Taunton best bet (1520): Etincelle Artiste in bid to challenge firm favourites
Yala Enki won for the second successive year at Taunton despite making a bad mistake at a crucial stage of the race
There will be a few eyeing up this competitive chase, but with four places widely available, Tipstrr’s each-way pundits have their collective eye on one of the bottom-weighted prospects.
15:20 Taunton: Broadway and Horton Cricket Club Novices’ Handicap Chase (2 miles 2 furlongs)
If we can take the bookies at their word, then we should be in for a two-horse race between Merry Monty and Our Nel, who are both comfortably clear of their 11 rivals in the betting.
Merry Monty looks capable of building on a promising chase debut at Exeter on New Year’s Day, when he was just a close-up runner-up behind Bolsover Bill (who has won again since), while Our Nel made the frame in all three hurdling efforts, and also made a promising chase debut in heavy ground at Fakenham, and should now relish this drop in trip.
It would be a major surprise if both of those are not in the mix, and one of them should win, but their short prices suggest better value can be found among those contesting the minor places, and the horse to have created a buzz in the Tipstrr camp is Fiona Shaw’s seven-year-old Etincelle Artiste.
Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Etincelle Artiste finishes in the first 4 places, get a £5 Free Bet
A runner-up in his only point-to-point, this lightly-raced gelding has done little to set the pulse racing in eight outings under Rules, but there have been a few signs of encouragement to suggest he can defy being three pounds out of the handicap.
Following each of his last two extended breaks, Etincelle Artiste has always improved on his second outing, making the frame on each occasion, the latter of which was on similarly decent ground to what he should find here at Taunton.
This is his second outing following another seven-month absence, and he was far from disgraced on his reappearance at Exeter in December, finishing fourth of 11, despite again being four pounds out of the handicap.
He should be better for that run, and is set to improve again under the notable presence of Rex Dingle, who turns up fresh from winning on his only ride at Carlisle on Monday.
Suggested best bet: Etincelle Artiste in the 15:20 at Taunton
- Tip advised by Big Priced Winners on Tipstrr
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