Six races on Channel 4 this afternoon and Dunelight is strongly fancied to score at Wolverhampton. Find out why and all the day's value bets in our armchair race by race guide.
2.00 Sandown - To me the whole race centres around Jonjo O'Neiil's Aberdale who I put up first thing this morning at 10-1 - see http://www.puntinplay.com/story/aberdale-looks-handicap-plot To say that he has been given three "quiet" runs over hurdles to get his handicpa mark is a bit of an understatement, and his opening mark of 114 could seriously underestimate his true ability.
The gelding was a useful type in bumpers last season ad seems to have been laid out for this by his shrewd connections. Paul Nicholls' Red Harbour looks the main danger, but in receipt of 8lb Aberdale has to be the selection to build on the significant promise he has shown.
2.15 Wolverhampton - Clive Cox's Dunelight is a very useful front runner at his best and showed he was coming back to form when finishing an excellent sixth to Imbongi in Dubai last time out. His form last year was rock solid and included a defeat of Ordanance Row in a Listed event at Windsor as well as a fine third to Paco Boy (beaten just 2 3/4 lengths) in Group 2 event at Goodwood. a repeat of either of those perfromances would be good enough to win this, and if winning the early battle for the lead he will prove an extremely tough nut to crack.
2.30 Sandown - A very tricky contest where a case can be made for virtually every runner. Last year's winner Fresh Air And Fun would have a huge chance if bouncing back to needs an uncontested lead to be seen at his best and folded up tamely when headed last time out. Paul Nicholls' Meanus Dandy was a talking horse at the beginning of the season and has proved a major disappointment and favourite Minella Theatre needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort last time out. Therefore it could pay to take a chance with Gary Moore's Or Jaune who has been struggling in handicaps but rattled up a hat-trick of victories in novice company last year and is finally beginning to be cut some slack by the handicapper. At 7-1 he looks the value.
3.05 Sandown - I am very keen on Aather's chances - see http://www.puntinplay.com/story/8-1-aather-looks-mint-in-imperial - and at 8-1 I think he is outstanding value. Alan Fleming's charge has been laid out for this and looked a horse to keep on the right side when bolting up at Ffos Las. He has since been beaten at Cheltenham, but hit the front too soon that day in a race where the form is working out well. He could still be one step ahead of the handicapper and is the one they all have to beat. At the odds on offer he looks a rock solid each-way bet to nothing.
3.25 Wolverhampton - Flipando bids for back to back victories in this contest but is not getting any younger and has been whacked up 10lb for a facile success over 6f at this track last month. Mark Johnston's Tartan Gigha would have an obvious chance if building on his recent efforts in Dubai but has never been the most consistent and the percentage call is to oppose. The one that really catches my eye is Marco Botti's lightly raced Fanunalter who was a decent sort in Italy and has shown plenty of promise since arriving in Britain. He looked unlucky when failing to land agamble over coures and distanec back in November, and has since been gelded. Off a mark of 94 he could be potentially very well handicapped given that he is so lightly raced and open to bags of improvement.
3.40 Sandown - Nicky Henderson's Lifestyle was mightily impressive when scoring at Ffos Las and it will take something very special to lower her colours this afternoon. The four-year-old is very highly regarded and has been smashed up in the early betting this morning. She is now a top priced 4-6, and if she is as good as my spies tell me then that price may not last much longer. The obvious danger is Pam Sly's progressive Chicklemix, whilst a lively outsider could be Grassfinch,
Recommended bets; 4pts win Dunelight (6-1 Sky Bet, Betfred); 5pts win Fanunlater (9-2 generally available)
Already advised: 5pts each-way Aather (8-1); 3pts each-way Aberdale (10-1)
