National Hunt expert Murt Khan goes to Ffos Las and Ascot for his best bets on Friday afternoon.
2.15 Ffos Las preview
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I was excited to see STAR TACKLE priced up at 4/1 but those odds didn't last long and he's now trading at a top price of 9/4.
Last time out he was backed steadily all day. His jumping was solid on the whole but he put down a couple of times when Harry Bannister really asked him to come up. Unfortunately, on the second circuit he got in too close and Bannister exited out the side door.
He wasn't left alone up front throughout the race but was going as well as anything at the point of his departure.
Last spring he won a point to point on heavy ground so should be good on the stamina side of things. He also competed in a couple of other interesting PTP races, once finishing third beaten 15 lengths to Neon Wolf (runner-up in this year's Neptune Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival) and also finished fourth to Monalee beaten 14 lengths who is 7/1 favourite for the 2018 RSA Chase.
Pure Vision definitely comes into the reckoning and will be the one who will relish a proper test of stamina.
A Bold Move is a previous point winner so should enjoy his chase debut under rules. The ground is question mark for me and he doesn't look thrown in off 120
For me STAR TACKLE looks well handicapped with conditions to suit. Off bottom weight he will take all the beating.
2.40 Ascot preview
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THOMAS BROWN ran a solid race on seasonal debut by finishing sixth of 16 at Ascot over 3m 1f.
His other two starts at Ascot saw him finish second and first. He seems to jump a lot better at the Royal venue than anywhere else.
Last November he won off 137, today he runs off 136 so there's no doubt he is capable off this mark and with a run under his belt he looks a solid each-way proposition. I still feel Ballotin has more to offer and could prove to be the main danger.
Recommended bets
3pts win Star Tackle in 2.15 Ffos Las at 9/4
1pt e.w. Thomas Brown in 2.40 Ascot at 9/2
Posted at 0720 GMT on 24/11/17.
Follow Murt on Twitter: @murt_khan
Breaking It Down P&L: +23.50pts
- November: -16.70pts
- October: +3.10pts
- September: +1.75pts
- August: +0.36pts
- July: +15.09pts
- June: -10.10pts
- May: +30.00pts