Lillington won the Oakley Coachbuilders Handicap Chase (For The Geoffrey Gilbey Trophy) at Newbury 12 months ago but a rival further down the weights could be the value this year.
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Oakley Coachbuilders Handicap Chase Current Best Odds
Billingsley 3/1
Dorking Cock and Amoola Gold 7/2
Eddiemaurice 6/1
Flaminger and Rose Sea Has 9/1
Lillington 14/1
Boagrius 16/1
Ontopoftheworld 20/1
(Odds correct at 17.30 February 27)
Table of Contents
Billingsley much improved over distance
Billingsley hasn’t looked back since Alastair Ralph worked out that he is best over 2m
The eight-year-old has won his last two races over fences but didn’t have much to spare at either Hereford or Haydock.
A further 7lb rise is a worry, therefore, and he looks plenty sort enough in the betting at a general 3/1.
Champion hoping Dorking Cock can boost his win tally
Richard Johnson may be tackling mission impossible in trying to retain his jockeys’ title but he’ll have high hopes that Dorking Cock can help him close the gap on Brian Hughes.
Like Billingsley, he’s also benefited from a drop back to 2m and won his last two.
Only six, he may well have more to offer but has gone up 8lb in the weights so that hat-trick bid will be difficult to accomplish. He is 7/2 with Betvictor.
Gold hoping to go one better in Newbury return
Amoola Gold won over 2m at Hereford last seaon and was racing over the minimum trip for the time since at Newbury in December when only beayen a short-head by the in-form Defi Sacre.
That has earned Dan Skelton’s runner a 4lb rise but a reproduction of his best form would place him firmly in the firing-line at 7/2 with Paddy Power.
Eddiemaurice makes plenty of appeal back over fences
EDDIEMAURICE has only won once so far over fences, a four-runner novices’ handicap at Ascot in March of last year. Capeland finished last in that race but has won a Class 2 handicap this season. John Flint’s nine-year-old is a strong traveller who won over hurdles at Newbury when last seen.
Jack Tudor retains the ride and takes off 5lb meaning that his mount is actually receiving weight from all of his rivals.
He’ll be ridden from the rear again but could have nore pace than the others in the closing stages and is attractively priced at a best 6/1.
Best Of The Rest
Last year’s winner Lillington does not arrive in the same form and it’s hard to imagine he’ll win again off a higher mark.
Flaminger had his limitations off today’s mark exposed last time at Lingfield.
Rose Sea Has struggled off higher ratings since making all the running at Sedgefield but Charlie Hammond’s 3lb claim may help the grey’s cause and he can be backed at 9/1.
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