How To Bet £20 on Saturday: 20-1 chance can call tune

Haddex Des Obeaux has had more trainers than racecourse appearances in the past couple of years but don’t let that put you off backing him at 20-1 for the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase at Sandown (2.02) on Saturday. 

He was on the fringes of being a Champion Chase contender this time in 2024 after finishing a close third behind Jonbon and Edwardstone in the 2023 Tingle Creek. However, he then suffered setbacks and was absent almost two years. 

The bay gelding moved from Gary Moore to Nicky Henderson and then Donald McCain during this time, with owner Jimmy Fyffe paying £105,000 for him at Goffs in May of last year in his quest for Saturday horses. 

Haddex Des Obeaux made no impact on his belated return in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in mid-November although that looked a simple case of getting the show back on the road as the habitual front-runner was anchored in rear and pulled up before three out. 

It was a completely different story in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby over Christmas when he led from the start and looked the likely winner for much of the home straight only to get a bit weary from two out, with his fate already sealed when he bungled the final fence. 

He shaped as if a lot of his old powers were intact, and it could be that he was simply still short of peak fitness. It was his first “proper” race since that sterling effort in the Tingle Creek, after all, when Jonbon only collared him going to the last. 

Haddex Des Obeaux certainly set strong fractions at Wetherby with the winning time being much quicker than recent editions of the race.

He is in his element when the mud is flying and Sandown suits exuberant front-running 2m chasers such as him. The handicapper had him running to a rating of 160 in the Tingle Creek but, having dropped him another 3lb for his latest effort, he’s able to run off 145 on Saturday.  And he is still only a nine-year-old, plus a lightly raced one into the bargain. 

Coral and Ladbrokes dismiss him as a 20-1 chance but if last time was another building block, which is not an unreasonable assumption, then he should be bang in the picture for a race that, except for the novice, Jax Junior, is lacking in improvers. 

My other main bet on the card will be Red Dirt Road, who is chalked up at 10-1 with Ladbrokes for the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (3.10).

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained nine-year-old is something of a mud monster and was relentless when making all in the corresponding race 12 months ago when conditions were similarly attritional. He won at the main expense of course specialist Henri The Second, who is back for another crack at him. 

Red Dirt Road is 6lb higher in the ratings and has been off the best part of 11 months, but I’m not worried about his absence and it may even be a blessing. He won a point-to-point first time out (beating Corbetts Cross) and also scored on his Rules debut 11 months later, while he hacked up at Exeter on another occasion when fresh. 

At shorter odds, I’ll also have a play on the same stable’s Fortunate Man in the closing Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (3.42). 

This JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has got a progressive profile and was well punted when winning readily on his return at Aintree over Christmas after 286 days off. 

The seven-year-old has got to cope with a 5lb higher mark (he’s 1lb out of the weights) but will be getting 26lb from the admirable Mr Vango over a trip which is a bare minimum for the latter. It also seems significant that Harry Cobden is getting down to his lightest to take what will be his first ride for McManus since their link up was announced this month. 

There’s also some quality fare at Musselburgh but I’m a little nervous about then prevailing ground conditions as my three main fancies on the card (Lord in 1.10), Wise Eagle ( each-way in the 1.43) and The Kalooki Kid (2.20) will probably want going that is no worse than good to soft. 

2.02 Sandown: Hadeux Des Obeaux at 20-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes £1 win and £2.50 each-way. 

2.25 Leopardstown: Daily Present £1 each-way at 66-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill (both offering 5 places). 

2.25 Leopardstown: Kargese £2 win at 2-1 with Coral. 

3.10 Sandown: Red Dirt Road £1 win and £1.50 each-way at 10-1 with Ladbrokes. 

3.30 Leopardstown: Grangeclare West £2 each-way at a general 25-1 (most firms go 4 places). 

3.42 Sandown: Fortunate Man £2 win at a general 9-4.