Horse Racing Betting Tips: Delta will have to Work hard but can land Russell Another RSA Chase
EVEN though the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase (2.10pm) remains a tough test for a novice, it’s not quite the brutal one it used to be.
There are only 12 declared runners for this afternoon’s renewal and the monster- sized fields seem to be a thing of the past.
In fact, in four of the last nine renewals, there have been nine or less runners meaning the race isn’t always run at the frenetic pace it once was.
Don’t get me wrong, you still have to jump and stay three miles plus, the race just lends itself to the classier types now and is one of the reasons why favourites have such a good recent record.
Presenting Percy became the third winning market leader in four years when Davy Russell steered him to victory 12 months ago and I fancy the Irishman to get the job done again with DELTA WORK this afternoon.
Last year’s Pertemps Final winner has won all three starts over fences this campaign with the last two coming at Grade One level and can be backed at 2/1.
The most attractive of those wins came last time at Leopardstown over Christmas when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.
He was clumsy over the first and nearly brought down at the fifth, but still knuckled down to get the job done.
He wasn’t risked on alarmingly quick ground at the Dublin Racing Festival and he comes here a fresh horse in great form.
Looking at the opposition, there has to be a doubt whether long-time favourite Santini will even make the line-up, let alone mix it with these.
He has had a horrendous preparation missing his intended prep race at Ascot and was subject to a last-minute foot injury scare last week.
He has had his shoe on and off that troubled foot which hardly bodes well and even though he may prove the best of these over fences in the long term, he is worth opposing.
Paul Nicholls has his team in sparkling form and Topofthegame is likely to give the favourite most to do despite having yet to win over fences.
He will handle any rain that falls, but is a big bold jumper who gives his fences plenty of air and may just lose out to Delta Work in the end.
At bigger prices, I expect Mister Malarky and Now McGinty to both outrun their odds, but it would be a shock if either were classy enough to win.
Finding the winner of the Coral Cup (2.50pm) looks pretty impossible with everything pointing to what looks the obviously well-handicapped Uradel.
Willie Mullins’ runner was classy enough to finish second in the Cesarewitch last autumn and caught the eye when flashing home at Leopardstown over an inadequate two miles last time.
However, at 5/1 he looks a bit skinny to me and with the rain falling I’m prepared to take an each-way chance on BALLYANDY at 25/1 with sponsors Coral who are paying seven places.
He won a Champion Bumper here, was fourth in a Supreme and loves soft ground.
A mark of 148 is fair and I can see him being competitive at a big price.
The Boodles Juvenile Hurdle (4.50pm) looks a nightmare from a betting perspective and is probably best swerved.
Jessica Harrington is always to be respected here and if I had to side with one it would probably be her Got Trumped at around 20/1.
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30pm) completes the card and there is a strong Irish contingent battling it out for favouritism.
Envoi Allen has done little wrong all season and will be a tough one to crack, but every drop of rain that falls will play into the hands of the Paul Nicholls-trained ASK FOR GLORY.
He bolted up by 13 lengths at Chepstow on debut and looks a really exciting prospect that may well justify his £280,000 price tag in time.
He may just start to repay some of that this afternoon and looks the each-way value at 8/1.
POINTERS
Delta Work 2.10pm Cheltenham
Ballyandy e/w 2.50pm Cheltenham
Ask For Glory e/w 5.30pm Cheltenham