Timeform Radio Tips: Saturday November 29

Keith Melrose
29 November 2014

It's Hennessy day on Saturday

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Keith Melrose selects the best bets on Hennessy day.

"He’s something of an ugly duckling in this field of well-connected young chasers, but few of them have shown themselves to be on The Druids Nephew’s steep upwards trajectory."

What sort of profile would it take for you to back any horse in this Hennessy (15:00) at 6.05/1? It certainly wouldn't be one with stamina and jumping to prove, so Djakadam is discarded as a betting proposition straight away. Most of those that can lay claim to single-figure odds are there already, but one who isn't is The Druids Nephew. He's something of an ugly duckling in this field of well-connected young chasers, but few of them have shown themselves to be on The Druids Nephew's steep upwards trajectory. A win and a second (at this level) so far for Neil Mulholland, he wouldn't even have to improve to get involved in the finish- a repeat of his second to Sam Winner at Cheltenham would do. Should he eke out that bit more- and that's entirely possible- then he becomes a legitimate candidate to win, with claims as strong as the likes of Fingal Bay and Smad Place. You can and should back him at bigger odds.

The 13:20 is arguably the lowest-quality chase on the card, but that's merely contextual: it's still a strong Class 3 handicap. A good few are potentially well handicapped; Midnight Appeal definitely is. He's been competitive from higher marks in the past and has shaped as though ready to strike on each of his last two starts now. Beaten just over 10 lengths in the United House, he shaped best of all on the Betfair Chase card last week, just tying up after he'd jumped better than usual. His mark has eased 3 lb for those two totally respectable efforts and he finds himself under more suitable conditions now (stretched by three miles).

Recommended bets:
Both at Newbury

Back The Druids Nephew in the 15:00
Back Midnight Appeal in the 13:20