Angus McNae Wednesday tips: Get on the 9-1 at a Keystroke
By Angus McNae
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Angus McNae
I am not one to get involved in ante-post bets for the Cheltenham Festival as there is too much chaos involved.
If I was that way inclined, however, surely the 9-4 about Faugheen in the Stan James Champion Hurdle is a tremendous price.
He is one of the best hurdlers we have seen in the last decade and looked as good as ever at Punchestown at the weekend.
I think he will be odds-on favourite on March 15 so if you like betting that far in advance the 9-4 looks value enough for me.
I have four selections for you today, three of which are at Kempton and one at Warwick.
Alan King has his team in really good form and can grab another winner with Harefield.
This horse was a good fourth on his seasonal return at Exeter.
kilbeggan
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He was entitled to need that run yet shaped well, having made headway four out.
This race represents a drop in grade and he should be hard to beat.
His main rival is the Dan Skelton-trained Santo De Lune, who clearly has ability but also problems.
Having had nearly a year off he may be rusty and vulnerable to Harefield, who will find this grade a lot easier than anything he has encountered before.
The key to this horse is the fact that he is dropping back to seven furlongs, having shaped well over a mile on his last two starts.
naas
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That may be a strange thing to say, given he won over a mile here last time, but given how strongly he travels through his races the drop in trip looks as if it could bring about more improvement.
Trainer Richard Hughes remains in good form and jockey Shane Kelly knows the horse well.
This horse is also the class act in the race, racing off the ceiling mark of 65 in what is a 0-65. He looks set to bully inferior rivals in a race that has been well found for him by his trainer.
I have been a fan of this horse for a while and I am particularly keen on him when he runs on the All-Weather.
It was an agonising result for me when he was beaten at Wolverhampton two starts ago, but that was a decent effort in a very good race.
He then went on to get a bad trip at Lingfield, when he was not beaten far by Sovereign Debt in the All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions Stakes on Finals Day.
Adam Kirby is an excellent booking and at 9-1 with Betfair he represents good value in the Listed contest.
This gelding has a great chance of adding to what has been a highly successful season for trainer David O'Meara.
He would be a shorter price than Coral's 3-1 if there was greater certainty about him seeing out this two-mile trip.
So far his best form has been at a mile and a half and his ability to stay two miles has to be taken on trust.
On balance I think he will, he certainly was not stopping at the line when finishing second to the useful Ply last time out.
lingfield-park
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It is just possible that this step up in trip will bring about a fair bit of improvement and in Silvestre De Sousa you couldn’t have a better man on board.
Angus McNae's Wednesday tips: (Prices correct at 10.30am)
12.35 Warwick: Harefield at a generally available 2-1
4.40 Kempton: Secratario at a generally available 4-1
6.40 Kempton: Keystroke at 9-1 with Betfair
7.10 Kempton: Royal Reserve at 3-1 Coral
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