Nick Wilby takes a look at the totesport Trophy.
It’s totesport Trophy day at Newbury on Saturday and 24 horses will go to post in one of the most puzzling betting heats of the whole season, writes Nick Wilby.
Spirit River and Get Me Out Of Here are the current 7/1 market leaders with William Hill and it is not hard to see why they have been heavily supported. Spirit River was hugely impressive last time out (albeit in a much less competitive race) and Get Me Out Of Here is an unbeaten, unexposed novice that could still be absolutely anything.
It has been interesting monitoring the money that has come for Paul Nicholls’ leading fancy Takeroc after the trainer sang his horse’s praises in last week’s papers. A bullish report from Nicholls demands respect in itself and he is well weighted judged on his chase form. He is sure to give his running at Newbury, but how much he will actually find when he comes off the bridle is anybody’s guess and he seems likely to be prime back-to-lay material for exchange punters. He is 10/1 with William Hill and sits one point bigger than Harry Tricker in the betting (9/1).
Harry Tricker is saddled by hat-trick-hunting trainer Gary Moore who evidently knows how to train a totesport Trophy winner. He boasts some high class form after splitting Champion Hurdle-bound superstars Khyber Kim and Medermit in the Greatwood Hurdle earlier in the season. He races off 12lbs higher on Saturday but will be many people’s form pick for the race and it would be foolish to dismiss his chances up in the weights.
However, it is Alan King’s MANYRIVERSTOCROSS that looks the one to be on in thus ultra-competitive handicap and at 10/1 (William Hill) he is worth some serious each-way interest.
The selection looks to be a prime example of a well handicapped improver with bigger things on his mind. The King yard have made no secret of the fact they believe their star could be a serious Neptune Hurdle contender at this year’s Cheltenham Festival and if they were right he would have to go extremely close here. To take a race like the Neptune he would need to be a 150+ rated horse and he is thrown in to Saturday’s contest off a mark of 135.
It was interesting to hear Alan King’s comments earlier in the week and there was no mistaking his confidence when he explained, "I think he is on a fair mark and for an improving novice it could be that he isn't badly treated at all...Let me put it this way I am very much looking forward to the race."
Admittedly he was hugely disappointing in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle last time out but had previously won the Grade 2 Winter Hurdle at Sandown in conditions that would seem to have been far from ideal. He will relish the better ground at Newbury and his career on the flat means he will be no stranger to big field handicaps.
Nick Wilby’s advice:
Back Manyriverstocross each-way at 10/1 (William Hill)
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