The Guest Tipster: 8th Jan

This week we have another guest tipster for you here on The Cheeky Punts and this week we welcome JB Racing (@JBRacing79) with his thoughts for Sandown and Wincanton.

Let's see what JB likes the look of...

We have been spoilt with fantastic racing over the Christmas period, and although this weekend might not quite live up to that, there is still some great action to get stuck into at both Sandown and Wincanton this weekend.

The first race I want to highlight is the 1:50 at Sandown, which looks to be a competitive little handicap chase. The horse that has caught my attention is NUMITOR, who is running off only 2lbs higher than when bumping into a handicap blot in the shape of Il Ridoto last time out. Numitor was beaten 6 lengths that day despite a couple of mistakes, and Il Ridoto was chucked into Grade 1 company just a week later now rated 12lbs higher which shows just how much they think of him. Numitor had some decent rivals in behind that day as well in the shape of Frero Banbou and Grey Diamond, with the former running well since at Cheltenham. The selection can make it 4 from 7 over fences here under jockey Tom Scudamore under suitable ground conditions. The chief danger may

come from Gunsight Ridge with his form behind L`Homme Presse being franked by that winner in a Grade 2. However, he seems to be consistent without winning too much so I am happy to take him on with Numitor.

The next race at Sandown is the big one, the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices` Hurdle over 2 miles. I don`t think this will take much in finding the winner and the market says it all, CONSTITUTION HILL should just win and put himself firmly alongside stablemate Jonbon in the Supreme picture. His debut on hurdles was mighty (beating Might I) impressive and the way he powered up the Sandown hill was staggering so I can`t see him beat here. In terms of one to follow him home, Mr Glass and Jetoile both have form over further and although they will make it more of stamina test, especially on this ground, I ultimately think they will get done for pace by proper 2 milers. The one I have landed on to follow Constitution Hill home is SHALLWEHAVEONEMORE who I think has the most potential for improvement. On his last start he was extremely green and pulled the whole way round on his debut

over hurdles, but despite this still finished 2 nd ahead of Peking Rose who has came out to win very impressively since. I will therefore play the forecast of Shallwehaveonemore to finish behind Constitution Hill.

The last race I want to look at on the Sandown card is the 3:35 Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles where I really fancy the favourite, HERMES BOY. I believe the selection is absolutely chucked in at 124 on his handicap debut here, with Chester Williams taking a further 3 lbs off. He finished only 3 lengths behind the smart I Like To Move It on hurdles debut after what can only be described as a quiet ride before being well backed in a Bangor novice only to bump into another smart one in the shape of Donald McCain`s Richmond Lake who has won impressively since and is now rated 132. He finally got off the mark on his last start at Exeter, with the 3rd absolutely bolting up on New Years Day to frank the form. Trainer Jane Williams won this race 3 years ago with another lightly raced 5 year old, and I think she has another good thing here with Hermes Boy who I make my bet of the weekend stepping

into handicap company for the first time

Now we move to Wincanton for a couple of selections on that card, starting with one in the 2:05 Handicap Chase over 2 miles and I`m going to take a chance on ANOTHER CRICK returning to form. Another Crick is now rated 10lbs lower at 122 than his last chase start in March following a quick spin over hurdles last month at Leicester finishing a distant 3 rd . However, the hope here is that this was just to freshen him up and he will come on for the run now back over fences. Connections followed a similar route last season, sharpening up over hurdles before a very good 4th in a hot handicap chase at Warwick behind Two for Gold and Aso. I am hoping similar will take place here and Another Crick will improve for that run now facing his 2 nd run after a wind op. With all this in mind, the handicapper has given him a great chance and I am hoping to just catch this horse right.

The final selection from me for Saturday`s racing comes from the 3:15 Handicap Chase over 2m4f. Now, before I start, I do just need to warn that this horse is a cliff horse for me at this point and that horse is KILLER CLOWN. I don’t believe Killer Clown was seen to best effect the last day when finishing 6th in a good handicap at Newbury, he did far too much out in front and made a mistake 2 out which drained the finishing effort out of him, and he ultimately didn’t see out the trip. The combination of a slight drop down in trip, a return to a right-handed track and a 3lb fall in the weights will see this horse to better effect and hopefully get his head in front. This will likely be at the chief expense of Stolen Silver, who I really like and his form behind Editeur De Gite this season stands up nicely, however most of his best form is over 2 miles and I believe this longer trip mixed with the testing conditions will just stretch this horse too far.

Selections

1:50 Sandown – NUMITOR (11/4 Bet365, William Hill, 5/2 General)

2:25 Sandown – CONSTITUTION HILL – SHALLWEHAVEMORE Straight Forecast

3:35 Sandown – HERMES BOY (11/4 Bet365, 5/2 & 9/4 General)

2:05 Wincanton – ANOTHER CRICK (7/1 Bet365, BoyleSports, 13/2 & 6/1 General)

3:15 Wincanton – KILLER CLOWN (7/2 General)

Good Luck to JB today and lets hope we have a few winners for the day from these great looking picks

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