Paul Nicholls should add to his record eight wins in the 1m 7f Grade 2 Elite Hurdle (11 November, 3:00) with RUBAUD. He’s top of Wincanton tips from the undercard of their Badger Beer Chase day.
Outside of Constitution Hill, this division in the UK is simply threadbare. Rubaud, a five-year-old gelding by Air Chief Marshal, impressed the handicapper again when making all in a Listed race at Kempton on reappearance last month.
As he gave weight and a beating to the likes of First Street and Sceau Royal, Rubaud is up 9lb for that winning return. Already successful in this grade at Ayr when landing the Scottish Champion Hurdle back in the spring, he sets a clear form standard.
💪 Relentless from Rubaud
He makes a winning return to action, completing the hat-trick with a gritty front-running display in the £50,000 Listed feature @kemptonparkrace | @PFNicholls | @CobdenHarry pic.twitter.com/iv1djJQzNS
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 22, 2023
Ditcheat maestro Nicholls wanted another horse to mop up races like this and Rubaud answered that call. A revised mark of 150 puts him top. With West Balboa an intended runner up at Aintree, even adjusting ratings for weight carried sees Rubaud clear of the remainder.
The case for him being among Wincanton tips and his claims look obvious. Rubaud should be shorter than the 5/6 William Hill have him at in their ante post betting on the Elite Hurdle. While punters can’t get rich backing him, he’s already beaten Too Friendly and is a fitter horse than Hansard.
Other Wincanton Tips – Team Tizzard Have Chance with JPR One
Nicholls isn’t the only local trainer with hopes of a good day. Joe Tizzard’s yard is also just down the road from this track, so JPR ONE is most interesting stepped up in trip for the 2m 4f Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (1:50).
Largely kept to the minimum trip over hurdles, this six-year-old son of Court Cave has a pedigree that suggests getting further should be no problem. JPR One came from off the pace to win his bow over fences at Newton Abbot last time out.
He went from last to first, leaving the 145-rated Iceo in his wake. JPR One is up 4lb for that two-length success, but there could be even more to come from him. The yard enjoyed an across the card treble earlier in the week as well.
Unlike the fist two in the market on horse racing betting sites, JPR One made a successful steeplechase debut and could scale greater heights in this sphere. He is 5/1 with Paddy Power to follow-up on that. Punters who like to back Wincanton tips each way can break even if JPR One places.
Ilovethenightlife Also of Interest
Stable companion ILOVETHENIGHTLIFE returns in the extended 2m 5f Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle later on the card (3:32). This five-year-old daughter of Walk In The Park landed a Grade 2 at Newbury off 6lb lower back in March.
A game effort by top weight Ilovethenightlife to land the valuable Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (first prize £26,000) at @NewburyRacing for @TizzardRacing & @brendanp1995
🏇 @BritishEBF | @BetVictorRacing pic.twitter.com/KbR7UTI6iv
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 25, 2023
Ilovethenightlife seems at home on flat, galloping tracks, so she’s the last of Wincanton tips for this meeting. It was too early to say what would’ve happened when she came down four out behind Lime Avenue, UK betting sites‘ ante post favourite for this, over course and distance in February.
They meet off the same terms, but the fact that Ilovethenightlife won her next two and beat many of the same mares in the limited handicap at Newbury suggests she could’ve had a say in the finish.
A subsequent run at Cheltenham is best forgiven at the end of a long season. Ilovethenightlife is 4/1 with Betfair to relish the return to handicap company.
Wincanton Tips for 11 November
- RUBAUD (NAP) in Elite Hurdle (3:00) @ 5/6 with William Hill
- ILOVETHENIGHTLIFE (NB) in Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (3:32) @ 4/1 with Betfair
- JPR ONE (E/W) in Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (1:50) @ 5/1 with Paddy Power
