Rory Delargy and David Massey look ahead to today's racing and they've got two three bets across the day's meetings.
Racing betting tips: Saturday February 15
1pt win Derryhassen Paddy in the 3.50 Haydock at 9/4 (General, min 2/1)
1pt e.w Annsam in the 3.00 Ascot at 15/2 (Paddy Power, bet365, Betfair 1/5 1,2,3,4)
1pt win Beauport in the 2.40 Haydock at 5/2 (General, min 9/4)
3:50 Haydock
The more it rains, the better DERYYHASSEN PADDY’s chance gets, and he looks a bet to us.
An absolute giant of a horse that will be some tool once he goes over fences next year, he needed every yard of three miles at Windsor to get on top of Honky Tonk Highway, but that form is solid and the way he battled back to retake the lead on the run-in was very encouraging. He appears to have all the right attributes, and after Windsor, this race was nominated by his trainer as the next stop-off point in his progression. It is also worth bearing in mind that at Windsor bookmakers initially made him the outsider of the field yet he went off clear favourite in the end; someone knew he was a very good horse, and they were right. We expect him to continue to progress and he can take this en route to bigger and better things.
1.15 Ascot
“Here he comes, here he comes, what does the p***k want now?” Those of you watching Outsiders on BBC2 will know this cultural reference; I’ve started singing it at the phone when Rory rings me in the morning.
And that’s hardly a surprise given conversations like the one we had here.
Rory - “I quite like one here.”
Me, after about seven guesses “give up. It better not be Dans Le Vent or this conversation is over.”
“It is Dans Le Vent”.
Ladies and gentlemen, if I’d suggested a 12yo who’s best days are clearly behind him for ANY race to him, never mind this one, he wouldn’t speak to me for a week. Yet I’m somehow supposed to tolerate his nonsense.
Here’s his simple argument. Sky Bet are paying six places each-way here. You know exactly how Isobel Williams will ride this; drop it out, start making ground from three out, pinch fourth or fifth. Probably can’t win, but the chances of it finishing in the six are about 6/4. At the moment, it’s probably bottom price so we can’t make it a bet, but it’ll surely drift back nearer the off.
Hard to argue with him when he’s like this.
3.00 Ascot
And again, ANNSAM is one that caught our eye last time and we’re both keen on his chances here.
He was never put into the handicap won by In D’Or here last time until very late and finished the race with plenty of running left, we felt, and that over a trip probably on the short side for him. The stewards seemed happy enough despite Adam Wedge never really going for his mount in anger at any point in the home straight, and although lightly-raced in recent times, he was a winner over fences at Ludlow before his enforced absence and he looks like he retains much of his old ability.
2:05 Haydock
It’s been a lean old time for Kerry Lee this season; not a single winner between March and November last year, four winners from 26 in December and January signified some green shoots of recovery but that’s turned into a near full-scale revival lately, with two winners and a neck second from her last four runners. Things are finally starting to look up, and hopefully Eaton Collina can continue the revival.
Twice a winner at Wetherby around this time last year, he ran a perfectly solid race on his reappearance this season when third to Nocte Volatus at Chepstow, looking in need of the run. He hasn’t gone on from that, which given the overall form of the yard, is hardly surprising but he finds himself a whopping 11lbs better off for just under ten lengths with Nocte Volatus on that run, and it’s worth reiterating that Chepstow run came at a time when the yard was struggling. Conditions here look ideal, and he should go well.
2:40 Haydock
For a Grade 2 race this looks very winnable.
BEAUPORT has a blindingly obvious chance of going two places better than he did in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time out. He’s better known as a chaser but ran a really good race to be third to Crambo, only giving best in the very late stages of that, and this test is going to suit him well, given he’s likely to go from the front. He should take some beating.
3.15 Haydock
Royal Pagaille deserves a mention despite a huge weight, as he is the Haydock track champion and you only need forgive his last run where his jumping went to pieces (for some reason) and he was pulled up to give him a real chance here. The ground is coming right for him as well, and this is a race where none of his opponents appear particularly well handicapped, so he has to be given serious consideration.
We don’t really have a strong opinion on this, to be honest, but if I was given a tenner to have on something it will probably be Famous Bridge, who will love the rain that's coming, is a C&D winner and was still going well enough when unseating in this race last year. He looked to be edging his way back to form when third here last time out, looking for all the world like he needs extreme distances now. He’d be the each-way pick for me.
Published at 0910 GMT on 15/02/25
Access to premium sports betting insights just got easier with Sporting Life Plus - click image below for more details...
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
2025 successes
- Finn Lough 9/2
- Magma Sam 9/1
- Hawajes 9/2
- Trouble Man 3/1
- Royal Jewel 11/4
- Mr Vango 5/1
- Jack Sprat 11/4
- Ormolulu 100/30
- Khangai 9/2
- Jimmy Knocker 6/1
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
