am not so sure that he would want too much more rain. In the circumstances, this could be the turn of one of the senior runners to step back into form.
The 11-year-old NELLS SON has always loved a slug fest in the mud and the assessor is finally beginning to relent, with his mark reduced to 3lbs lower than his last win. A sound jumper I suspect that the old boy will be held up off what looks set to be a red-hot pace and this sharp track should play to his strengths and he merits an each-way play at a double figure price.
I kept a close eye on Green Book for his return at Sandown Park after a long time on the sidelines. It would have been easy for connections to have retired the nine-year-old, but I was quite impressed by that run as Charlie let him have his head and it was no surprise that his mount was free and fresh. It was only from the home turn that he paid the price for those early exertions and in my book, he is no 33/1 shot here with that run under his belt.
Royal Rambler had a really hard race last time out at Chepstow, where the extra yardage suited and has gone up 4lbs for that run. Nab Wood, Long Draw and Lud’Or will quite rightly have their supporters for this valuable prize and their chances are obvious, but I fancy the Moore family charge BOTOX HAS.
Down to his lowest mark (144) since winning off that rating in the big handicap hurdle at Haydock in November 2022, I thought that the old boy shaped really nicely at Wincanton last time out. He travelled really strongly, perhaps too well and seemingly enjoyed the experience until weakening two out. Down 3lbs from that run, I fancy he will be about to deliver a seasonal best now if he manages to relax a bit better during the contest and this turning track will surely help him in that respect.
14:40 Fakenham – Gata Ban
For such a valuable prize, it is a huge surprise that only eight have been entered, the Boudicca Series Final Mares Handicap Chase. However, as a punter with eight set to run, if the whole field does go to post, it has the shape of a lovely each-way betting heat.
The first thing to note is that there is plenty of place on with four of the runners set to be either at the very front of affairs or race prominently. That doesn’t automatically suggest that it is set up for a hold-up horse, but offers the likelihood that several of these will cut each other’s throats around this tight track. Course specialist Gazette Bourgeoise burnt off her rivals one by one last month, having fallen to a more attractive handicap mark. Even on 9lbs better terms, it is hard to see Jack Touch reversing the form. However, the winner will surely not get her own way out in front again and I am going to go left field and have a play on the Neil Mulholland-trained charge GATA BAN.
She ran well on her first chase start here behind Fancy Stuff and then made several niggly mistakes at Market Rasen on her second start, which can be forgiven. Her finishing position last time out belied the promise she showed as she had every chance down the home straight at Uttoxeter before running out of stamina over the three miles. This drop back in trip looks made to measure and with her light racing weight and Harriet Tucker taking a full 7lbs off, she now gets the chance to run off 90, which is too good a mark to pass up.
15:35 Windsor – Neo King (each-way)
In the prevailing conditions, this is going to be a real slugfest, so only the strongest stayers need apply. The lightly raced and highly progressive Special John will be the pick of many punters for this and the seven-year-old made it two from two with a clear-cut run at Wincanton. I think you can upgrade that run, as he made three niggly mistakes and further progress in the jumping department looks likely.
Jupiter Des Bordes is in a rich vein of form himself and is only a pound higher than chasing home the well treated Egbert in the extended three and a half mile Last Fling Chase at Haydock. If that race hasn’t bottomed him out (only 19 days ago), he has obvious claims as well.
With a question mark over the stamina of Jack Parrot, the each-way vote goes the way of Evan Williams’ trained runner, NEO KING. I am not sure he got home over the four miles in the Borders National Handicap Chase at Kelso last time out, which may also have come quick enough on his cracking effort when second in the Southern National at Fontwell. I make him a strong each-way play alongside last year’s big-priced winner and mud lover, Planned Paradise.
Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Value Tips
13:50 Windsor – Nells Son (each-way)
14:25 Windsor – Botox Has
14:40 Fakenham – Gata Ban
15:35 Windsor – Neo King (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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