Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Hoping Plan is Forward enough for Wincanton glory

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks over the pick of Friday and Saturday’s racing from Exeter, Wincanton and Aintree.

Exeter, Friday

The one I like in the Haldon Gold Cup (2:25pm) is JPR ONE. He’s a horse that came to my attention when he unseated at the last at Cheltenham’s November Meeting where he would have won. He struggled a little bit after that, but he did well to win at Lingfield. This is his first start after a wind op, but he goes well fresh and has won all three of his reappearance runs after a long break. He struggled on very deep ground in the Henry VIII at Sandown last season, but I think he can progress further here on a sounder surface.

Wincanton, Saturday

In the competitive Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (1:45pm), PRETENDING is the one I like. She signed off last season with a nice win at Cheltenham and was a good winner at Uttoxeter on her reappearance, so she looks progressive. Her trainer Lucy Wadham tends to do well with well with mares and is in good form at the moment.

Next up is the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (2:23pm), where HANDSTANDS catches my eye. He won the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon last season when beating a rival in Jango Baie who went on to finish second in a Grade 2 at Kelso and then run well at Aintree in the spring. Handstands won three of his four starts last season, and while he disappointed at the Cheltenham Festival on the last of those, he did race prominently that day in a very competitive heat. He’s a point-to-point winner so should take to fences, and on the pick of his hurdles form, he’s the one to beat.

Rubaud was a winner of the Elite Hurdle (2:55pm) last year and prior to that had also won at Kempton. He’s taking the same route here this time around, having won at Kempton on his reappearance. However, he is does face BRENTFORD HOPE, who is receiving six pounds from him but is rated a pound higher. Brentford Hope seemed to find his form last season, winning three of his six starts and was then a close second to Daddy Long Legs in a very competitive hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. Harry Derham has hit the ground running this season, while Paul Nicholls hasn’t just yet, so I think there could be value in opposing Rubaud.

The Badger Beer (3:30pm) doesn’t look as strong a renewal as last year, where Blackjack Magic beat Threeunderthufive with Frodon back in third. FORWARD PLAN might be the one this time around. He was beaten 25 lengths in this race last year, but he then went on to beat strong rivals at Doncaster and Kempton, and finished a good third to Cruz Control at Aintree. He has won when fresh in the past, and while you have to forgive his run in this contest last time, he could be one that represents good each-way value.

Aintree, Saturday

In the Pertemps Qualifier (1:30pm), I’ll side with HARBOUR LAKE. He tried fences last season which didn’t go to plan but he twice ran well back over hurdles in the spring, when second to Zain Nights at Cheltenham and third behind the same rival at Haydock. He was a good third in the Greatwood Hurdle two years ago off a mark of 135, and with that level of form, he should go well here off 129.

FRERO BANBOU can take out the Grand Sefton (2:40pm) for Venetia Williams. He was a good third in this race last year, so he has form over the Aintree fences, and he went on to run well at Newbury and Cheltenham after that. His mark went up to 140 last season, but is back to 130 now, so he looks well treated. Most of his best form looks to be early in the season too, so he’ll do for me.