Horse Racing Betting Tips: Top looks worth a Gamble in the Topham
THIS time 12 months ago TOP GAMBLE was rated 159 by the handicapper and was running in the Grade One Melling Chase.
Kerry Lees 10-year-old has now slipped 9lbs in the weights and lines up in this afternoons Randox Health Topham Chase (4.05pm) with a leading chance for his in-form trainer at around 15.0 with BETDAQ.
Although he has yet to run over Aintrees famous Grand National fences, he is a rock-solid jumper with a touch of class.
If more rain arrives that will only help his cause and James Bowen takes off a valuable 3lbs.
The better the ground, the better the chances for Nicky Hendersons O O Seven who looks just the type for a race like this.
Henderson has a leading chance in the opening handicap hurdle (1.45pm) where he saddles the topweight Jenkins and my fancy LOUGH DERG SPIRIT.
The six-year-old looks dangerously well-handicapped off this mark of 137 and has run creditably all winter on unsuitably soft ground.
If the rain stays away he is weighted to go close and 10/1 looks a fair each-way price in a wide-open race.
Keep an eye out for Ivanovich Gorbatov if conditions do improve. He hasnt won for two years but is another lurking on a dangerous mark back on potentially better ground.
Global Citizen will be a warm order for the Betway Top Novices Hurdle (2.20pm) after spread-eagling the field in the Dovecote at Kempton last time.
He had SCARLET DRAGON a long way behind in second that day, but there is every reason to suggest that Alan Kings five-year-old can improve dramatically as that was his hurdling debut.
With the favourite currently trading at around 3.0 on BETDAQ, Id be much more interested in taking some of the 8/1 available each-way about my selection with Ladbrokes.
He is entitled to close that gap and it's not beyond all possibilities that he could reverse the form altogether.
POINTERS FRIDAY
Lough Derg Spirit e/w 1.45pm Aintree
Scarlet Dragon e/w 2.20pm Aintree
Top Gamble e/w 4.05pm Aintree
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