Value Bet tipster Ben Linfoot had a winner at Cheltenham last weekend with Perfect Candidate - don't miss Saturday's selections at Haydock and Ascot.
The Betfair Chase takes centre stage at Haydock on Saturday with Bristol De Mai a short price to land the Grade One following his Charlie Hall victory at Wetherby last time.
He loves the track and the testing conditions so it’s easy to see why he heads the betting, but Cue Card and Outlander will have no problems with a severe test of stamina in heavy ground, either, and both have just as strong claims on recent form.
Tactically this will be interesting and, while Daryl Jacob has the experience and a versatile horse in terms of running style in Bristol De Mai, it will be interesting to see how young jockeys Harry Cobden and Jack Kennedy play their hands.
It’s a massive day for the pair in their fledgling careers, particularly Cobden who comes in for the high-profile ride on Cue Card following Colin Tizzard’s decision to shake things up a bit after Paddy Brennan’s departures from the 11-year-old in recent starts.
Cobden has the talent and the temperament to deal with the situation and he’s riding winners all over the place, too, so confidence is high and with that in mind I’ll be backing him when he rides ZARKANDAR (25/1 Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral) in the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at 2.25.
You wouldn’t have seen the 10-year-old in this race had the old ‘Fixed Brush’ hurdles still been in place, but over traditional timber he looks underestimated on his first start of the campaign.
Paul Nicholls’ veteran is a fine old servant and he goes really well fresh having won on his seasonal reappearance three times in the past, while he probably would’ve made that four last year had he not unseated Sean Bowen at the last at Aintree.
He’s not the force he was now he’s rising 11, but it’s only 10 months since he won a Grade Two at this track when he showed a clean pair of hooves to relative youngsters like Aux Ptits Soins and Agrapart, and even on that sort of form he’s got a really good chance off a mark of 150 this weekend.
He’s won a Grade One on very soft ground at Auteuil at this time of year, so the testing conditions and the test of stamina will be no bother to him, and with time running out in his distinguished career it’s doubtful Paul Nicholls will have left much to work on. He should be primed.
There are plenty of unexposed, progressive horses against him in this and he has to give weight to his younger rivals, so it won’t be easy, but I don’t think he’s the back number his odds suggest just yet and with track, trip and ground ideal, as well as that first-time-out record, I want him on side.
I’m taking two against the field in this as I’m a firm believer THE DUTCHMAN (18/1 BetVictor, Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power) could well start to fulfil his promise this season now he’s made the move to the all-conquering Tizzard stable.
He has shown his prowess in improving horses from other yards in style in recent seasons and there’s plenty of potential where The Dutchman is concerned. He steps up in trip, wears a tongue-tie for the first time and Robbie Power (main picture) takes over in the saddle.
He’s absolutely fine in testing conditions and looks potentially well-handicapped off 135 judging by his form over fences at Wetherby last season, when he was second in a novice handicap off 137 and when travelling well as he departed four out in the Towton.
Earlier on the card Donald McCain’s CHTI BALKO looks well worth a bet at 12/1 (General) in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle at 1.50.
While horses like Clyne, Value At Risk, Verni, Diamond Fort and El Terremoto have somewhat shown the handicapper their hand in this sphere, Chti Balko looks like he might have a little more up his sleeve, especially now he tackles a longer trip.
A promising novice when winning by wide margins in testing ground at Catterick and Haydock earlier in the year, he couldn’t quite cut it when thrown in at the deep end in the Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April.
However, that tells you the high regard he’s held in and he ran a race full of promise on his handicap debut at Newbury on November 9, running on again for third after being outpaced over two miles.
That’s not the first time he’s shaped as though a step up in trip beyond two miles would suit and this 2m3f distance could well unlock some serious improvement. His yard are in really good form as well.
In the last at Haydock there looks the potential for a decent gallop with Sir Ivan, Chase The Spud, Ballymalin, Lessons In Milan and Cloudy Too all possible pace forcers.
With that in mind things could pan out well for CATAMARAN DU SEUIL and at 10/1 (Coral) I think he’s a perfectly fair price considering he comes into this in winning form.
He is perhaps a bit fortunate to be so as Knockanrawley was hampered late on at Ayr and probably would’ve won with a clear run, but Catamaran Du Seuil did well to get up in a tight finish as the steady gallop wouldn’t have been ideal.
Saturday’s test should bring out the best in him, especially in the testing ground which looks ideal, and the handicapper could only put him up 2lb for his latest win such was the tightness of the finish.
Finally, Venetia Williams’ CEPAGE (14/1 BetVictor, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook) is worth chancing first-time-out in the Shawbrook Handicap Chase at Ascot.
Williams had the improving Gardefort in this race at the five-day stage, so it’s interesting she relies on Cepage in this considering he’s 6lb out of the weights.
That’s obviously a slight concern, as is his jumping, but he was really impressive in that department on his stable debut just under a year ago when he hosed up at Newbury, albeit off a much lower mark.
He jumped superbly that day and was well worth his big rise in the weights, and, still only five and hugely unexposed, it’s worth remembering the impression he made on that first appearance in this country.
Williams hasn’t yet won this race but has had loads go close and her representative on Saturday is dead interesting coming into the contest on the back of a nice long break (Timeform stat: Venetia Williams is +£69.37 with chasers running after a break in the last seven years).
Value Bet Selections, Saturday November 25
1pt win Chti Balko in 1.50 Haydock at 12/1
1pt win Zarkandar in 2.25 Haydock at 25/1
1pt win The Dutchman in 2.25 Haydock at 18/1
1pt win Cepage in 3.15 Ascot at 14/1
1pt win Catamaran Du Seuil in 3.35 Haydock at 10/1
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Ben Linfoot's Value Bet aim: The Value Bet is designed to generate long-term profit by searching for overpriced horses in the feature weekend races and at the big Festivals in the UK. Running total: +381.89pts to advised stakes/prices (from inception of Value Bet column in January 2010 to current).
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Posted at 1700 GMT on 24/11/17.
