Ben Linfoot picks out four points of discussion ahead of Newbury's card on Thursday, including Philip Hobbs' excellent record in Pertemps qualifiers at this time of year.
1. Philip Hobbs in Pertemps qualifiers in November
Who doesn’t love the Pertemps qualifiers and final itself? In a world full of faux outrage, surely nobody can even pretend to be offended by a series of races that sees participants qualify throughout the autumn and winter for a big spring smash-up at the Cheltenham Festival?
One of the best aspects of the Pertemps series are the qualification rules. Finish in the first six in any of the qualifiers and, as long as you’re rated highly enough (but not too high), you’ll be in the Final come March.
Spotting a horse nudge its way into sixth in a Pertemps qualifier at the likes of Warwick and Exeter is one of the joys of the deep midwinter and for punters they make for excellent betting opportunities.
I particularly like a Philip Hobbs runner in a Pertemps qualifier, especially at this time of year. Over the years Hobbs has won 18 Pertemps races, including the 2014 Final with Fingal Bay, and in November, with over three months to the end game, you just know his selected runners are, you know, trying.
In the month of November Hobbs has won six Pertemps qualifiers from 24 runners at a 25 per cent strike-rate (+£29 profit at SP to a £1 level stake). If you include the placed horses he is 15 from 24 at 62.5 per cent. They are definitely trying.
Who’s My Jockey and Wait For Me represent Hobbs in the Pertemps qualifier at Newbury on Thursday and, personally, I couldn’t have a combination trifecta perm without including the pair. Even when I know Wait For Me owes me more money then I care to add up.
2. Dingo Dollar has Trophy prep
Heading the weights for the Pertemps qualifier is Alan King’s Dingo Dollar, but you wouldn’t think qualifying for the Final in March is at the top of his agenda.
Instead the six-year-old is gearing up for a crack at the Ladbrokes Trophy (look at that, we don’t even have to say formerly the Hennessy anymore) and he will be high on many punters’ shortlists following his 15-length win in novice company at Newbury last December.
However, King said in a Newbury press release on Wednesday that he thinks four miles at Ayr in April might be more up his street. That might put you off (it shouldn’t), but at least he ticks the stamina box if you are thinking of backing him for the Ladbrokes Trophy (formerly the Hennessy) next month.
King said: "Dingo Dollar is in in good form at home and we are looking to head for the Ladbrokes Trophy. We would like to get one run in beforehand and he is declared to run at Newbury over hurdles (on Thursday).
"He is a nice horse who doesn't want the ground to be too soft and I think he could be a Scottish National horse in the long-term."
Currently 25/1 generally for the big one at Newbury in December, you sense King would take a nudged into sixth-place finish now. That should put him spot on for next month – and it’s always nice to have options!
3. Murphy-Whateley connection gathers speed
The two-tone blue of owners Grahame and Diana Whateley’s silks were synonymous with the training operation of Philip Hobbs for many a year but Olly Murphy has his hands on plenty of those horses these days.
This isn’t too much of a surprise with Olly’s father, Aiden, being the bloodstock agent that has successfully bought for the Whateleys over the years and the owners have already had winners with Murphy this season thanks to the exploits of Thomas Darby and Motueka.
Murphy has had six individual runners for the Whateleys this campaign and he unleashes three more for them at Newbury on Thursday with Rio Quinto, Corinto and Bucaneros making their seasonal debuts.
Rio Quinto is an ex-pointer that cost £130,000 and he won once from six goes as a novice last season, finishing second on three occasions. He’s had a wind operation and wears a tongue-tie, so he’s another to look out for in that fascinating Pertemps qualifier.
The other two make their racecourse debuts in the Agetur UK Novices’ Hurdle and, while they’re unknown quantities, Murphy’s record with this type of horse deserves respect.
In maiden and novice races this year he’s had 22 winners from 64 runners at a strike-rate of 34 per cent, so, if you needed any further evidence, he clearly knows what he’s doing. As do the Whateleys.
4. New Quay absolutely chucked in
Finally, it’ll be interesting to see what price Dan Skelton’s New Quay goes off in the opening Fuller’s Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at 12.40.
At the time of writing (5.10 pm on Wednesday) he’s a best of 5/6 but he could well go off even shorter than that as he’s thrown in off 122 here.
Despite a 7lb penalty he’s officially 10lb well-in at the weights after a monstrous 10-length win at Ascot on Saturday, where he shaped like a really useful prospect.
That was only five days ago, but he certainly didn’t look to take much out of himself at the weekend and it’s to be expected that he can take advantage of this obvious opportunity.
