Backers of ante-post fancy Cloudy Dream who were looking forward to his run in Saturday’s Betvictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham have had a rude awakening after the grey was entered in a handicap chase of a similar name, also on Saturday’s card, in error. It’s not yet clear whether bookies will offer a refund to their customers after a trainer error but you’d think - after all the recent bad press surrounding their game - they might extend the olive branch to punters on this one.
There are three meetings, all of them over jumps, at Huntingdon, Worcester, and Lingfield to contend with today as we build towards a three-day event at Cheltenham at the end of the week.
Presupposing that there’s been no been admin errors down through the cards, we’ve looked through the day’s action and picked out a few runners worth following.
This being November, novice events abound today and it’s in a Novice Hurdle in the West Midlands that we find our first runner of interest. Onefortheroadtom runs in the 14:00 Worcester - British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle, in the McManus colours. Harry Fry’s Irish import was a pricey buy after a point win in his native land and made an impressive start under rules last time when winning at Exeter. He had Lalor, a Grade 2 bumper winner and a much more experienced type, in behind that day and with further improvement forthcoming he, he can win in defiance of a penalty.
The Skelton team are in cracking form at this early stage of the National Hunt campaign and run a couple of likely types at Huntingdon this afternoon.
Trainer Dan and jock Harry both have strike rates of 31% over the last two weeks, according to The Sportsman’s pointers section.
Cause Toujours did himself justice with a midfield finish in the Champion Bumper at the end of his last campaign and made an encouraging start over timber when fourth round Uttoxeter last month. He’s taken to land the 13:10 Huntingdon - Read Noel Fehily At 188Bet Novices' Hurdle for the in-form familial team ahead of Theclockisticking.
They team up to saddle the fav in the following race on the card at Huntington, too, the 13:40 Huntingdon - Twitter At 188Bet Novices' Handicap Chase. Firmount Gent is an old codger at this point in his career but he’s been running well of late. He looked the most likely winner when taking a fall at Plumpton last time and he can get himself a reward for his fine performances here while he’s still on an attractive handicap mark.
It might be worth a chance at doubling this short-priced pair up for those that want to be behind the Skelton’s and their continuing strong form. You can find other statistical information and tips over in our pointers section over here.
