Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Why Bob is worth it

Timeform Radio Tip / Rory Delargy / 18 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Rory makes the case for two at Ascot

"Alan King is likely to get back in the winners enclosure courtesy of the progressive Smad Place in the Betfair. Don’t Settle For Less Handicap Hurdle at 15:35."

With a fabulous Friday at Newbury fresh in the memory, it promises to be a cracking racing weekend, and Alan Dudman is your host for a packed Saturday programme. Rory Delargy is on hand from the Cheltenham studio, and he outlines his best bets for the day...

One of the most intriguing contests at Ascot today is the Reynoldstown Chase at 13:50, in which Feltham second and third Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth reoppose. The former came out best at Kempton, and deserves credit for putting it up to the impressive Grands Crus. On the other hand, Paul Nicholls chaser rather lost his way at this time last year, missing Cheltenham after a lacklustre display in the Kingwell Hurdle, and he has never struck me as the most robust.

Bobs Worth had his wind tweaked after that performance, which will have done him no harm, and he carried his form through all of last year, never better than when taking the 3m Spa Hurdle at the Festival. Of the pair, he's the one I'd side with today, and the respective record of their trainers in this contest adds weight: Nicholls has taken this race only once despite the array of talent at his disposal, while Henderson has sent out winners in the shape of Bacchanal, Burton Port and Master of The Hall to land this prize.

Of the others, Helpston is flattered by finishing ahead of Midnight Chase at Wetherby last time, while Invictus is better than he showed at Cheltenham last time, and is a horse I think a lot of, but he lacks the basic class of the front 2 in the betting, and may need more time to find his niche as a chaser.

If Alan King is out of luck with Invictus, he is likely to get back in the winners enclosure courtesy of the progressive Smad Place in the "Betfair. Don't Settle For Less" Handicap Hurdle at 15:35. The striking grey was my idea of the Triumph Hurdle winner last year, and while that proved a little hot for him, he looked to have improved again when winning over this C&D on his return to action. He was most eyecatching there, travelling all over his field from a long way out, and it's something of a surprise that the handicapper has raised him just 7lb for that run. He's lightly enough raced to improve again, and looks more than capable of conceding weight all round.

Recommended Bets
Back Bobs Worth in the 13:50 Ascot @ [2.92] (NAP)
Back Smad Place in the 15:35 Ascot @ [5.8] (NB)