Horse Racing Betting – Believe In Balzaccio

The overturn of Binocular by stablemate Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle wasn’t anticipated in this column but maybe we can forgive AP McCoy, who must have expended most of his energy in getting our 7-1 advice Wichita Lineman home in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase 40 minutes earlier. With 20-1 tip Nenuphar Collonges also grabbing a place, it turned out to be a profitable race for us and added to Arkle Trophy winner Forpadydeplasterer (highlighted at 10-1) made a successful first day. Of course, there’s still plenty of time for the layers to regain ground but let’s hope it’s not via Diamond Harry in the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle. Nick Williams thinks the world of his unbeaten 6-year-old and, though he didn’t impress everyone with the manner of his latest victory here in January, that was on very heavy ground. I believe Diamond Harry is simply the best horse in this race and will be backing him again at what is a very generous 9-2 with bet365 and Victor Chandler. The RSA Chase is a difficult puzzle to solve – will Cooldine (9-2 with Coral) prove as effective over this longer trip, or has Ruby Walsh made a mistake in getting off the proven 11-2 shot What A Friend? For what it’s worth I’d be prepared to take both on with Killyglen. Howard Johnson doesn’t enter his horses at The Festival unless he thinks they’ve got a realistic chance of going home with some prize money and I’ve been taken with this son of Presenting in his two wins over the larger obstacles. This is always a gruelling test for novices but Killyglen has plenty in his favour and boylesports and Paddy Power‘s 14-1 is mighty tempting. Day two’s final advice is for a little each-way interest on Balzaccio in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. An eye-catching 20-1 with boylesports, given the strength of his team it’s interesting that Alan King rates his 4-year-old as the best-handicapped horse he has entered at Cheltenham this week. Reported to have come on in leaps and bounds after a short break, Balzaccio could just have a little more scope than better-fancied rivals.