Tom Segal of Pricewise fame tells his readers in today's Racing Post that his new year resolution is "to have a lot more ante-post bets and stop mucking about with half-fancies in impossible races". Segal does tend towards the knee-jerk reaction a little too often, and he may well be telling us to lay off the long-range punting the next time his ante-post tip trods on a stone and has to miss the planned gig but I reckon he's talking sense here.
In 2007 my best bets courtesy of Zidane in the Stewards' Cup, Purple Moon in the Ebor and Miko de Beauchene in the Welsh National came via ante-post wagers and I believe there was a bet-compelling display on Saturday. Breedsbreeze was the eye-catcher. He won Sandown's Tolworth Hurdle, widely recognised as a "hot race" beforehand, in the style of a potentially top-notch hurdler and there's no doubt he will be better when stepped up in trip.
Paul Nicholls says he will be sending Breedsbreeze for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival "as he really wants two and a half miles" if the ground is not testing. It's rare for the Festival to be run on testing ground these days and at the general 14-1 on offer Breedsbreeze looks a decent wager.
There's some interesting action at Naas and Plumpton today with an eye to the future but just one solid bet. I'm going to row in with my colleague Ron Cox who has napped 1.55pm Pocket Aces in the long-distance novice hurdle. The selection romped home at Folkestone before finishing second over today's course and distance last month. If anything the defeat was arguably better form than the win and with more improvement on the cards, he looks the one to be on today.
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