In-Running Week: Betting plans for a trio of National Hunt horses

In-Play / Neil Munro / 30 November 2011 /

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Sparky May in action

"For the 11th time in 11 starts Sparky May traded at half her BSP in the run."

Neil Munro is moved to a little tear by Carruthers' victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup but it's three other horses from the Newbury card that he profiles in this week's In-Running column

Was it just me who shed a little tear when Mattie Batchelor crossed the line at Newbury to win the Hennessy Gold Cup Chase on Carruthers in the colours of Lord Oaksey last Saturday? And it wasn't because I had layed out virtually all my winnings on the horse because, as stated here previously, I thought the horse was better in small fields where he could dictate. No, money isn't everything... honest!

It was because this was one of those emotional journeys that you get taken on through the National Hunt scene. The wonderful gentleman that is Lord Oaksey; the gameness and battling qualities of Carruthers; the realisation of what a win like this means to a trainer like Mark Bradstock. But for me the truly emotional moment was those scenes of the other jockeys, including Dicky Johnson on the second horse home Planet of Sound, virtually queuing up to congratulate a very popular member of the weighing room in the form of Batchelor.

After I had wiped away the tears I started to look back through the day's racing and found a few horses to keep a dry eye out for.

Earth Planet
With Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old the secret is not to overcomplicate things. I know that I tend to over-analyse horses at times, to build a profile alongside some in-running angle that I have found, but Earth Planet is simple. He just travels supremely well and in-running backers want to be with him and his in-running price contracts. He has won four times in 30 runs, but in that time he has hit half his BSP in the run 19 times. That is 15 times that he has hit that mark and not gone on to win.
Advice: Back pre-race for small and lay out so you are winning a small amount if Earth Planet wins and more if the field wins.

Sparky May
Most eyes would have been on Big Buck's (and I can't blame anyone for that) but mine were clearly set on Sparky May. Yet again, and despite having Big Buck's go off at extremely short odds, the 6yo mare again travelled well down the field and for the 11th time in 11 starts she traded half her BSP in the run. She was never going to win the race but traded at [4.0], having gone off a BSP of [14.0]. Her record on good to soft or faster ground is ultra-consistent and that gives us the play.
Advice: Back pre-race and if good-to-soft or faster, and in company that she has a chance, lay out only your stake at half BSP. If soft of heavy ground, or pitched in at the top-level get the field winning you.

Hey Big Spender
It's OK, readers, I'm not going to burst into song. With so much attention on Cue Card we forget the other firepower in the Tizzard yard and Hey Big Spender picked up the Rehearsal Chase up at Newcastle. In-running wise, I have not got to the bottom of the horse but we know he loves cut in the ground, with five wins from 11 starts under those conditions. I guess he does get into a rhythm and with the fact he hits half his BSP in the run 53% of the time in defeat I think he is a player.
Advice: If the ground is between good to soft and heavy back him pre-race and put up to lay your stake at half BSP in the run.

Just one final mention for a horse and it has to be Overturn. What a game front-runner. Is he for sale?!

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