Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Destiny should now be ready to Rock

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck looks over the pick of Sunday’s racing from Huntingdon and Kelso and selects his best bets.

Huntingdon, Sunday

GINNY’S DESTINY can be given another chance in the Peterborough Chase (1:50pm). He disappointed on his reappearance at Cheltenham, but we will have to take his trainer on trust that this is a horse that badly needs his first run of the season. If he comes on from his novice season to this, then he ought to be competitive in senior company, particularly given his proximity to Grey Dawning last season. You can fashion a pretty good case for him in receipt of six pounds from Protektorat, and given reasonably decent ground and a quickish two-and-a-half-miles, I think this could set up quite well for him.

ROCK HOUSE is the pick in the two-mile handicap hurdle (2:25pm). The handicapper seems to have shown this horse unusual mercy by dropping him seven pounds in his last three runs despite him not really doing much wrong. The balance of his form suggests that this sort of test suits him well. Catching him fresh might be the way to go, and I certainly think he’s got more ability than his mark suggests.

THEYSEEKHIMTHERE is interesting each-way at a big price in the three-mile handicap chase (3:00pm). It’s a little worrying that he’s already had two breathing operations in a fairly short career, but the first one seemed to work, because he won immediately after it at a huge price. You’d have to hope that this time around it will have a similar revivifying effect. Either way, the handicapper has shown him significant leniency by dropping him 11 pounds since he came out of novice company. It’s interesting that he’s being sent chasing, as I think he’ll find the rhythm of the races over fences that little bit easier, and that will help him if he has slight breathing issues.

SUPREME MALINAS is the overpriced one at the moment in the Listed mares’ bumper (3:35pm). She takes a hidden class drop here because she ran against geldings first time out under rules at Newton Abbot. I suspect that was a much better race than people anticipated too, with the third an Irish point winner, the fourth having a bit of a reputation and the fifth was sent off a short price from a good yard. I get the feeling that sets a standard here, so while she may not have the profile of a few at the head of the market, I do think she’s got a very solid run already under her belt.

Kelso, Sunday

PINOT ROUGE is an old friend and has sucked me in again in the Borders National (2:05pm). He did us a huge turn last season when winning at a massive price at Doncaster where he looked a thorough stayer. He’s only run over two-and-a-half miles this season, but he needs a trip. He’s an unusually unexposed horse in a race like this and one I think is very interesting.

TOMMY’S OSCAR has been an amazing horse for connections over the years and could have another big day in him at Kelso in the Richard Landale Memorial Handicap Chase (2:40pm). He shaped as though he needed it on his first run back, when never really put into the heat of the race, before losing his place and then staying on again. Those are all the hallmarks of a horse that might have been short of peak fitness. Pace wise, this should be run at a fair clip which will suit him and we know he goes well at the track.

DARE TO SHOUT could give the Ann Hamilton yard a double in the finale at Kelso, the three-mile handicap chase (3:15pm). He comes here in good form and I think the slight step up in distance might bring about a bit more improvement from him. Unlike a few of these, we know he acts really well at this track.