The 2013 Ladbroke Betting Tips PT 2

Willy Mullins City Slicker will be attempting to put himself in pole position for a big run at festival time as he makes a large step up in quality to take on this field - his first graded effort in a seven race career. He will have the attention of Ruby Walsh and that’s never a bad thing when racing at Ascot as the five-year-old son of King’s Theatre has a go outside Ireland for the first time. 

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Currently trading just behind the favourite in the ante post market he is priced out at a very competitive 8/1 and looking to rattle off his third score on the bounce and his second of the year. He has gone off as the favourite in each of his last five races - winning the past two. There is every chance that he makes a good appearance on the day and gets even more money heading in his direction. Owned by JP McManus - you know they wouldn’t come this long way if they didn’t think he was going to go have a go at things. 

The only real question is whether he can stay up against the faster pace he can expect here. The feather in his cap is the fact that he’s got a win against a big field of 25 under his belt when he won a maiden hurdle at Punchestown with Ruby up to end his 2013 season on a high note. He won comfortably when sent off as the 13/8 favourite and carrying 11-12. 

He then won at the bottom of the handicap, at Punchestown again, carrying a 10-4 weight and having another easy go of things to romp home by four lengths. 

David Pipe has a live one on his hands with the four-year-old Dell’Arca and, with Tom Scudamore seemingly booked for the trip, he could be a big contender in the ante post market - particularly with a big Grade 3 win already under his belt after conquering the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham a few weeks back. 

It was a real old-fashioned gritty run that got him home and he showed how game he was after fighting back once he was headed. He won it by a half-length in the end and justified the reasoning behind sending him over from France. He carried 11-7 over good going and should flourish here as well. With a win over 18 runners, you know tackling a big crowd isn’t going to be a bother for him and that’s helpful considering that he’s only four. 

Look for Dell’Arca at around 8/1 but with a good pre-race appearance he has every chance of going off favourite if he can pick up some spark from the punters early in the day.