Carl Harris’ Daily Racing Tips / Carl Harris / 25 October 2009 / Leave a comment

The clocks have gone back, the Flat season has gone and racing is now all about the big and small obstacles. Carl Harris welcomes the start of the National Hunt season proper with a pair of bets

" I expect Cappa Bleu to be a high class chaser and therefore he should win this one well. The booking of the champion jockey looks significant."

Wow! St Nicholas Abbey proved the reports right with a scintillating performance in the Racing Post Trophy, made all the better by having heavily backed him. He travelled out the back and went past a Group One field like they were selling platers, if he trains on he will be a serious colt in 2003. Could he fill the void left by the retirement of Sea The Stars? It is a prospect that will certainly keep connections warm over the winter.

The clocks have gone back, so it is officially winter and National Hunt season for me. Sunday is all about jumps racing with three meetings at Aintree, Wincanton and Towcester. I will be taking things easy today but there are a couple of decent bets worth a modest investment.

Tony McCoy rides Cappa Bleu (14:10) for Evan Williams who won the Cheltenham Foxhunters as easy as you like and is a very interesting and exciting prospect. I expect Cappa Bleu to be a high class chaser and therefore he should win this one well. The booking of the champion jockey looks significant.

It is always worth following Paul Nicholls' novices at his local track, Wincanton, and it looks like Shacklesborough (13:15) will be another to add to his impressive strike rate. A decent bumper winner last term I expect him to make a winning start to hurdling with Christian Williams taking the ride.

I advise doubling them up, certainly after the last couple of days we have every right to feel lucky. Lets hope we can end a good week with a couple of winners.

Carl Harris' Best Bets for Sunday 25 October...
14:10 Aintree- Cappa Bleu, Win @ [1.77]
13:15 Wincanton- Shacklesborough, Win @ [2.8]

Tags: Aintree, AP McCoy, Cappa Bleu, Racing Post Trophy, Shacklesborough, St Nicholas Abbey, Towcester, Wincanton