Back-to-lay Loose Chips, Looking Well and Cepage
2.05 Newbury
Loose Chips has traded below at least half his BSP in-running in 10 of his last 11 races and there no reason to think he won’t be trading low again here. He is a really good jumper which has seen him perform well at tracks like Sandown in his last four runs that have a premium on jumping ability, and with Newbury’s tough fences his great jumping prowess will put him in good stead.
He races off a mark of 139, which he has for the last 3 races which has seen him trade down to 3.50, 3.30 and 5.60 from double figure prices. He likes to lead in his races and with the ground probably too quick for Al Co, it leaves O’Faolains Boy as the probably challenger for the lead, but he ran poorly last time out, though he is really well handicapped on his old form. Loose Chips currently trades around 8.40 for a back-to-lay.
3.35 Doncaster
Looking Well ran really well last time out here at Doncaster, finishing second behind Ziga Boy, who won the Sky Bet Handicap Chase for the second consecutive year. Ziga Boy led all the way with Looking Well staying on at the end but could never get to the leader despite him trading down to 2.86 in-running from a BSP of 26.0, the pair were 9 lengths clear of the second.
The extra 2 furlongs of today’s race will probably suit this stayer better and as long as the ground doesn’t get any slower he looks to have a great chance of creeping in to the race late on to trade low in-running; he currently trades around 6.60 for a back-to-lay.
4.25 Newbury
Cepage looks a great bet to go close in this 2m4f handicap chase and if his jumping holds up, a win is on the cards.
He has been racing around 2 miles in Britain since his move from Emmanuel Clayeux yard in France. He was a twice a winner for his French handler, on the only two times he raced over 2m3f+ so today’s step up to 2m4f could see an improved performance with the soft ground also in his favour and with several outings over British obstacles under his belt. He traded down to 2.0 in-running from a BSP of 6.69 last time out and would have probably have won if his jumping had not let him down over the tough Sandown fences. His trainer, Venetia Williams is in great form; he currently trades around 5.0 for a back-to-lay, but I will be looking to lay him short and leave more money on the win side with conditions looking to be in his favour.
