Wincanton each-way tips: Blackjack Magic ready to challenge proven chasers
A view of Wincanton racecourse
The National Hunt campaign steps up a notch this weekend and this competitive three-mile handicap sees some familiar chasers make their season debut in Wincanton’s biggest race of the day.
14:25 Wincanton: 62nd Badger Beer Handicap Chase (3 miles 1 furlong)
Only rank outsider Courtland has been active throughout the summer, stringing together four wins and a runner-up spot before a 10-pound hike caught up with him at Aintree two weeks ago, so he might be found wanting again among these stronger rivals.
They include an array of usual suspects at the top of the market, spearheaded by crowd favourite Frodon, who defied top weight to win this race last year, and is likely to be there or thereabouts again under regular rider Bryony Frost, who was on board a 28/1 winner at Exeter on Friday.
They are likely to be challenged by a few contenders with proven pedigree at this level, including Sam Brown (winner at the 2022 Grand National meeting), The Big Breakaway (runner-up in last year’s Welsh Grand National) and Threeunderthrufive (fourth at the Scottish Grand National).
A little further down the betting, the Lydia Richards-trained Certainly Red caught the eye after completing a hat-trick of wins last winter, and this nine-year-old has a history of running well when fresh.
Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Certainly Red finishes in the first 4 places, get a £5 Free Bet!
Any or all of the above will line up with high hopes of giving their season a flying start, and the same can be applied to the most popular selection among Tipstrr’s pundits, with Blackjack Magic looking to build on a very successful transition to chasing a year ago.
Anthony Honeyball’s eight-year-old has only finished behind one rival in his three completed efforts over larger obstacles, winning at Ffos Las in January and completing last season with more success at Uttoxeter in April.
Those wins were over two and a half miles and today’s three-mile trip, and both were run in testing heavy ground so Saturday’s conditions at Wincanton should not be an issue.
Blackjack Magic’s jumping over fences has been known to leave something to be desired at times, but he has plenty of scope for improvement, and returning jockey Rex Dingle is more than capable of guiding him through a similar ride to their last successful outing at Uttoxeter.
- Suggested bet: Blackjack Magic each-way in the 14:25 at Wincanton
- Tip advised by Sniper Piper on Tipstrr
READ MORE: Saturday ITV racing tips: Best bets for Wincanton, Aintree and Newcastle
