Today’s best bets, by Greg Wood
There is some high-quality jumps action at both Haydock and Ascot this afternoon and, while The New One will not make his much-anticipated debut over fences, the presence of Different Gravey (1.35) in Ascot’s beginners’ chase does at least mean that there is a potential Grade One winner over fences on show at the Berkshire track.
He still has a fair way to go, of course, but Different Gravey looked like that rare horse who might actually live up to an optimistic name when he bolted up under top weight in a handicap hurdle at this track back in February.
His subsequent run down the field behind Thistlecrack in a Grade One at Aintree can be forgiven, since the trip appeared to stretch him, it was a big step up from a handicap and, well, it was Thistlecrack. Today’s race is a little more competitive than the small field might suggest, but Different Gravey is still lightly raced and likely to come into his own now that he moves up to the bigger obstacles.
Minella Daddy (3.20) is also at a relatively early stage of his chasing career, having won a beginners’ event at Ffos Las last time out on his second start over fences. He was a useful staying handicapper over hurdles, however, and ran well at both Aintree and Haydock in the spring, finishing a creditable second in a Class 2 event at the latter track off a mark of 128.
That suggests an opening mark of 131 over fences is very fair and it may be significant that Peter Bowen has opted for today’s more valuable prize rather than the novice event on tomorrow’s card.
Thomas Campbell (2.10) looks like another solid bet in a decent novice hurdle on the same card, while, at Haydock, Cloudy Dream (1.25) will be hard to beat at the weights in the Graduation Chase. One Forty Seven (3.10) should atone for his recent demotion from a share of first place with Cracking Find when he meets the same opponent on better terms.
At Newcastle, Cadeau Magnifique (5.45) should go one better than on his debut over the straight mile here last time out.
