Huntingdon best bet: Felton Bellevue weighted to excel under Harry Cobden
Huntingdon racecourse
Having been under water last week, Huntingdon’s track has recovered miraculously to host Friday’s meeting, and this three-mile chase looks set up for one of the most intriguing contests on the card.
15:20 Huntingdon: Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Chase (2 miles 7½ furlongs)
It would be easy to write off the chances of the three outsiders here, although some bookmakers are still offering three places, despite a morning withdrawal reducing the field to seven starters.
River Tyne finished last season with five consecutive runner-up spots, before being pulled up on season debut in November on his first outing since undergoing wind surgery, while bottom-weight Voice Of Hope has attracted some interest in the Tipstrr camp after showing a glimmer of hope when fourth of 11 in heavy going at Catterick a couple of weeks ago
Outsider punt: Voice Of Hope each-way in the 15:20 at Huntingdon
- Tip advised by The Profit Rocket on Tipstrr
That leaves our four market leaders, who are all separated by barely one betting point in the morning market, and any one of them could receive enough late support to be sent off as favourite.
Gary Moore’s top-weighted nine-year-old Twenty Twenty is the only starter to arrive off the back of a last-time out victory, having held off 10 rivals in heavy conditions to win tidily as a 20/1 shot at Wincanton a week before Christmas.
He should be in the mix again here, although his five-pound hike improves his rivals’ prospects, and Pam Sly’s Mixedwave looks useful after coming second at Market Rasen in december, just two weeks after winning at the same venue, albeit subsequently disqualified for misuse of the whip by his jockey.
Pick of the bunch, however, is nine-year-old Felton Bellevue, who arrives in good shape from Ben Case’s yard, and kept on gamely to finish fourth of eight at Lingfield last time out a month ago, with the rest of the field a long way behind in harry bannister’s rearview mirror.
Suggested best bet: Felton Bellevue in the 15:20 at Huntingdon
Bannister rides at Wincanton on Friday, which leave room in Felton Bellevue’s saddle for the notable presence of Planet Sport racing ambassador Harry Cobden, who is expected to make the most of his mount’s easing mark.
Cobden has landed a win at each of his last three meetings - Walks Like The Man (100/30) at Plumpton on Sunday, Inca De Lafayette (15/2) at Taunton on Monday, and Raffle Ticket (9/2) at Doncaster two days ago.
With 95 winners to his name this season, this is the third of Cobden’s four Huntingdon rides, and Felton Bellevue is one of those strongly fancied to edge him closer to his century.
- Tip advised by HorsesTips on Tipstrr
READ MORE: Huntingdon racing tips: Best bets for Friday January 12
