Wincanton Placepot: Friday 12th March

Tipping / Timeform / 12 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Wincanton racecourse, home of one of four National Hunt meetings this afternoon.

Even though there are four National Hunt meetings today it's very much the calm before the storm with everyone's focus firmly set on the Cheltenham Festival. So a placepot looks an excellent way to keep funds intact for next week's showpiece and still retain a financial interest in this afternoon's action. Timeform's National Hunt team provide a suggested perm for the meeting at Wincanton.

"Noble Billy isn’t easy to leave out in current heart, so we won’t, but there is a chance this could come too soon for Neil King’s charge and, as such, we also plump for Master Cobbler who looks a shoo-in for one of the two places."

2.00 - The opening leg is a competitive mares' novices' hurdle in which there is very little on Timeform ratings between the six who have done enough to earn a mark. Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh will be teaming up in search of much, much bigger prizes next week, but Far From Blonde, who is clearly no stable star, has finished in the frame on all three of her starts and looks sure to be involved again here, so she goes in as our first selection. We also include Sawpit Solitaire who has a bit to find with some of these but hasn't long been with Venetia Williams and should fare better back in novice company.

2.35 - With a mix of sketchy jumpers and unreliable types this handicap hurdle is a difficult one to predict, but Stagehand is more solid than most and should give his running. Also included is the enigmatic Sir Harry Cool who was running well in a race that featured subsequent winners Sona Sasta and Hopeful Start before his stamina gave way last time.

3.10 - Noble Billy isn't easy to leave out in current heart, so we won't, but there is a chance this could come too soon for Neil King's charge and, as such, we also plump for Master Cobbler who looks a shoo-in for one of the two places.

3.45 - As we don't want to eat too much into next week's betting bank it's probably time for a banker. Gordon Elliott's Meath All Star has been progressive over hurdles this season and is an intended runner in next Friday's Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, so picking up a penalty here would help his chances of making the cut for that race.

4.20 - The last two legs are uninspiring events, but in the solid Ruby Crown and Le Toto (who comes here fresh and looks a likely improver for his new yard) we have enough to make it through to the finale.

4.55 - This probably isn't the ideal way to finish the placepot, yes it may be a small field, but, with only two places to aim at, and a collection of inconsistent types of which it's hard to make a strong case for any, we need at least two selections. The Arsonist may be operating from out of the weights today but is still well handicapped on his best form and does at least get his conditions here. Our final choice is Wise Men Say who proved his well-being with the cheekpieces back on last time and has fallen to a feasible mark.

Selections: 32 lines
2.00 - 5, 11
2.35 - 4, 12
3.10 - 2, 4
3.45 - 1
4.20 - 1, 2
4.55 - 3, 6