Saturday Jumps Racing Preview PT 3

In the 2:35 at Cheltenham we’ve got the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett’s Novices’ Hurdle and the story seems to be about the Nigel Twiston-Davies charge Blaklion who is being well-backed to get things back on track here after losing out to Parlour Games in what could have been his third victory on the bounce this season. 

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He has been in winning ways since getting things started on the absolute bottom of the barrel, point to pointing at Tinahely before scoring by 15 lengths in a Class Six race and steadily moving all the way to capturing a Grade 2 at Chepstow. Blaklion is an exciting prospect and will be looking to get the better of his opponents here with bookmakers pricing him as low as 2.25 right now. 

His major opposition looks to be Binge Drinker and Parish Business - both are both trading at a 5.50 margin right now. Binge Drinker in particular could be an interesting wager if you’re looking to back an improver and the Rebecca Curtis trainee has won all three of his previous races this year, albeit at Class 4 and 5 level. He takes a pretty big step up in form here but could be able to handle things with AP McCoy getting the ride and serving as Binge Drinker’s fourth jockey in four races. 

The 2:50 at Doncaster only features four runners in the Bet365 December Novices’ Chase - a Grade 2 contest going a full 3m. Despite the small field the betting is actually quite open with Virak getting the slim edge right now with bookmakers pricing him in the 2.25 range just a shade ahead of Kaysersberg. 

Both entrants will be looking for their third score on the bounce and look talented though the one to watch might actually be the likes of Killala Quay who comes in second time off the layoff after putting in a good shift to finish second to Puffin Billy last time out at Ascot. He’s run well at Cheltenham before - coming fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Last year despite being sent off at a 25/1 price tag. 

He was notable for winning a Grade 2 Neptune Novices’ Hurdle prep in December at Sandown back in 2013. You’ll find him trading around 4.0 and looking pretty good for a value play where he has a 25% chance at the outset anyway.