Horse Racing Betting Tips: Politicise can get things off to a flyer for the in-form Haggas
THERE hasn’t been a winning favourite of the Investec Private Banking Handicap in the last decade and I expect that to continue this afternoon.
The Andrew Balding-trained Le Don De Vie and Mark Johnston’s Nayef Road are the two currently vying for favouritism and you can see why they will have their supporters.
The latter surged five lengths clear of the chasing pack to land a valuable handicap over this trip at Newmarket in May, with the first and second pulling three lengths clear of the third.
He was always going to be up against it in the Dante at York, where he finished eighth behind the likes of Too Darn Hot and Telecaster, and should run better in calmer waters here despite the 9lb rise.
Le Don De Vie has been well backed during the week and he’s bidding to build on a narrow victory around this track back in April.
That came after a 202-day break and a gelding operation, with everything now pointing towards further improvement, but the form looks suspect with the runner-up beaten at odds-on at Beverley and I am willing to take him on here.
Instead, I am going to put my trust in William Haggas who will certainly become a popular figure among punters should POLITICISE get the job done.
This son of Camelot has been knocking on the door of late with- out managing to get his head in front, finishing third at both Musselburgh and Haydock over a mile.
He wasn’t beaten far in either contest and it’s impossible to think he isn’t better than his current rating of 85.
The step up in trip looks sure to suit and the first time cheekpieces can help him travel through the race a bit better too.
He carries the colours of former Investec co-founder Bernard Cantor, so this is likely to have been the plan for a while.
He’s 9/2 with Coral which looks a decent bet.
A word should be given to Haggas’ other runner Alkaamel as well.
He could prove to be a big danger given his record this year which has seen him finish first or second in all six starts.
This son of Havana Gold rocketed up the weights having won three on the bounce at Kempton, Newcastle and Wolverhampton on the all-weather and any fears of him reproducing that form on turf were put to bed when he finished second at Ripon and Newmarket.
He wasn’t beaten far at Newmarket last time, but he’s up another three pounds here and has to prove that a mark of 89 is still within his capabilities.