Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Keep faith with Val Mondo

Timeform Radio Tip / Dan Barber / 23 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Dan is backing two at Lingfield this afternoon

"Even better value than Val Mondo could come in the shape of Mr Hooper in the extended 19f novice hurdle at 14:20."

Timeform's Jumps Editor Dan Barber sticks to what he knows best - whilst also strongly recommending everyone pays close attention to Dubai expert Stephen Molyneux's Smartplays for bets on today's Meydan card - on a busy Thursday afternoon.

A few years back, the horse in question was called Maria Antonia and, until yesterday, Faasel was another prime example; my horse; the one that can't run without you backing it; the so-called path to the poorhouse.

I'm worried that Val Mondo (16:20) could be the latest 'one', as he provided a race-reader's dream when shaping so well at Lingfield only to bump into a suddenly much-improved sort (Magic Prospect) on his subsequent handicap debut. That could be the cue for a string of frustrating near misses at the hands of other surprise packages, but Val Mondo still has to be kept on side from a mark only 5lb higher. Not only is that latest Taunton form really strong, but Val Mondo also has Flat form that implies he'll prove a lot better still; how many of his ten rivals today could, for instance, have won a German St Leger?

Even better value than Val Mondo could come in the shape of Mr Hooper in the extended 19f novice hurdle earlier on the card (14:20). His absence since last March is something of a worry, but his impressive defeat of the likes of Gospel Preacher, Mike Towey and Black Thunder in a Chepstow bumper on that sole previous racecourse appearance marks him down as the best horse in this race, while the fact he receives 7lb from the relatively ordinary pair of previous hurdles winners is another boon. His lack of experience is very much factored into his price.

The final race which interests me most today is Huntingdon's opener at 14:00. Admittedly, Dreambrook Lady is a fast-improving mare who would have taken her handicap record to 2-2 at Chepstow last time had she not falled at the last, but that was a decidedly weak affair whichever way it's sliced. A better play is to split stakes on handicap newcomers Zennor (classy Flat performer who shaped well amongst good horses in jumpers' bumper at Kempton latest) and Spoil Me, the latter a classic Jonjo O'Neill-trained sort who very much caught the eye at Huntingdon last time.

Recommended Bets
Back Val Mondo @ [3.35] in the 16:20 @ Lingfield
Back Mr Hooper @ [3.95] in the 14:20 @ Lingfield
Back Zennor @ [7.6] and Spoil Me @ [9.2] in the 14:00 @ Huntingdon

David Cleary makes the case for a pair of promising runners on Wednesday afternoon......

Will Hayler likes the look of two runners on the Monday afternoon card......

Andrew Sheret selects two bets from Sunday afternoon's cards......

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Val can rule the Mondo

Timeform Radio Tip / Harry Bowles / 31 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Both today's bets go over hurdles - will you follow Harry's tips?

"Venetia Williams has Val Mondo entered in a host of races in the upcoming days and, as we know, she's peerless when it comes to running up a quick-fire sequence with her horses."

Harry Bowles has scoured the form and picks a pair to follow on a busy Tuesday of racing

Some interesting horses in action today, yet finding two to back hasn't proved straightforward given the trickiness of the races for one reason or another. After burning plenty of midnight oil, we've finally unearthed a couple of hurdlers - one at Taunton, one at Folkestone - who make appeal at current prices.

Four starts in maiden/novice hurdles certainly haven't allowed Val Mondo (15:40) to express himself as a hurdler. He's capable of better, a good deal better in fact, a Group horse on the Flat in Germany yet never competitive in his time with Venetia Williams.

However, he's just the sort who's going to take off now handicaps are on the agenda, and an opening mark of 100 plainly understates the ability he brings over from the Flat. Obviously not all horses replicate what they were capable of on the level over hurdles, but the manner in which Val Mondo has shaped - the last two races especially - suggests there's a lot more to come from him.

Aidan Coleman was notably easy on him when fourth to Poole Master at Lingfield last time, a run which should put him spot on for this. Williams has Val Mondo entered in a host of races in the upcoming days and, as we know, she's peerless when it comes to running up a quick-fire sequence with her horses.

Over at Folkestone it's another handicap debutant who catches the eye. In the finale (16:20) Ya Hafed graduates from juvenile company with a BHA mark of 102 having progressed by the run to date, most recently finishing runner-up to One Lucky Lady in a maiden over this course and distance a fortnight ago.

He's raced solely on soft ground thus far whilst giving the impression that a sharper test will see him to better advantage and, before getting the chance to see the state of the ground, it's to be hoped that the view expressed in the official description of the ground that it's not quite as testing today is borne out.

Rather like Val Mondo, albeit not to the same extent, Sheena West's four-year-old has the scope to do better judged on Flat form and makes more appeal than the other likely improver Kambis. That said, it's worth keeping an eye on events at Folkestone throughout the afternoon to better gauge the state of the ground.

Recommended Bets
Back Val Mondo @ [3.3] in 15:40 at Taunton
Back Ya Hafed @ [4.1] in 16:20 at Folkestone

Two bets ahead of the action today, including a former Cheltenham Festival runner who could prove too classy for her opposition....

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Rory Delargy is at Cheltenham for Trials Day where several Gold Cup pretenders put forward their case in the feature Argento Chase. Rory has a strong fancy in that race, and a couple of others of interest....

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