Murt Khan heads to Uttoxeter for today's best bets, including a 14/1 chance who appears to have a big chance on the pick of his form.
2.45 Uttoxeter preview
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The two horses at the top of the market in this handicap hurdle are Ice Cool Champers and Beast of Burden.
The former is lightly raced and the step up in trip could present further improvement, so coming from a top yard in Philip Hobbs he's understandably favourite.
Beast of Burden has his first run for Dan Skelton, having looked a promising type earlier on in his career but one who has lost his way. From a mark of 143 two years ago he is now rated 127 and if Skelton has him somewhere near his best he will take the beating.
However at 15/8 and 11/4 they seem to be priced as you'd expect, whereas MALAPIE might represent some value at 14/1.
He's a nine-year-old with seven runs to his name and has bled in the past so is a risky proposition.
However, when completing he's shown that the ability to win a race like this one is there, and some of his form looks particularly strong. For instance, in January he was beaten less than three lengths by Lady Buttons, who is know rated 21lbs higher; after that he beat Popelys Gull, who has also climbed the ratings since.
He ran a respectable race on his first start of the season at Chepstow, finishing a staying-on fourth behind a well-handicapped winner. With that run under his belt and a few question marks about the leading contenders he's worth chancing at 12/1 with conditions to suit.
3.15 Uttoxeter preview
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TWIST ON GINGE is taking a class drop today having run into far superior horses than those he faces here.
He ran well enough when second last time at Southwell and has been dropped a further 3lb for that effort as he seeks a first win at the 12th attempt.
Dropping back to two and a half miles shouldn't be a problem at Uttoxeter, where he ran well over hurdles a year ago, and a big run is expected with his yard going strong.
Normandy King was looking the likely winner last time before slipping, but that wasn't a strong race and while conditions will suit, he looks there to be beaten off a mark of 97.
Behind the first two in the market there's very little depth to this race and Twist On Ginge has a fine chance to get off the mark.
Recommended bets:
1pt win Malapie 2.45 Uttoxeter at 14/1
2pts win Twist On Ginge 3.15 Uttoxeter at 2/1
Posted at 0900 GMT on 26/11/17.
Follow Murt on Twitter: @murt_khan
Breaking It Down P&L: +17.25pts
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- October: +3.10pts
- September: +1.75pts
- August: +0.36pts
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- May: +30.00pts