Tipping / Graham Cunningham / 22 January 2010 / 1

It's a case of after famine comes feast this Saturday as the stars of jump racing continue to emerge from their enforced winter break. Graham Cunningham will be back on RUK duty at Haydock and has mixed feelings about some of the big names set to go off as hot favourites both there and at Ascot.

Haydock 13:10

Charlie Tipple is easily passed over, but the other three look tightly matched and I suspect I will hold fire until seeing them in the paddock. Radium bolted up off a mark of 118 at Cheltenham, while Scriptwriter went well off marks in the low 130's over three miles last spring and Peddlers Cross bolted up on his hurdling bow at Bangor.
All in all, a very trappy one to call.

Ascot 13:30

Advisor's flash connections and emphatic Newbury win will ensure he corners a fair chunk of the market, but Barwell Bridge was better on the Flat and looked just as good a hurdling prospect when sluicing clear of a previous winner at Ffos Las. The rest looks a mixed bag and Barwell Bridge looks bound to go very close indeed given that he's open to considerable improvement.

Ascot 14:05

Former Festival winner Whiteoak is a key player here, but can we forgive her subdued effort behind Big Buck's at Newbury? I suspect attritional ground sapped her stamina that day, but this is no "gimme" with Strawberry, Amber Brook and Easter Legend in opposition. Strawberry looks particularly dangerous given that she's a rugged battler who looks made for McCoy and I suspect she will run Whiteoak very close indeed in receipt of 5lb.

Haydock 14:20

It's all about price and jumping on Diamond Harry's chasing debut. Fans will argue that he beat Bensalem and Knockara Beau over hurdles and receives 3lb and 7lb respectively having improved again over hurdles since. However, no horse has an easy race against the remorseless Big Buck's and I won't be rushing to take skinny odds given that Harry had to dig deep in very bad ground at Newbury over Christmas. Tactics could play a role, but Bensalem still has the makings of a good novice and Knockara Beau is a fine jumper with four smart chasing runs behind him. In short, it wouldn't surprise me to see either or both give the jolly plenty to think about.

Ascot 14:40

Twist Magic has his critics on the score of inconsistency - and it's fair to point out that he flopped at odds-on in this race two years ago - but his last three performances have been high class and his runaway Tingle Creek success last month makes him the clear pick on Timeform and official ratings. Price is the crucial factor and, given that subdued effort here in 2007, I would want [2.7] before rating him real value. The presence of Fix The Rib and Lennon should ensure a searching gallop and Petit Robin looks the safest alternative for those who don't like the favourite. He was brushed aside by the mighty Master Minded in this race last year but returns in great form after mastering Well Chief at Kempton and I feel confident he can confirm that form even on slightly worse terms.

Haydock 14:55

Once again, the key to finding value here lies in predicting the right price for a hot favourite. Last year's Champion Hurdler Punjabi is plainly good enough, but he tends to run accordingly when his handler reports he is short of peak fitness and could drift if Henderson makes downbeat comments on Saturday. For what it's worth, I suspect this will be tactical. Punjabi has more pace than Medermit but finished behind him in the Bula at Cheltenham on his reappearance last month, while Cape Tribulation was far from disgraced in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and could get the run of the race. It's hardly a must bet scenario, but a split stakes ploy involving finding the best price about Cape Trib and Medermit might offer some value.

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1. Stewart | 23 January 2010

   Hi Graham,

   Will you be resurrecting "Betmaverick",as I beleive given time you had a winning product?

   Regards
   Stewart

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