18th November - Selection rationale

A couple of tips for tomorrow signals that the more aggressive tipping is under way !
Furthermore, there might even be a third ! I’m monitoring one closely but it’s price is a little tighter than I would like. If it does transform into a tip overnight, I’ll tweet it some time in the morning…

On to the 2 tips that have already been sent:

Haydock 1:20

Doctor David is a horse I’ve always loved.
For those of you not familiar with him, he’s a steel grey –and looks a bit like a rocking horse ! That’s not to say he can’t run though – because he can !!
As you know by now, I’m also a fan of his new trainer, Lawney Hill.
She was responsible for my first winning tip on this blog – and I’m hopeful that she can also be responsible for the second !
However, this tip isn’t about heart ruling head, I think Doctor David has a real chance in this race – assuming he is fully fit after a near 600 day absence…
In truth, the absence shouldn’t be a problem if Lawney wants to get him right,. She has proven time and time again that she is quite capable of readying one after a long time off.
That being the case, then I think Doctor David has a great chance.
He’s unbeaten in 3 runs round the course – his defeated opponents including the high class Kalahari King and Planet of Sound.
In a way, it’s not surprising, as Haydock is well suited to Doctor David’s aggressive style of running.
His most significant opponents tomorrow, lack Doctor David’s jumping experience and I’m hoping jockey David Bass can apply some pressure in that area, over Haydock’s relatively demanding fences.
If he does, then I would be optimistic of a positive outcome…

1pt win Doctor David 7/1


Ascot 3:20

This is probably the first of the new breed of marginal tips that I intend to put up – but at a best price of 10/1, I think The Rainbow Hunter is worth a small risk…
Interestingly, he was only 17/2 for his previous start: in the Badger Ales chase at Wincanton. That was his first run for Kim Bailey, having been trained last season by Andy Turnell.
Clearly, his new connections felt he had a decent chance in that very competitive race – so it’s difficult to understand why he is a bigger price in a slightly less competitive race tomorrow.
True, he fell at the first that day (!) – but that is almost irrelevant, as far as tomorrow’s race is concerned.
Last season, he had shown himself to be highly progressive – and a decent enough jumper.
Provided there are no more jumping lapses tomorrow, I think he should go very close in a race where I’m happy to eliminate around half the field, for one reason or another…

0.5pt win The Rainbow Hunter 10/1