2.40pm Wincanton Tips & Betting Preview 07/01/2017

A £12,000 prize pool should attract a good field for this Novices’ Limited Handicap for horses rated between 0-135, with some interesting entries to consider for our betting tips.

Favorito Buck’s (10/1) is a relation to the legendary Big Buck’s, and showed early promise when winning a 3 year old Listed hurdle in France by an impressive 8 lengths (Rich Ricci has since bought the runner up Syampa Des Flos, although it is yet to be seen on a racecourse again). Purchased following that debut win, he has struggled badly in his three starts in the UK for champion trainer Paul Nicholls. The handicapper has been careful and despite a 5lb drop for his November 80 length defeat he is still rated 132, but he will be priced more on potential than ability shown on this side of the Channel and must be treated with caution.

Bagging Turf (4/1) has had just four starts under Rules for Gary Moore but has won two already, including her chasing debut on Boxing Day at Huntingdon over this distance. The front two pulled well clear that day with the second being well supported, and she jumped nicely and stayed on to the line despite having been off the track since March. She has a 8lb rise to overcome for that victory but is lightly raced and proven on Heavy ground. Her trainers form is a worry though, with just two winners in the Christmas period from 26 runners.

With the Colin Tizzard stable continuing to win race after race it would be folly to look much further than Third Act (15/2) for the selection and as the horse has solid form as well what more can we ask for? Three races this season have seen two second places and a win at Exeter off this rating with his last effort a second to Darebin at Lingfield last time out running on over shorter and connections have decided he is now worth a try at this trip for the first time since unseating at Chepstow. With Harry Cobden claiming three pounds off of bottom weight he will feel like he is running loose and seems well worthy of a bet this afternoon.

The Nicky Henderson stable continue in good form and they have an interesting entry here with Clondaw Banker (6/1) who has his first run over fences here but he has won a point-to-point which is a bonus. He hasn’t run at all since finishing seventh at Kempton in April over hurdles and his race fitness has to be taken on trust,  but he may yet be well weighted in this handicap and is well worth a market watch for any stable confidence.

Wild West Wind (4/1) is a similar horse in many ways as he also makes his chasing debut here. He has also been off since April when he finished second to Valhalla at Exeter over further than this and if he can jump then he could also go well in a really intriguing renewal.