Weekend Racing - Newbury and Leopardstown

    We have a couple of cracking cards at Newbury and Leopardstown over the next couple of days and it might be my busiest betting weekend of the season.

    I've already backed Amore Alato in the Betfair Hurdle at a tidy looking 33/1 and he's been bigger all week on the machine so I've topped up there on both the win and place markets. It's a very competitive looking race but he's overpriced, particularly with Lizzie taking seven off.

    My other bet on the card is Taquin Du Seuil in the Denman Chase. There's a nice angle in this race as Houblon Des Obeaux and Unioniste both look underpriced (the former looked good giving stacks of weight away to The Young Master last time out but that form has been overrated considering the proximity of Hey Big Spender in behind) and essentially I see this horse as being most suited to giving weight away to inferior opponents in handicaps. I don't see Unioniste as a graded chaser either and ultimately Taquin has the best overall form in the race and is fourth favourite. He has to put a poor run in the Betfair Chase behind him but Jonjo's horses are in rude form now as opposed to back in November and conditions should suit. Coneygree looks the danger. Half my stake is at Hills who have the money back as a freebie if your horse is second, a handy concession with Cheltenham not far away.

    I'm a big fan of Apache Stronghold and have been tempted by the 16s about him for the JLT for a while but that race at the Festival looks hella competitive and at the moment I'd sooner take my chance on him in the Flogas tomorrow at Leopardstown. He has Valseur Lido to beat of course which is no easy task but the price differential between the two is out of line in my opinion. The Mullins horse won the Drinmore by eight lengths from the selection but Apache must have lost more than that distance by continually jumping to his left (mostly following a horse in the same ownership as the winner) and he shaped much, much better in the Topaz next time out, just not staying on as well as Don Poli. Conditions will suit more tomorrow and at 5/1 he really looks an each way bet to nothing.


Denman Chase:
Taquin Du Seuil £25w @ 9/2 and £25w @ 4/1 (mbs) (lost)

Betfair Hurdle:
Amore Alato £10ew @ 33/1, £20w @ 35/1 and £15pl @ 52/10 (lost)


Flogas Novice Chase:
Apache Stronghold £25ew @ 5/1 (won)

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