Our resident website tipster takes aim at some big-field jumps handicaps including the feature £100,000 Swinton Hurdle at Haydock. Enjoy more jumps action from Cork and good Flat racing from Naas and Nottingham live on Racing TV.
This is a cracking weekend for big-field handicaps and I am going for the retirement yankee in the hope that some cracking claiming apprentices and conditionals under both codes can make the difference.
He will be among the outsiders here, but he is definitely well handicapped off a mark of 125 and the first-time blinkers may help his concentration.
Things didn’t really work out for Hurricane Harvey and there have been slightly more encouraging results of late back over hurdles. He was not beaten far over course and distance last time and this slightly easier ground will suit him.
Fergal O’Brien is seemingly perennially in form and, before racing on Friday, has already had five winners in May from not many runners and will definitely sort this useful horse out and get him back on track. Bookies will pay extra places for sure and Hurricane Harvey looks a bit of value.
Anna Bunina has gone up 5lbs in the weights for her Ayr success, but her exceptionally shrewd trainer has booked 5lb-claiming conditional M M McDonagh to take off the weight and that looks a very significant move.
She did me a big favour in the Scottish Champion Hurdle when winning in good style and had clearly been laid out for that race, in which she had been runner-up the previous season. She definitely enjoys the sun on her back and most of her Flat wins have come in the spring and summer, and now that she has hit form I feel she can go close here at a track that will suit her.
Anna Bunina has a better turn of foot than most hurdlers and is best in these quality races where, for now at least, she carries a low racing weight.
He is drawn on the side which seems to have the most pace, should get a good tow into this and looks an ideal type here.
Vafortino looked a certain future winner after his first appearance in this country at the big Good Friday meeting at Newcastle, where he ran the high-class Bless Him to a neck over this trip. He has been highly tried in Group 3 and Listed races for Joseph O’Brien with mixed results, but he looks one for these big handicaps such as this Victoria Cup for his excellent new trainer.
Benoit De La Sayette is an excellent 7lb apprentice and showed he too is up to this sort of race when winning the Lincoln last season and he has been a regular choice for Kevin Philippart de Foy on key horses.
He blew out for me earlier this week, but things did not go right for him at Kempton as he was a very reluctant leader and could not respond when challenged later in the race.
His two previous races for new trainer Mark Loughnane had been very encouraging and the trainer has booked useful apprentice George Rooke to claim 5lbs here which may help.
I believe Follow Your Heart is in good form and certain to get a lead here. He has a good draw and conditions in his favour to run a better race.