2.05pm Wetherby Tips & Betting Preview 14/11/2015

Race Time: 2.05pm Meeting: Wetherby Day: Saturday 14th November
Distance: 2m 3f 85yds Full Race Name: Totescoop6 Handicap Chase Class Three

A massive change from the original field sees just the six line up for this valuable handicap so we can discount one (Elinika) and focus on the other five as we try to sort out the winner for you. Starting at the top, Sue Smith has the best horse in the race courtesy of De Vous A Moi (15/8) who has to give weight away all around, but rightly so when you look at his profile. Wins last season at Catterick and Uttoxeter over this sort of trip were followed by a perfectly respectable second to Montoya’s Son at Newcastle who was racking up a five timer in the process. Returning to action at the end of last month at Ayr he was strongly fancied and sent off the 3/1 favourite before anther second place, bur described by the racing press as “better for the race”, suggesting improvement is almost guaranteed in which case, even a two pound weight rise may not be quite enough to stop him today, though we would be a whole lot happier if the yard were in better form of course.

With the overnight rain we’ve decided to also back Elenika – off the track since last April when running poorly at Haydock, the Williams stable is in incredible form and he was a soft and heavy ground expert including a 3rd place off a mark of 123 in a Grade 3 Chase at Newbury on Heavy. He’s been dropped 6lb for his last two runs before his lay off, has 3lb claimer Callum Whillians on board, and on previous form has great chances. He was rated 130 after joining Paul Nicholls out of France and with market support overnight conditions should be perfect. With the favourite still 15/8 meaning both can be backed to make a profit if either win it’s a great angle to take here,

Next on the racecard comes Cody Wyoming (8/1), who hails from the Charlie Mann yard who have done well over the years with their handicap chasers. Now a nine year old, the son of Passing Glance is a decent sort with three wins to his name but has yet to win beyond two miles so why would that change this Saturday afternoon? Runner up at Kempton over the minimum trip on his return last month, he was tried over further at Stratford but never got seriously involved before pulling up when detached from the rest, and with no obvious excuses and similar conditions today, he is hardly a horse we can suggest seriously to anyone at this stage of his career.

At the tender age of six, at least Voyage A New York (9/2) has potential for further improvement, and with the Lucinda Russell yard in fine fettle in recent weeks (nine wins from her last thirty-one runners, plus another nine seconds), the son of Kapgarde has to be on anyone’s short list. His chase record of one win from four starts at Ayr (unseated rider after a blunder at the eighth), Uttoxeter (fourth after weakening over two miles), Newcastle (won by a neck over just short of three miles), and Uttoxeter again (pulled up when tailed off) makes for some pretty confusing reading in regard to this afternoon’s contest over just how much stamina he really has? As a horse, we cant really suggest he is a good thing by any stretch, but then with the yard form we can’t suggest he isn’t either – a confusing entry if ever there was one.

Carrying on and Donald McCain can’t buy a winner lately which is enough to put us off the chances of Supreme Asset (10/1), though we acknowledge any yard has to turn it around sometime, and today could yet be the day. Looking at his form, and he finished a long way behind Montoya’s Son at Newcastle (beaten twenty-eight lengths giving the winner seven pounds), form that gives him no chance with De Vous A Moi this afternoon who also has the fitness edge. Supreme Asset hasn’t been seen since Perth last April and is another yet to win beyond two miles, and on paper (if only the form book always stood up), he surely cannot win today?

Lastly, we have Indian Temple (10/1) who is having his first run since coming over from Ireland where he was trained by Eoin Doyle.  Assessing the form is even harder in his case but one win from seven races hardly makes him a world beater, but he has placed from two miles to two miles six furlongs, and if his new connections can get improvement out of him anything is possible – but on what we know so far a place is the best he can realistically hope for and is perfectly possible.