11th-Feb-2023

In Hacker Des Places’ absence, I am backing Aucunrisque and Teddy Blue.

Aucunrisque’s three runs this season so far have been over fences, and he has been running well over the larger obstacles.  He won at Uttoxeter on his seasonal return, and he only just gave best to the talented Boothill – an Arkle outsider if he goes there – in the Wayward Lad Chase at Kempton over Christmas, when he led for most of the way and was only headed at the last.

Chris Gordon’s horse was a good novice hurdler last season, he won the Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle at Kempton last February, and he finished fourth behind Jonbon and El Fabiolo in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April.  He goes well on good ground and he goes well at Newbury, and his hurdles mark of 138 is 7lb lower than his chase mark.

Teddy Blue is another potentially well-handicapped horse, racing off an effective mark of 133 under his 5lb penalty.  He proved his liking for Newbury when he finished third behind First Street in the Gerry Feilden Hurdle in November, 12 lengths clear of his stable companion Yorksea, and he ran out an easy winner of a weak race at Lingfield last time.

He is only five, he is still progressing, he goes well on good ground, and his trainer Gary Moore knows how to prepare a horse to win a Betfair Hurdle.

AUCUNRISQUE WON (ADV 11/1, SP 9/1

TEDDY BLUE 3RD (ADV 12/1, SP 10/1)