Horse racing tips: Cheltenham, Doncaster, Newbury, Kelso and Wolverhampton – Steve Mullen’s betting preview for Saturday, October 28
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's racing from Cheltenham, Doncaster, Newbury, Kelso and Wolverhampton.
KEEP a Cool head at Cheltenham today.
COOLOGUE won the Handicap Chase (2.00) 12 months ago and runs off the same mark today.
He saves his best for Cheltenham and didn’t mess about in staying close to the pace before getting on top late on. That victory was enough to see him pitched into the Hennessy at Newbury where had too much on his plate.
A faller hampered him early on at the Festival last season before he finished the campaign with a much better run here. He was bang in contention until running out of petrol over a slightly longer distance.
Richard Johnson’s mount clearly is best fresh and he’s won his comeback race for the past two seasons. It’s the first time the champ has ridden him since last year’s victory and that’s another tip in itself.
It’s easy to get confused at Cheltenham today with the more prestigious Randox Health Handicap Chase — minus the dot com — off at 3.10.
But we can be clear enough about our selection with DOUBLE W’S getting the nod.
He ran here at the Festival in March where the extended 2m trip caught him out more than the track, where he was placed as a hurdler.
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Canny trainer Malcolm Jefferson wisely dropped him back to his best trip at Aintree, where he was very impressive in winning the Grade 3 Red Rum Chase.
He looked done for the season when running a poor race at Ayr and warmed up for this with a soild — if rusty — comeback at Kelso three weeks ago.
The key to him seems to be sticking to 2m and he’s only 3lb higher than that excellent Aintree success.
At a big price, Cobra De Mai did nothing wrong when winning at Sedgefield last time and looks ready for this step up in class. He’s another who loves this trip and hasn’t been clobbered by the handicapper.
The Flat rumbles on and SPRING LOADED can take Doncaster’s Sun Bets Responsible Betting Handicap at 4.00.
Despite having a few miles on the clock, he posted a personal best when second at York last time out. He finished like a train having been held up for a little too long.
His last visit to Donny was a winning one as he scooted away with the red-hot Portland Handicap at the St Leger meeting. That’s run over slightly further than this and it’s true to say that he’s yet to win over the minimum trip.
He’s only had a couple of goes though and wasn’t far away either time. This should be run at a fair gallop which can bring his stamina into play.
Each-way players should look at last year’s winner Soie D’Leau. He’s 3lb lower than 12 months ago and should be forgiven a poor run at Leicester last time because these sprinters can be a little bit inconsistent. At his best he’d have every chance.
CHELTENHAM
2.00 Coologue
2.35 Bedrock
3.10 Double W’S
3.45 Thomas Campbell
4.20 Alcala
4.55 Robbin’Hannon
5.30 Way Out West
DONCASTER
1.45 Rebel Assault
2.20 Al Hajar
2.55 Lawless Secret
3.25 Saxon Warrior
4.00 Spring Loaded
4.35 Sir Dancealot
5.10 Hajjam
Steve Mullen's top tips for Saturday
2.00 Cheltenham - Coologue: 'Richard Johnson's mount is clearly best fresh and he saves his best for Cheltenham'
3.10 Cheltenham - Double W's: 'Has course form, two miles suits and warmed up for this with a rusty looking prep run'
4.00 Doncaster - Spring Loaded: 'He posted a personal best last time and won on his last visit to Doncaster'
NEWBURY
1.10 Expensive Liaison
1.40 Tathmeen
2.15 Frontiersman
2.50 Nebo
3.20 Century Dream
3.55 Magnolia Springs
4.30 Highgarden
5.05 Take Two
KELSO
1.15 Temple Man
1.50 Some Reign
2.25 Give Me A Copper
3.00 As De Mee
3.35 Jet Master
4.05 Doktor Glaz
4.40 Irish Hawke
5.15 Chapel Stile
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.45 Rapid Ranger
6.15 Miss Rosina
6.45 Island Flame
7.15 Moojaned
7.45 Big Time Maybe
8.15 Society Prince
8.45 Mishaal
9.15 Daring Guest