How To Bet £20 on Saturday: Sleepy can leave rivals in his wake

It’s a relatively low-key Saturday on Racing TV but the treats are going to come thick and fast over Christmas and so we must not grumble.

Decent betting opportunities look slim but I fancy the Betway Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock could develop into a duel between The Hollow Ginge and Orchardstown Cross.

My strategy will be to back the pair of them and also put them in a reverse Exacta.

Owner John Neild, from Liverpool, dreams of winning the Grand National and The Hollow Ginge is fuelling them because the 141-rated youngster, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, jumps soundly and shapes like a thorough stayer.

Put a line through his run over an extended 2m5f here last time because the trip was on the sharp side for him, especially with the ground no worse than good to soft and the pace being steady.

His previous efforts, including a decisive verdict over subsequent Ladbrokes Trophy runner-up The Conditional and a narrow defeat at Aintree, read well and this test over half a mile a further than last time on much deeper ground will play much more to his strengths.

His CV includes three victories on heavy ground, including at this meeting last year over hurdles, so underfoot conditions are no concern. The egeneral 5-1 looks fair.

Orchardstown Cross ended last season on the up and impressed with the way he cut through the pack when winning on his return at Exeter.

He never got into contention when dropped out at Ascot last time but I’m inclined to forgive him that – it’s often a track where such tactics are hard to execute – and would not be surprised if the egeneral 9-1 shot bounced back, especially with Rex Dingle reunited with him. The conditional is 2111 when riding him.

Jockeys able to claim are always worth looking out for when the mud is flying and my other two Haydock fancies, Minella Charm and Secrete Stream, will also have their burdens reduced in handicaps by significant sums.

Charlotte Jones has won on five of her past 26 starts for Jimmy Moffatt (at 66-1, 10-1, 6-1 twice and 4-1) and the 8lb she takes off the back of Minella Charmer in the opening handicap hurdle on the card makes him worth a punt.

The eight-year-old has been off nine months since making all on heavy ground at Newcastle but he can go well fresh and I expect Jones to keep things simple and wind things up from the front.

Minella Charmer is only 3lb higher than for his latest run and before that had gone close to springing a shock at this track, in a race won by Secrete Stream.

That brings us neatly onto Secrete Stream, who will not be for everybody as he’s rising 11 and ran poorly when last in action at Perth in the spring.

However, he represents a stable in great heart and is lightly-raced for his age, plus his overall record indicates that he is at his best when fresh on a testing surface.

My one niggle with him is his ability to stay three miles, but he has been strong at the finish when winning over shorter and at the odds on offer his stamina is worth risking.

Aiden Blakemore, who claims 7lb, has ridden him in is past three races and was on board for the Haydock success.

Finally, at Ascot, I’m happy to risk the mud-loving Not So Sleepy from the foot of the weights in the Betfair Exchange Trophy.

He is 5lb higher than when making all over course and distance last time, but he did well to win that day as he raced exuberantly in a clear lead and put in the odd scruffy leap.

It looked like he would become a sitting duck but he kept on galloping to repel all challengers, perhaps not surprising given how well he stays on the Flat.

Relative to his form on the level, he remains on a favourable mark. I can see him getting an easy lead and, provided he picks up his feet and does not fight Jonathan Burke, will take some pegging back.

How To Bet £20 on Saturday:

11.50 Haydock: Minella Charmer £3 win at a general 7-2

2.05 Haydock Secrete Stream £3 win at 9-1 with Coral

2.40 Haydock: The Hollow Ginge £4 win at 9-2 with Boylesports

2.40 Haydock: Orchardstown Cross £2 each-way at a general 9-1

2.40 Haydock: £1.50 Reverse Exacta on The Hollow Ginge/ Orchardstown Cross

3.35 Ascot Not So Sleepy £3 win at 9-1 with William Hill and BetVictor