Carl Harris’ Daily Racing Tips / Carl Harris / 24 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Carl Harris has bets for the Racing Post Trophy and Old Roan Chase

"Tidal Bay is a class performer and will be a major force this season if he is back to his form of 2008 when he won the Arkle. Tidal bay is the one to back, in my view, to land the Old Roan Chase."

It's another huge Saturday of racing with the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster being the big one. There are good cards at Newbury and at Aintree too, making for a great day of punting. Its great to see some really decent National Hunt racing now coming to the fore and the Old Roan Chase at Aintree should be a great race. Let's see if we can make a few quid across the board today.

If reports are to be believed then St Nicholas Abbey (15:30) is already home and hosed. Certainly if he wins the group one then he will spend the winter break as the Derby favourite. Ballydoyle have an outrageous number of good horses so positive reports emanating from the stable should be taken seriously and what we have seen so far suggests the potential is definitely there. This is his toughest test and Al Zir and Elusive Pimpernel will give him a race but I am siding with St Nicholas Abbey to land the Racing Post Trophy.

Laylas Hero (14:55) was a really impressive winner at York where he came from last to first to win going away. I wondered how much was left in the tank and we will find out today. He faces some very good horses but for me Laylas Here is top class and should win.

The Old Roan Chase is an exceptional race, full of quality. I was impressed with Tartak last season, as a novice, but this is the big league and up against the likes of Monets Garden, last year's winner Knowhere and Tidal Bay (14:15) who I will be backing to win. Howard Johnson's eight year-old clearly was not right last season but is reported to be back to his old self, and if so he should win this well at a decent price. The stable have started the season in great form and Tidal bay will be as fit as a fiddle for his seasonal debut. Tidal Bay is a class performer and will be a major force this season if he is back to his form of 2008 when he won the Arkle. Tidal bay is the one to back, in my view, to land the Old Roan Chase.

Carl Harris' Best Bets for Saturday 24 October...
15:30 Doncaster- St Nicholas Abbey, Win @ [3.0]
14:55 Doncaster- Laylas Hero, Win @ [2.9]
14:15 Aintree- Tidal Bay, Win @ [3.9]

Tags: Aintree, Doncaster, Laylas Hero, Old Roan Chase, Racing Post Trophy, St Nicholas Abbey, Tidal Bay