Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle – Haydock Park – Saturday 23rd November

Second cab off the ante-post weekend rank for WhichBookie, following the Betfair Chase recommendation, also comes from Haydock Park’s Saturday card.

It is in the Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle at 1.15 which has 27 entries at the 5-day stage, and will be fairly well subscribed on the day you’d imagine, but looking at some of those towards the top of the market, and it’s notable that a few have other options.

So, the 11/2 each-way about Beat The Bat with Ladbrokes or Coral is worth taking now as a 2-star ** ante-post bet, given how progressive he looked last season, and how well his form is generally working out.

Harry Fry has started the season very well, with a whole host of his higher quality horses running right up to form on their seasonal debuts, so it’s highly likely that Beat The Bat will be ready for Saturday’s valuable race, especially as he has been re-routed from the original target at Cheltenham’s Open meeting.

The trip of just shy of 2m3f at Haydock Park on Saturday is quite a unique one and in my opinion will suit Beat The Bat perfectly, as he has the pace for 2m on soft ground, but clearly stays well also, as evidenced by his Ascot win last season over subsequent River Don runner-up Welcome to Cartries.

Watching Beat The Bat go through what proved to be his final start of last season at Cheltenham’s December meeting, and it was notable that he travelled as well as Dysart Enos for 90% of that race, until she just had an extra gear after the last. Hence why Saturday’s trip of nearly 2m3f on what will be softish ground come race time, could be just the ticket for Beat The Bat.

That Cheltenham run was also notable for the fact that Beat The Bat ran quicker overall, and also notably mid-race and closing sectionals, compared with the following 2m handicap hurdle won by Go Dante, and that has produced a number of other winners.

Everywhere you look at Beat The Bat’s form and deeper evidence associated, and you find reasons to think that his handicap mark of 132 in what is essentially a 0-135 handicap underplays his ability, and so is a potentially fruitful starting point to this season.

11/2 each-way with Ladbrokes or Coral is probably on the skinny side as things stand, but I’m sure he’ll be shorter come off time, and you’re also securing 4 places should the race happen to cut up significantly also, not that I think that’s likely mind.