A fine weekend of racing kicked off on Saturday, with Aintree and Sandown both hosting top-class meetings – the likes of Defi Du Seuil and Walk In The Mill producing impressive wins.
The action does not end there, however, with Punchestown, Huntingdon and Cork all hosting Graded chases the following day – be sure to check out our free horse racing tips page for our expert tipsters’ selections.
Joe Eccles has taken a look at the feature races on three of the cards on Sunday, picking out a treble which is 69/1 with Bet365 – who have a sign-up offer currently available on our free bets page.
Run over its present distance of 2m4f since 1995, the John Durkan Memorial Chase has been won by the likes of Dawn Run, Kicking King, Flemenstar and Don Cossack.
This year’s renewal sees a field of nine line up, which includes the Willie Mullins-trained Min – who is bidding to follow in the hoofprints of former stablemate Djakadam by gaining back-to-back wins in the race.
The eight-year-old only just scrambled home in a weaker renewal last year, however, and at the prices, it looks worth chancing his stablemate REAL STEEL.
A smart novice chaser last season, this son of Loup Breton ran out a facile winner of a Grade 2 at Down Royal on last month’s reappearance.
He has a strong preference for right-handed tracks, so this circuit will suit, and today’s intermediate distance may well also prove ideal.
Bookmakers Fitzdares are sponsoring the Peterborough Chase for the first time in 2019 and have offered a £500,000 bonus to the connections of any horse who recreates Best Mate’s path to 2003 Gold Cup success – taking this contest on route to landing the King George VI Chase at Kempton and next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A field of six looks set to take their chance in the race, with the market currently headed by La Bague Au Roi, who was a dual Grade 1 winning novice chaser last season.
Warren Greatrex’s mare struggled in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby last month, however, and with that in mind, preference is for ASO.
Runner-up in the Ryanair at Cheltenham earlier this year, Venetia Williams’ nine-year-old ran well for a long way in the aforementioned Charlie Hall – before his stamina appeared to give way late on.
Today’s drop-in distance, therefore, looks a notable plus, and he comes out best at these weights.
Since being awarded Grade 2 status in 2003, the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase has been won by the likes of Beef Or Salmon, Douvan and Un De Sceaux.
Just the four go to post for this year’s renewal, but it is not a race short in quality, with Grade 1 winners Great Field and Cilaos Emery lining up alongside last month’s impressive Navan winner BALLYOISIN – Joseph O’Brien’s Us And Them completes the field.
Preference is for Enda Bolger’s charge, who jumped like a stag when landing the Fortria Chase a month ago – giving weight and a beating to three up-and-coming rivals.
He gives weight away once again here, but these better ground conditions will suit, and these small fields suit him well.