Horse Racing Tips: 24th November 2016

13:05 Towcester – Elkstone @ 13/2 (each-way)

Having shaped well, despite falling, on chase debut, Caroline Bailey’s Elkstone looks to have been found a good opportunity here and can go well at a decent price.

The gelding made his first appearance over fences at Huntingdon earlier this month and, although he fell towards the end of the race, he looked every inch a chaser – jumping well from the front until falling three out. Getting one fence wrong can be excused and punters shouldn’t be put off by this. The way he jumped for the entirety of the contest, until making his error, was impressive and, other than the winner, he had the field strung out off the bridle going down the back straight.

Given the way that he both traveled and jumped throughout the majority of the race last time out, the drop back in trip looks a plus – he was probably tiring, although appeared to have at least 3rd sewn up if staying on his feet, over a trip that was just short of three miles and thus the step back here should suit. If putting in a similar jumping performance from the front, in what is certainly a winnable contest, he could be hard to peg back.

Interestingly, the five-year-old’s best piece of form over hurdles came when going right handed over the testing, right-handed track at Exeter – a course that has these features in common with today’s venues.

He’s had a full two weeks to recover from that run at Huntingdon and, if falling hasn’t dented his confidence, a big run is expected in this race.

16:55 Chelmsford City – Peace And Plenty @ 13/2 (each-way)

In a race that won’t take much winning, William Muir’s two-year-old makes plenty of appeal and, off what is surely too big a price, should go well.

This colt has only raced four times – showing little in the way of promise, until recently. However, his 7th place finish in a Doncaster maiden on reappearance wasn’t the worst form and he stepped up on that when running on to take 3rd on handicap debut at Wolves last time out. The step up in trip in that race certainly seemed to bring about some improvement and it’s fancied that a further step up, such as this one, will definitely suit.

In the race at Wolverhampton just two weeks ago, he made good headway to come from off the pace, finishing well to take a clear third. Although he was never near the front pair, he did have some decent horses behind him – horses that, on ratings, are better than almost anything in this contest.

In terms of quality, this is a much easier assignment and with the extra furlong and a half looking just what is needed, Peace And Plenty is fancied to run his best race yet and is well worth an each-way shout at 13/2.

19:25 Chelmsford City – Rattle On @ 9/2 

Jim Boyle’s runner in the penultimate race on the card is one who gave the impression that his day won’t be far away over this distance last time out and, at odds of 9/2, it’s worth betting that Thursday is indeed Rattle On’s day.

Having made his debut just over three months ago, the three-year-old has taken a little while to get the hang of things but, when dropping down in distance over C&D last time, he showed real promise and has to have a major chance in this race.

In what was a 16-runner event, the gelding was well supported in the betting and, having settled in midfield, traveled well and stayed on strongly in 2nd – keeping well clear of the field, while, at the same time, leaving the impression that he had more to give. In fact, had the winner not got first run, he may well have gone closer.

We’re talking about an unexposed animal here and it wouldn’t be a surprise if this horse goes on compete at a better standard than this in the future. In what looks like another very winnable contest today, sporting first-time cheek-pieces, Rattle On looks sure to go close.

19:55 Chelmsford City – Pacific Salt @ 6/1 (each-way)

The last at Chelmsford on Thursday is a tricky little race where a case could easily be made for a number of the nine runners; however, Pacific Salt, for trainer Pam Sly, is the one who stands out at the prices.

In his short career, the three-year-old has turned in a number of creditable efforts that suggest he ought to be going very well in this race.

His Class 6 record over this distance reads: 324, while he also has a win over half a furlong extra to his name. The most recent of those runs (4th place finish over C&D) looks the most significant piece of form in relation to this contest. The gelding encountered the leading two in the early market for this race, beating Tommy’s Secret by a length and a half and finishing around a neck behind Rebel State. With this in mind, the 6/1 quoted, compared with 11/4 and 4/1 available about the two mentioned, seems simply too big. This race will see Pacific Salt meet Rebel State on better weight terms and it would be no surprise at all if he reversed the form with that revival.

In an interesting little race, Pacific Salt makes for a good each-way bet and is expected to put in a decent performance.

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