February 8 Scoop6 Betting Preview Pt 1

We have a very winnable scoop6 ahead of us tomorrow as the two feature races from Newbury are supplanted with four contests happening on the all weather at Lingfield. This one will require a bit of skill as you’re jumping between all weather form and a pair of tough handicap hurdles. 

The real onion in the ointment here is the Betfair Hurdle as you’ve just got so many big entries to deal with but you do sort of get the feeling that this particular iteration of the race is likely to be won by one of the key fancies in the top four so getting too adventurous likely won’t pay off with this one. Don’t really be looking for a winner less likely than Swing Bowler who is floating at around 20s and even she’s just a good each-way fancy. 

The 1:50 at Newbury is the opening fixture of the day and it’s a Handicap hurdle going a full 3m110y on what is now looking likely to be heavy ground. This one is going to be a real shoot out and it’s going to be anyone’s guess who actually gets home here. 

We’ve seen the bookmakers clip Upswing down to 3/1 from 4/1 and that’s a bit of an indication about how this could work out. He’s got AP up for this run and, though he fell last time out at Wincanton, that was with Richie McLernon up. AP and Upswing have teamed up before this to capture a class 3 handicap hurdle at Carlisle. Both times he has won, he’s been fancied as the outright favourite (and those are the only times he was sent off as the post-time favourite). 

Andy Kelly is the other one to watch here as he looks to be on the improve after just missing out last time at Ascot in mid-December to finish second by 1/4 length to Bygones Sovereign in a Class 3 Handicap Hurdle. His maiden score came at Stratford when he romped home by 22 lengths against a field of 14 when sent off as the outright 9/4 favourite. He was favourite last time as well and will improve with Gavin Sheehan remaining in the irons for this one.