Wetherby top tips: Knowwhentoholdem to excel under Harry Cobden, Al Kalila useful on handicap debut
- John Fearn
- 28 March 2024
It’s a quiet day at the races, but there’s still a decent card to enjoy at Wetherby, where this wide-open handicap hurdle has plenty of likely and less likely candidates capable of making a bold bid.
15:55 Wetherby: Full Circle Series at Punchestown Festival Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 5¼ furlongs)
After winning at this venue last time out a month ago, Magical King is the tentative early favourite, but with fewer than five betting points covering the top eight in the market, there is a whole host of other candidates with the credentials to land this.
Of those, the form of Knowwhentoholdem had been trending nicely in the right direction recently, crowned by a convincing performance at Newbury earlier this month, when he beat five rivals rated higher than him (and rated higher than anything he will face here) by an emphatic eight-length margin.
WATCH: Harry Cobden assesses his Grand National hopes aboard Noble Yeats in his Planet Sport Bet Blog
The nine-year-old now makes his stable debut for new trainer Neil Mulholland, and it’s worth noting that his maiden hurdle success coincided with his first run under Harry Cobden, who reunites here as he looks to step up his quest to clinch the champion jockey title.
Planet Sport Bet’s racing ambassador landed two odds-on winners at Wincanton on Wednesday to move 15 wins clear of nearest rival Sean Bowen, and he is unlikely to have made the long trip to Yorkshire for just two rides unless he fancied his chances of adding to his tally on at least one of them (his other ride is short-priced favourite Foveros in the 14:45 race).
Suggested best bet: Knowwhentoholdem in the 15:55 at Wetherby
Elsewhere, with four places widely available for this 12-runner handicap, Tipstrr’s each-way specialists have gravitated towards the progressive potential of one of the youngsters in the race, the Stuart Crawford-trained Al Kalila.
This lightly-raced five-year-old made the frame in his first two bumper efforts in Scotland last autumn, before trying his luck over hurdles in Ireland in December, when his fifth-of-12 effort at Down Royal on Boxing Day showcased his scope for improvement in this sphere.
Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Al Kalila finishes in the first 3 places, get a £5 Free Bet
This was made clearer still when last seen 19 days ago at Ayr, where he was no match for Lucinda Russell’s short-priced favourite, Whistle Stop Tour, but nevertheless finished a decent second with the rest of the field strung out behind him in the far distance.
The handicapper appears to have done Al Kalila few favours here, but his opening mark is eased by Ben Bromley’s useful five-pound claim, and it would be no surprise to see him progress further here to put himself in the mix on his handicap debut.
Best each-way punt: Al Kalila each-way in the 15:55 at Wetherby
READ MORE: Wetherby racing tips: Best bets for Thursday March 28
