TOTE SCOOP6 BETTING TIPS AND SELECTIONS FOR FEBRUARY 20

We’ve got a classy all-jumps Scoop6 to look forward to and we have virtually every grade level covered here today with some of the most talented chasers and hurdlers facing off against each other at Ascot and Haydock.
The first run of the day features five top-class contenders in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices Chase. Nigel Twiston-Davies Pettifour (Supreme Leader) is looking to get things back on track after a UR last time out and could attract plenty of attention. I’m keeping my eyes on Knockara Beau (Legal Council) as he is a there-or-thereabouts type of runner who hasn’t finished outside the top 2 since last April. I do think that Burton Port (Bob Back) is probably your safest option, as he’s demonstrated acumen at Grade 2 level- scoring in the December Novices Chase at Lingfield, although that came against a tiny field of 3.
The second race on the card is the Joseph Heller Cheese Hurdle, another Grade 2, and I’m interested in Paul Nicholls’ Beshabar (Flemensfirth), an 8 year-old chestnut gelding who is 3 from 5 over hurdles lifetime with a second place finish in there as well. He’s struck at Grade 3 level twice and, though lightly-raced, could be the one to beat here. Kayf Aramis (Kayf Tara) takes a step down in class here and he has been running primarily at Grade 1 level against some solid opposition.
One of the toughest puzzles of the day is the third race- the Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Ascot with a competitive field of 18. Based on form, I’d say check out Zabeel Palace (Grand Lodge) who comes in 11121 since his season opener in September. He has won over the course and the distance in the Canaccord Adams Novices Handicap Hurdle on Halloween when he was sent off as the 3/1 favourite. The only real argument against him is the soft going as he usually prefers good. Midnight Sale (Midnight Legend) is an interesting selection and he broke his maiden at Ascot for Alan King. This will be his first outing of the season.
Leg 4 sends us back to Haydock where we have some really talented jumpers competing in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle. Adam’s Island (Beneficial) teams up with AP McCoy for this one and the tandem scored last time out at Newbury in January. He is a lightly-raced 6 year-old bay, but is undefeated in his last three. Silent Cliché (Classic Cliché) steps down from his mid-pack finish in a Grade 2 Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of January and may enjoy the lighter competition this time around.
Six top-class Grade 1 Chasers contest the Betfair Ascot Chase- a 2m5f battle on soft ground. Ruby Walsh partners with Herecomesthetruth (Presenting), a Paul Nicholls-trained chestnut gelding. He comes in off a UR last time out, but prior to that he defeated the talented Forpadydeplasterer at Drogheda in November. This is a horse that, if he can finish the race, generally finds the winners enclosure. The Sawyer (Fleetwood) steps up to Grade 1 level again to score another victory as Ascot. He took top honors in a handicap chase here a few weeks back and has developed a good understanding with Nathan Sweeney. Keep your eyes on this interesting charge.
The Grade 3 Blue Square Gold Cup Chase boasts some very solid options here including Ballyfitz (Overbury), Our Vic (Old Vic) and the Queen’s jumper Snoopy Loopy (Old Vic). Our Vic has the distinction of being one of the few chasers to best the venerable Kauto Star back in 2008 in the Grade 2 totesport Bowl Chase at Aintree. He also scored in his last run- the Grade 2 Peter Marsh which ran over the same course, but was 4f shorter than this one. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Ballyfitz has only scored once since coming off the Novice circuit and has been pretty close a few times, but mistakes tend to catch up with him. If Snoopy Loopy can actually finish a race, then he could also be a contender, but he just doesn’t seem to have much luck, having been pulled up an astonishing 4 times in his last 5 runs.
My £2 ticket:
Burton Port, Kayf Aramis, Zabeel Palace, Adam’s Island, Herecomesthetruth, Our Vic.