Paul Ferguson has two racing tips for us on Saturday; Apache Jack 12:40 Punchestown and Kayf Blanco 13:45 at Wetherby. Compare odds and bet.
Three novice hurdlers dominate the market for today’s feature, the Lanzarote at Kempton, but another to note dipping his toe into handicap company for the first time is Kayf Blanco (1:45) up at Wetherby.
A useful bumper performer, the six-year-old has shaped with plenty of promise on both starts over timber to date and a mark of 108 could well underestimate his ability. Graeme McPherson has booked Tony McCoy and the Kayf Tara gelding, who got within a ½ length of the useful Wrath Of Titans in a Thurles bumper before joining current connections, can get off the mark after two encouraging thirds. He opened up 3-1 with Bet365 on Friday evening.
Over in Ireland, Black Jack Ketchum’s brother Apache Jack (12:40) is fancied to make a belated winning reappearance in Punchestown’s opening beginners’ chase.
The seven-year-old has gone well fresh in the past and steadily improved last season, rounding off his campaign with a fourth behind Beat That and Don Poli at the Festival here, having earlier finished third in the Albert Bartlett.
That race has already thrown up a lot of novice chase winners this winter – Very Wood, Deputy Dan, Champagne West, Sausalito Sunrise, Cogry, Kings Palace and The Job Is Right (as well as Rydon Pynes over hurdles at the end of last season) – and Apache Jack can add his name to that list under Paul Townend.
Saturday’s selections:
12:40 Punchestown Apache Jack 15/8 StanJames
1:45 Wetherby Kayf Blanco 9/4 StanJames
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 2014-15
Pre order now, published early September in good time for the new season: Just £9:95 inc p&p
* order online www.cc-publishing.co.uk
* or, send a cheque payable to ‘The Racing Insider’ to PO Box 98, Liverpool L9 1WY (with address details)
Fellow Betrescue columnist and Bet Victor’s Charlie McCann says: “It really is a privilege to write the foreword for such an informative and well-researched publication, which continues to go from strength to strength.”
- £359.70 profit to a level stake £10
- Iinc Cheltenham winners Faugheen, Very Wood (33/1) & O’Faolains Boy
