David Massey and Rory Delargy outline today's best bets, with three bets across the meetings.
Racing delayed at Ffos Las
Racing betting tips: Saturday January 11
1pt win Hillcrest in the 1.15 Ffos Las at 14/1 (General, min 12/1)
1pt win Mahland in the 2.58 Ffos Las at 15/2 (Hills, Unibet, min 13/2)
1pt e.w Urban Sprawl in the 2.40 Chelmsford at 13/2 (1/5 1,2,3,4,5 - Bet365, Hills, Unibet, min 11/2)
1:15 Ffos Las
Handstands looked like he had come on plenty from his Wincanton chase debut when scoring easily at Sandown last time and is clearly a horse on the up, but whether this testing, sticky ground is what he wants is open to some debate. He might be the best horse in the race, but whether he’s the best horse today makes this a bit more open.
Hillcrest was badly in need of the run when a respectable fourth to Trelawne at Haydock on his reappearance after a long absence, but was spotted staying on strongly again after the last and it looked like the engine was still intact. Off the back of that, he was a prime candidate to “bounce” at Cheltenham last time, which he duly did, his jumping falling to pieces, and that run is best forgotten.
Today’s trip, track and ground should be much more in his wheelhouse and at a double-figure price, this looks the time to jump on board. Yes, his jumping is still a little concerning but Ffos Las’s fences don’t provide the toughest test for a horse, and this isn’t the strongest race for the grade either.
1.51 Ffos Las
Those that have had a few runs, with the honourable exception of the consistent Our Dylan, look moderate and this can fall to one of the two making their handicap debuts.
The Blueberry One, on the face of it, appears to have run a cracker at Newbury on his second start, mixing it with the likes of Hasthing, Making Headway and East India Express, form that would make him look well treated here, but he was always well positioned towards the front in a slow-run race and I wouldn’t put too much store into that effort, for all he may well improve today.
I’m more inclined to go with Dangerous Touch’s fourth at Warwick as a bit more solid at this stage, with the time figure backing up the visuals, and this half-mile step up in trip looks sure to suit. Indeed, both the third and sixth from Warwick have run well since, and the yard won that race with their odds-on favourite, so there’s plenty to like about the run going forwards.
2.25 Ffos Las
The second division of this handicap hurdle throws up another potential improver in the shape of Jesuila Des Mottes, making his handicap debut today. Her third at Southwell last time was given a boost when second home Crazierthandaisy won a little race next time, but her overall level of improvement is only small, and there might not be as much to come today as might be expected.
Diamatiste looks the solid option. He ran well on his reappearance at Taunton, only weakening late on and possibly finding a combination of his first run back and the three-mile trip both stretching him a touch, but dropped back to shorter at Exeter last time only found the improving Martalite half a length too good, the pair well clear of anything else. The handicapper has decided a 5lb rise for that is in order, but Callum Pritchard takes that back off and a bit more, and given he’s no issue with soft/heavy ground, looks the one to be with.
2.58 Ffos Las
One Big Bang is an obvious candidate for this, with the cheekpieces now employed to help him travel into the race a little better. On both starts so far this winter at Haydock and Cheltenham he’s looked a little tapped for toe before staying on again strongly in the closing stages, but you’d like to think soft ground at Ffos Las is going to place a greater emphasis on stamina than anything, and that should suit One Big Bang well. However, the market has him well found, and there is an alternative at a bigger price.
Mahland made all to win a C&D handicap in the spring and shaped very much in need of the run on his
return at Bangor, where he matched strides with the progressive Strackan before dropping away from the penultimate flight, spared a hard race as he faded. Since that run Mel Rowley’s horses have returned to form, as evidenced by the victory of Val Dancer in the Welsh Grand National, and we’d expect plenty of improvement from Mahland now. All his form has come on soft or heavy ground and conditions ought to suit him, with stamina sure to be at a premium.
2.40 Chelmsford
For all there’s a glut of all-weather action, most of it makes little appeal for a bet, but Urban Sprawl is the exception to that, making plenty of each-way appeal in this 16-runner handicap.
Three runs at the track have seen him hit the frame each time, and he was only denied by a short-head on his last visit here just over a year ago, so clearly handles the track well. He came back from a break to run well at Wolverhampton last week, holding every chance at the furlong pole but just weakening out of things late on. That should tee him up nicely for this and from a good draw in stall 4, and with Charlie Johnston bang in form, a big run looks in order.
Preview posted at 0915 GMT on 11/01/25
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