Rivet nailed the Racing Post Trophy for us last week at double his eventual starting price but, though there may still be a couple of weeks left of the UK Flat season, attention is definitely beginning to turn towards the jumpers as the National Hunt season gets into full swing.
There is the Grade 3 bet365 Hurdle and the Grade 2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby this weekend but neither race really offers much in the way of betting value and, instead, should be treated as information guides for even more important races in the months ahead.
Ascot also has a good jumps card with Listed races over fences and hurdles supporting the main feature, the Grade 3 Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
Sodexo Gold Cup Trends
First run in 2006 as the United House Gold Cup, this 3m contest carries prize money in the region of £100,000 and always attracts competitive line-up. It was made a Listed race in 2009 and achieved Grade 3 status in 2011.
There are no trends regarding the winner’s age but this is generally not a race for those near the head of the handicap – only three of the 10 winners have carried more than 10st 10lb.
The Last Derby, a 33/1 chance in 2009, was the only winner to have started bigger than 14/1 – four of the last six winners have been single-figure odds, suggesting we’ve got our work cut out to find one at a working man’s price.
Tea For Two won the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase last Christmas but only ran once after when something was obviously amiss. He has it all to do in this under top weight and, despite also winning a Grade 1 over fences, Saphir Du Rheu is definitely better over hurdles.
Tom George’s A GOOD SKIN is weighted to reverse recent Chepstow running with Buckhorn Timothy and deserves a win in a race like this. He was out of luck last season but was an excellent second behind Cause Of Causes at the Cheltenham Festival and a repeat of that effort would make his current 7/1 quote from BetVictor look generous.
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Hadrian’s Approach is starting to look very well handicapped and could also be worth a second look at the general 12/1 if Nicky Henderson has nursed him back to any kind of form.
Sodexo Gold Cup Current Best Odds
Saphir Du Rheu and Tea For Two (4/1), A Good Skin (7/1), Voix D’eau (8/1), Hadrian’s Approach (12/1), Buckhorn Timothy (14/1), Antony (16/1), Junction Fourteen, Un Ace and Killala Quay (20/1), Fourth Act (25/1), Workbench (33/1)
