Pete's Paddock Picks
The service has shown promise in its first few days of testing with 5 wins from 6 selections and has been around since 2022. Brilliantly titled Petes Paddock Picks:
December 2024 ended: +£44.78
Year 2024 finished: +£364.90
Year 2023 finished: +£469.27
Results to £1 stakes
2:20 pm Southwell – Doctor Kananga (Nap)
Doctor Kananga looks primed to capitalise on a major drop in the handicap in this staying contest. He hasn’t won in over three years and has never scored on good ground, but his
recent form suggests he’s well-handicapped to strike.
He was beaten less than eight lengths by Mr Vango — Saturday’s impressive Midlands National winner — at Sandown in December despite jumping left. That form stands up well, and Doctor Kananga is now 15 lbs below his last winning mark and 7 lbs lower than that Sandown effort.
Course regular Ali Star Bert is a consistent
performer at Southwell with nine placings from eleven starts at the track. However, he looks vulnerable off this mark, even though he comes here in decent form after a second over three miles.
Flash In The Park has potential but tends to race too keenly. The 3m 2f trip looks too far for him unless Sean Bowen can settle him better than previous jockeys have managed.
Southwell’s tendency to overwater means the ground could be closer to good-to-soft, which should play to Doctor Kananga’s strengths. Thomas Bellamy keeps the ride, and this looks like an ideal opportunity for him to return to winning ways.
Selection:
Doctor Kananga (Nap) – 7/2 with Bet365
4:20 pm Fontwell
– Getupearly & Hobb’s Delight
Two horses stand out in this 3m 2f handicap chase: Getupearly and Hobb’s Delight. Both are capable of running big races under ideal conditions.
Getupearly has had a wind operation since his last start in December, which could unlock improvement. He jumped out to his right when finishing second over course and distance in September and is now 5 lbs lower in the weights.
He was beaten favourite three times after that effort, which suggests the yard holds him in high regard. If the wind operation has resolved his breathing issues, he could be well-treated off this mark.
Hobb’s Delight is more of a gamble based on stamina. He has often shaped like a non-stayer at similar trips, but most of those runs came on softer ground. The better ground at Fontwell should give
him a better chance of seeing out the trip.
He dead-heated over hurdles at Fontwell and was narrowly beaten over 3m 1f at Plumpton in October. While he’s been frustrating since, this looks like a good setup with the ground in his favour.
With Getupearly’s fitness and wind operation plus Hobb’s Delight’s favourable conditions, splitting stakes on the pair seems the best
approach.
Selections:
Getupearly – 4/1 with Bet365
Hobb’s Delight – 3/1 with Bet365
