Free horse racing selections for Sunday January 20
Nick Robson makes Haldon Hill his best bet and he has a tip for every race in the UK and Ireland.
NAP: Haldon Hill 1.45 Exeter
Next best: Yalltari 3.25 Exeter
Haldon Hill can notch another victory at the course from which his name is taken in the starsports.bet Maiden Hurdle at Exeter.
Trained by Victor Dartnall, the six-year-old stepped up on a promising debut at Chepstow in April when running out a ready winner of a bumper in early December.
He made all the running that day, but never looked like being caught, and given the placed horses were trained by David Pipe and Paul Nicholls it is unlikely to have been the weakest event run at the track.
His performance obviously impressed one or two onlookers, because he was bought by JP McManus in the interim and will line up in the famous green and gold on this occasion.
There do not appear to be any superstars in opposition, on paper at least, and as long as he can master getting over eight flights of hurdles he should take all the beating.
Yalltari looked a revelation at Chepstow last time out and it will be disappointing if he fails to follow up in the Read Adam Kirby's Exclusive Blog starsports.co.uk Novices' Chase.
The Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old is very lightly raced but won all three over hurdles last season and already looks a better chaser.
Second on his return to action, on slightly better ground his jumping was electric.
The handicapper saw fit to give him a mark of 147, which is almost Grade One standard for a novice, but he runs here with just a single penalty.
Brian Ellison will be hoping Sam's Adventure does not display any wayward tendencies in the Follow At racingtv On Twitter "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle at Ayr.
Having his first run since a breathing operation he looked like he was on the way to a fourth victory from just six lifetime starts when he dived out through the wing of the last flight.
He had the class to beat Bags Groove in a bumper and Ellison has always loved him - but it is time he started to deliver on his promise.
Ask Ben's reappearance in the Like Racing TV On Facebook Novices' Hurdle has taken on greater significance following the events of last week.
Graeme McPherson's charge was sent off at 50/1 for The French Furze Novices' Hurdle at Newcastle, which is usually won by an above-average type, but he made all the running.
Back in second was Dan Skelton's Beakstown, who subsequently went and won the Grade Two Leamington Spa Novices' Hurdle at Warwick.
Reivers Lad oozed class when winning his first race over fences after a lengthy lay-off and all eyes will be on him in the Join Racing TV Now Novices' Chase.
Nicky Richards is already thinking of a crack at the Irish Arkle so he will need to win this to keep those dreams alive.
It is far from a walkover with Destrier and Sam's Gunner taking him on, but he did look a bit special at Newcastle.
Sporting Life tips:
AYR: 12.50 Sam's Adventure, 1.25 Ask Ben, 2.00 Reivers Lad, 2.30 Kings Eclipse, 3.05 Pookie Pekan, 3.40 So Satisfied, 4.10 Bracka Lily.
EXETER: 1.10 Nigh Or Never, 1.45 HALDON HILL (NAP), 2.20 Kristjano, 2.50 Printing Dollars, 3.25 Yalltari, 4.00 Urbanist, 4.30 Bindon Lane.
THURLES: 12.30 Stowie Belle, 1.00 Cool Saint, 1.35 Like An Open Book, 2.10 Tout Est Permis, 2.40 Camelia De Cotte, 3.15 Roaring Bull, 3.50 Ucello Conti.
DOUBLE: Haldon Hill and Yalltari.
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