The first Scoop 6 of the new year comprises the usual sextet of contests, this time coming from Wincanton and Newcastle following the Friday abandonment of the Sandown card. After the Grade 1 festive bonanza, those taking aim at this week’s Scoop 6 races will need to set their sites a little lower down the racing ladder, as it’s handicapping fare all the way – headlined by a pair of Class 3 events from Wincanton.
A winner is a winner though, whatever the grade, and here we pick out our best options in each of the contests on offer in this week’s Scoop 6 Tips.
1:40 QuinnBet Acca Bonus Novices’ Hurdle
Class 4, 2m1f
Far from easing us in gently, the first leg provides one of the trickiest contests of the day as a big field of inexperienced novices go to post. As the only last-time-out winner in the field, Forged Well makes obvious appeal but does need to concede seven pounds to an unexposed field and will be faced with significantly softer ground this time.
Konfusion (10/1), Lunar Chief (15/2), and Two Auld Pats (11/10) are the other main form angles, but it may be worth taking a chance on the Nick Alexander-trained Anamanda. A four-time winner on the flat in France, this nicely bred mare looks the type to make her presence felt at a lowly level such as this and will receive weight from all four horses who arrive with decent form. Whilst pulled up on her hurdling debut at Kelso, that effort can be safely ignored, as her rider looked after her once she became uncomfortable having lost a shoe. Given plenty of time to get over that and work on her jumping, she won’t need to be much above average to be involved in the finish.
2:05 Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Hurdle
Class 5, 1m7f
Harry Derham’s Fourofakind (11/4) is proving all the rage in the betting in the second leg. That market support is an ominous sign, but it’s hard to place maximum faith in a horse who has been pulled up and beaten by 56 lengths on his only two starts this season. The ex-flat Feach Amach (9/2) makes more appeal, having shown a good attitude to score at Sedgefield last time out, but is still short on experience in this type of race, and has failed to back up positive performances in the past.
Attempting to unravel this puzzle is made all the trickier as none of the runners have any form on heavy going. However, one who may be suited to the conditions is the Mitchell Hunt representative Mini Yeats (9/1). In two efforts on soft ground over this track and trip last season, the selection was notably doing all his best work late to grab third-placed finishes in Class 4 novice events. He wasn’t quite so good when fifth on his seasonal return, but may have needed the outing and looks up to making his presence felt off a mark of 99.
2:15 QuinnBet Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Hurdle
Class 4, 2m4½f
Back to Newcastle for the third leg in a similarly tricky contest to the opener. Of the 10 runners on display, only three have a previous win to their name, with others needing to take a huge step up on all known form. The one exception is the nicely bred Kinder Kid (66/1) from the Tina Jackson operation, who brings decent Point-to-point form to the table but who the market isn’t really going for.
Kinder Kid may be interesting from an each-way perspective, but when picking out the most likely winner, it’s hard to get away from the Ben Pauling representative, Handstands (4/11). A perfect two from two in his career to date, this son of Getaway handled soft ground well when landing his Point to Point in October and was barely extended when backing that up in a Novice event at Hereford. He must carry a penalty here, but with little seemingly lurking amongst the opposition, it may not be enough to deny him the hat trick and he’s our pick despite the short odds.
2:40 Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase
Class 3, 2m4f
Anything Paul Nicholls sends to Wincanton on a Saturday afternoon merits the utmost respect, and Huelgoat (7/2) will likely be the choice of many in the fourth leg. Eight pounds higher than when a winner over course and distance in November, he boasts solid credentials. However, the likely heavy ground poses a significant question for a horse who dropped right out of contention on his first encounter with a soft surface last time. Similar comments apply to Jacamar (11/2), who boasts form figures of 322 in Wincanton chases but is yet to hit the frame in a chase run on soft or worse going.
Venetia Williams continues in fine form and saddles the hat-trick-seeking George Saint (5/2), who hacked up in a heavy ground event at Fakenham last time. He’s hard to knock but is up seven pounds and may not benefit from such a pace collapse up front this time. The one we like best is the Dan Skelton veteran Go Steady (6/1). Now 12 years of age, this consistent sort has finished in the first three in 17 of 22 career starts over fences and boasts form figures of 172 on heavy ground. Finishing a solid fourth in a better race than this at Cheltenham last time out, the drop in class and demanding conditions can see him go close.
2:50 QuinnBet Acca Bonus Handicap Chase
Class 5, 2m4f
As one of only a handful of runners with solid recent form, course winner Goodoldbill (9/2) looks the obvious starting point in the penultimate leg. With his latest win coming at just shy of three miles, he shouldn’t be found wanting in the stamina department but, on the downside, has never finished within 26 lengths of the winner over this sort of trip.
It is tempting to take a chance that the first-time tongue tie may spark the necessary improvement in Eagles Nest (9/4), but the Yeats gelding’s overall record on soft leaves something to be desired. The most attractive option is the Susan Corbett-trained En Meme Temps (6/1). This one often takes a couple of runs to find peak form but suggested his turn may be near when running well for a long way at this track last time out. Only a pound higher than when staying on powerfully to land a Class 5 contest at the similarly demanding Hexham in March, he can go well for a yard which has been back amongst the winners this week.
3:15 Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle
Class 3, 2m5½f
Recent form is far more solid in the closing event, with five of the seven runners finishing in the first three on their latest outing. Included in that number is the Venetia Williams-trained Intimate (4/1), who showed a liking for these conditions when going down narrowly in a maiden event at Uttoxeter. Making his handicap debut off a mark of 110, he could prove dangerous. Don’t Rightly Know (8/1), who gets in off the same mark as when beaten by a neck at Wincanton in December, and the consistent Astronomic View (5/1) are others for the shortlist.
It would be rare to see Paul Nicholls return to Ditcheat without a Wincanton winner. Hopefully, the Champion Trainer can hit the mark in the final leg of the Scoop 6, as Individualiste (15/8) will carry our cash here. Badly in need of the outing on his seasonal return, he showed promise when third at Taunton, before exploding back to form at that same track last time. The application of first-time cheekpieces sparked a significant improvement in that 16-length success, and he gets in off just a four-pound marker here. With the excellent Freddie Gingell continuing in the saddle, he may prove tough to beat.