Saturday Racing Tips: Never Too Much love for Vandross at these monster odds

Tony Calvin
09 January 2015

Will Tony serve up the Warwick winners?

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Tony Calvin brings us another batch of big-priced bets for a Saturday of racing in the UK and he's in good form after hitting Rayvin Black at 15.014/1 and a pre-gambled Unioniste at 5.59/2 last week

"A test of stamina in soft ground is ideal, as Carruthers showed here last year - and that race worked out well, too - and previously at Ffos Las, and it is clearly no negative that his small stable sent out Coneygree and Flintham to win decent prizes last month."

"Carruthers and Luck" are apparently a well-established firm of estate agents in East Sussex - not, as far as I know it, Nick's Morning Line tip for Saturday afternoon's racing, though it should be - but I don't think any good fortune will be needed to see Mark Bradstock's horse make all to win the Classic Chase at 15:35 at Warwick.

In short, the handicapper has given the 12yo an outstanding chance, and he warrants a decent bet at odds of 9.417/2.

It is easy to forgive him three modest runs on ground too quick for him this season, especially over the noddy Cross Country fences at Cheltenham - though I actually thought he showed a fair amount of zest last time - but the handicapper disagrees and has dropped him 10lb.

That leaves him racing off a stone lower mark than when second to Shotgun Paddy in this race last season - I think the first two home there could be the ones to concentrate on again this time around - where he traded at 2.1211/10 in running before he was collared two out.

If he is the same form today, then he will just about win this. A test of stamina in soft ground is ideal, as he showed here last year - and that race worked out well, too - and previously at Ffos Las, and it is clearly no negative that his small stable sent out Coneygree and Flintham to win decent prizes last month.

If regular pilot Nico De Boinville, who remains great value for his 3lb claim, can get him into a decent jumping rhythm out in front - and there will be a contest for the lead with the likes of Benbane Head, Cadeau George and Sixty Something in the line-up - then he will take some pegging back of a career-low mark.

Earlier on the Warwick card, I am not excited by anything in the novices' chase at 13:55 - it looks a really tricky race and likely outsider Tara Road would be my token selection upped in trip - but I am very interested in another rag in the shape of Vandross in the 14:25.

Though he may not be a rag by the time the market has cottoned on to his chances.

Now, he could be a total blow-out, as the step up to 3m2f is a complete unknown.

But he has shaped as if a step up in trip is worth chancing when third over 2m4f at Huntingdon last season and on his Fontwell reappearance, for which he has been dropped 3lb. And it is worth noting that his best effort on the Flat came over 2m, so I think he is well worth a try over this trip.

Neil King has his horses in great nick and 7lb claimer Bridget Andrews has won on her last three rides. He doesn't look like a 25-1+ poke to me.

Shantou Bob is a very worthy favourite in the 15:00 but I am not getting involved at around 6-4, so it is off to Kempton.

Hunt Ball nearly did us a big favour when second at Cheltenham last time but a three-runner race at 14:10 doesn't make for a great betting heat, and rather boringly I thought the first three in the Lanzarote betting would fight out the finish, with Hello George my pick of that trio now he steps up in trip.

Or so I thought until I stumbled across Dell' Arca, who I reckon he is worth a nibble at 13.012/1 in the 14:40 even if there is a nagging doubt that he could be a Cheltenham Festival project.

Connections have dispensed with the tongue tie that he wore when facing a very stiff task, over too far a trip, back over hurdles in the Long Walk last time, and perhaps he resented it there.

But that's probably irrelevant anyway. He didn't look to need it in two decent efforts in novice chases previously - his second to Coneygree at Newbury doesn't look too bad now - and if he returns to the form of his Coral Cup fifth or his Grade 1 third at Aintree then he will give these all a race off a mark of 145.

Chartreux is another worth an interest at odds of around 7.06/1 in the 15:15 as I thought he would be a touch shorter in this line-up.

He put up a career-best when winning at Punchestown in May, and the runner-up won first time out in Ireland this season off a mark of 132.

Chartreux has gone up a justified 9lb for that success, and I reckon he can outclass these - sitting just in behind the pace and kicking on 2 out - in conditions which should be ideal.

Recommended Bets
Back Vandross at 26.025/1 in the 14:25 at Warwick
Back Carruthers at 9.417/2 in the 15:35 at Warwick
Back Dell' Arca at 13.012/1 in the 14:40 at Kempton
Back Chartreux at 7.06/1 in the 15:15 at Kempton