Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: No time too Early to support Spillane’s for Gold Cup

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks over this weekend’s racing from Sandown, Naas and Plumpton as well as offering up an ante-post bet for Cheltenham.

Cheltenham, Ante-Post

William Hill are now Non-Runner Money Back on all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival and that means there’s some good value to be had in the ante-post markets without the risk of losing your money if your horse doesn’t make the Festival.

SPILLANE’S TOWER ran a stormer on his return in the John Durkan, when beaten only half-a-length behind Fact To File. While he didn’t run badly to finish fifth in the King George, judging by the fact he was sent off favourite, better was expected. He wouldn’t be the first horse that ran below his best in the King George before bouncing back at Cheltenham though, and a true Gold Cup horse is often not the right one for Kempton, where the emphasis is much more on stamina at Cheltenham. I know from my own experience that Bobs Worth didn’t handle Kempton as a novice chaser before going on to win the Gold Cup the following season. Cheltenham should be much more to Spillane’s Tower’s liking and I think he looks a very solid each way bet for the Gold Cup at 14/1.

Sandown, Saturday

The first ITV race from Sandown is the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase (1:50pm) which looks a competitive heat. The one I like here is JUPITER DU GITE. He ran very keen when trying three miles for the first time at Sandown last time out but managed to keep going to be third. I think this drop back in trip is going to suit his racing style much better. As a six-year-old I think he could still have more to offer compared to some of his rivals and could be well-handicapped off a mark of 126.

In the Listed mares’ hurdle (2:25pm), DELLA CASA LUNGA is top-rated by a good bit and looks to have the best recent form, having been a good winner at Kempton over Christmas. Before that she was second to Kateira in Listed company, which is also strong form. If she was from a more fashionable yard, she would be a good deal shorter in the market, but her form makes her the one to beat.

The veterans’ chase (3:00pm) is a tricky looking race. ASK ME EARLY ran as though he might have needed his reappearance when finishing fifth at Bangor back in November. He followed up his return last season with an impressive win on his second start, so if he can improve in the same manner from his Bangor run, then I’d like to think he can be very competitive.

A two-mile handicap hurdle (3:35pm) concludes the card and here my eye is drawn to NAVAJO INDY. Tom Symonds’ runner was a good winner of the Gerry Feilden at Newbury last time, when beating Queens Gamble, and before that had won at Bangor on soft ground. That suggests he’s on the up and should handle conditions at Sandown. I think he brings a higher level of form than the opposition into this, as to me he had more to beat at Newbury than Honky Tonk Highway did on her last start at Sandown.

Naas, Sunday

INTHEPOCKET could be hard to beat in the Grade 2 novice chase (1:25pm). He impressed last time at Wexford on his second start over fences in beaten Farren Glory by 15 lengths. His form as a novice hurdler is very strong and while he missed a season through injury, I think that level of form is more than last season’s novice hurdlers achieved. He’s very highly thought of and can land his first Graded win over fences here.

In the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (1:55pm) it’s hard to get away from JASMIN DE VAUX at the top of the betting. The form of his maiden hurdle win has worked out well, with second and third from that race both winning at Leopardstown over Christmas. He obviously has very strong bumper form from last season too, having won the Champion Bumper, and that has been franked this season by runner-up Romeo Coolio. The Yellow Clay had looked progressive but was very workmanlike when winning last time, so I think Jasmine De Vaux is the one to beat.

Plumpton, Sunday

In a valuable staying hurdle (2:05pm) at Plumpton, I thought TRANSMISSION might be the one. He won this race last season, despite making a near race-ending blunder at the sixth hurdle when Joe Anderson performed a minor miracle to stay in the saddle before producing the ride of the season to get up and win. He then won again over this course and distance in April, so he clearly likes the place. He has good recent form over fences, including winning at Cheltenham, and while he’s switching back to hurdles from fences, I don’t see that being a problem for him.