Jon Vine rolls his NAP and Next Best in Saturday’s ITV races into this Daily Double, covering two races at Warwick on Saturday 8th February.
A winning week on the Daily Doubles front, after Chris Loader scored with a stunning 23/1 multiple on Thursday. I’ll be jumping back on the Racing Tips double over the weekend, and I’ve combined my best two bets in Saturday’s ITV races at Warwick into this Daily Double. Best odds available here with Paddy Power.
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Saturday’s Daily Double
2:40pm Warwick Paddy Power 31 Sleeps To Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) 2m5f
Ch’ti Diamond took the scalp of Fusil Raffles during her time in France. Things didn’t go to plan over fences thereafter, but she’s an interesting debutante for the Skelton yard. Another noteworthy entrant is Cap Soleil, who’s obviously been very hard to get fit in recent seasons, but a quick glance through her form card shows you she has plenty of quality.
The one I’m keen to side with here though is INDEFATIGABLE (NB). Paul Webber’s mare struggled at Sandown last time out, but a return to a left-handed track and firmer ground conditions should enable her to collect a second Listed prize.
Prior to Sandown, Indefatigable had placed second twice in high-quality races. First, behind Lady Buttons at Wetherby, where Webber’s charge was one of the first off the bridle. Indefatigable then produced an excellent effort under top-weight at Cheltenham, where she followed the very well-handicapped Dame De Compagnie home over two-and-a-half-miles.
Richie McLernon, who’s ridden so big winners this season, deputises for the absent Gavin Sheehan and Indefatigable looks to be the one they all have to beat.
3:15pm Warwick Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Warwick Castle Handicap Chase (Class 2) 2m4f
I was with Belami Des Pictons on his most recent run at Kempton, but the market leader produced a poor jumping display and never landed a blow. Venetia Williams’s nine-year-old remains well-handicapped, but I can’t bring myself to back him again after such a poor display and the good ground description won’t aid his cause.
Dan Skelton’s record here at Warwick is fantastic, winning with almost 25% of his runners over the past five years. TWO TAFFS (NAP) has been given a decent break since a limp showing in the Ladbrokes Trophy, but he’s often gone well fresh and looks to have a strong chance of claiming a long-awaited victory.
Before his long injury lay-off, Two Taffs looked to be progressing into a very dangerous handicap chaser. Dan Skelton’s mount finished a strong third in the Close Brothers at Cheltenham in 2017, before landing a Listed prize at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting.
Sadly, Two Taffs had to spend well over two years off the track. Skelton’s charge then made his return in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby, and showed he retain all of his old ability in finishing a staying-on third behind a future Grade One winner. Things didn’t go to plan at Newbury, but dropping back in both class and trip should certainly suit. Two Taffs looks a solid bet sitting on 7/2.