Tony Calvin: Cloudy can light up Newbury - can somebody tell connections please?

The first rule of ante-post punting is to try and make sure, wherever and whenever possible, that you at least get a run for your money.

Well, I did try and find out, trust me. It is just that I failed. But I am going to plough on regardless and suggest a small interest on Cloudy Too at a three-figure price for the Hennessy on Saturday.

He is currently available at 170.0169/1 on Betfair, and that is simply insulting. Ok, it also suggests that he is an unlikely runner, but at least we strike the bet with our eyes open.

I'll be backing him, so you won't be alone.

So if you are reading this, Sue and Harvey Smith, this is why you should run the horse at Newbury, and not Newcastle, where he is also entered in the Rehearsal Chase on Saturday.

The biggest news story of the day is obviously Coneygree being ruled out of the race after a morning schooling session failed to impress connections. Fair play to Betfair Sportsbook for refunding antepost bets on the 2015 Gold Cup winner by the way.

But the race's loss is the rest of the field's gain as it makes it far more winnable - Coneygree would have had an exceptional chance, even off a mark of 172, and would have taken them all out of their comfort zone from the front - and it also brings seven horses into the handicap proper, including Cloudy Too.

Cloudy Too ran in this race two seasons ago and performed far better than a finishing position of 12th, beaten 28 lengths, would suggest - he was bang there until 3 out - and particularly so as the prevailing good ground that day wouldn't have been ideal.

And on his next start he showed what he could do with dig in the ground when winning the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day by 10 lengths, before being stepped up in class to contest the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase, where he beat all bar the odds-on, runaway winner Captain Chris, and the Gold Cup, where he started a 50-1 chance.

It is fair to say that he hasn't fulfilled his 2013-2014 promise since but he is now 6lb lower than when winning by 10 lengths at Wetherby, and that makes him the best handicapped horse in the race on "historic" form, alongside Bobs Worth.

And there have been reasons for his two poor efforts this season.

He was clearly never going to win over an inadequate 2m over hurdles on his reappearance and he lost a shoe when pulled up at Bangor last time, for which the handicapper dropped him 3lb.

The stable are also going great guns at the moment, too, and if Cloudy Too returns to his best then he is clearly no three-figure poke in this.

So, if you know Cloudy Too's connections, please make them aware of this article.

I know Sue and Harvey are unlikely to bow to the power of social media, but at least let the Smiths know soon.

And How Soon Is Now.


Recommended Bet
Back Cloudy Too at 170.0169/1 for the Hennessy at Newbury on Saturday