Benbens

29th-Mar-2014

I am backing Benbens here. He is a little shorter than I hoped he would be, but he is still worth backing at 3/1.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse ran a cracker at Ludlow on his chasing debut in December on his first run back after a break of over a year and a half, and he followed up by winning a novices’ handicap chase back at the same venue, reversing placings fairly emphatically with Cloudy Joker, who had beaten him on his debut.

He was not overly-impressive in winning a three-horse race at Wincanton on his only run since, it took him a while to get the better of Thomas Wild, but he stuck to his task well, he saw the three-and-a-quarter-mile trip out well and he handled the soft ground. That will stand to him today.

He did not jump that well there, but that was just his third run over fences, he still has lots of potential to progress as he gains in experience. A 3lb hike for his latest win is not harsh, and he remains potentially a fair way ahead of the handicapper.

Court By Surprise has been well backed this morning already, but the 5mm of rain that they had overnight is not in his favour, and Forgotten Gold is probably a bigger danger. That said, Benbens is the most likely winner of the race in my book, and he is worth backing.

BENBENS WON (ADV 3/1, SP 15/8)

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