Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Sunday 20th January

The Picks From The Paddock team look to end the week on a strong note as they provide their tips and best bets for the 3 meetings in the UK and Ireland.

14:00 Ayr

Dan Skelton had a quieter than expected Christmas period in terms of winners but has put this right in recent weeks, sending out seven winners from his last twenty runners (taken from before racing on Saturday), and looks to have an excellent chance of another winner here with Destrier. The six-year-old made his chase debut at Southwell in early December and put in an eye-catching performance, setting off in front and putting in an impressive round of jumping, making all the running and staying on well to hold off a late challenge from Another Crick. This race has produced four next time out winners so the form looks solid and with conditions again in his favour this looks a good opportunity to make it two from two over larger obstacles.

Sams Gunner was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles and makes his chase debut on return from a nine-month absence, although may find this trip on the sharp side having posted all career wins over further, so the bigger danger looks to be Reivers Lad who won over todays’ trip at the first time of asking over fences and arrives here for a stable in excellent form.

Destrier (WIN) – NAP

15:25 Exeter

With the Venetia Williams stable in such fine form (four wins and four placed from nine in the last two weeks over fences) it would be no surprise to see Yalltari put in another bold show today. He followed up a solid second on chase debut with a taking performance next time out, travelling notably stronger than his rivals and winning by almost three lengths without being overly extended, and looked to have plenty more in the locker if needed.

Equus Secretus won at this trip over hurdles and should improve for the experience of a second-placed effort at Ludlow last month. The step up in trip should suit although there is a concern that a number of the stable runners have struggled to see out their races in recent weeks so he may be set to play a minor role today.

The shortlist is completed by King Of Realms who will appreciate the step down in class having struggled at Grade 2 level last time out. A winner over three miles in similar conditions on penultimate run, he will make sure our selection doesn’t get all his own way.

Yalltari (WIN)

Ayr

12:50 – Stung For Cash (E/W)

13:25 – Speak Of The Devil (WIN)

14:00 – Destrier (WIN)

14:30 – Kings Eclipse (WIN)

15:05 – Hills Of Dubai (WIN)

15:40 – Emma Beag (E/W)

16:10 – Side Of The Road (E/W)

Exeter

13:10 – Trans Express (WIN)

13:45 – Haldon Hill (WIN)

14:20 – Catchin Time (WIN)

14:50 – Cedar Valley (WIN)

15:25 – Yalltari (WIN)

16:00 – Fearsome Fred (E/W)

16:30 – Dhowin (WIN)

Thurles

12:30 – Mason Jar (E/W)

13:00 – First Approach (WIN)

13:35 – Like An Open Book (WIN)

14:10 – Tout Est Permis (WIN)

14:40 – Camelia De Cotte (WIN)

15:15 – Laid Back Luke (WIN)

15:50 – Ucello Conti (WIN)