Horse Racing Betting Tips: Ballyward can be another star for Mullins in the four-miler

HAVING a leading amateur on board your selection in the National Hunt Novices’ Chase (5.30pm) is a huge advantage and Irishman Derek O’Connor wouldn’t be out of place in among the professional ranks.

He rides leading fancy Ok Corral for Nicky Henderson and has a great record in this race having won it twice in the last eight years.

Ok Corral is unquestionably a talented horse, and this race looked the obvious target for him when O’Connor came over to ride him to a facile victory at Warwick in January.

However, that was over three miles and even though he didn’t appear to be stopping, he didn’t look to be crying out for a step up to four.

The fact plenty of rain has hit the track will make this even more of a test than usual and I’d be worried about him getting home, particularly if he doesn’t settle.

Patrick Mullins won this race 12 months ago on Rathvinden and is another with a fine record in the contest.

Once again, he rides for his father and BALLYWARD is another that could easily have gone for the Grade One RSA Chase instead.

Ballyward finished behind Ok Corral in last season’s Albert Bartlett but looks all about stamina.

There shouldn’t be much between the pair, but he gets a marginal vote at 5/2 with Paddy Power.

Fellow Irish raider Discorama has been well-backed in the build-up to this race and is respected for trainer Paul Nolan.

He would have made appeal at a double-figure price, but has his stamina to prove and comes here on the back of a fall.

The one slight concern for all of the front three is their relative lack of experience over the bigger obstacles.

A stat which was brought to my attention recently is that five of the past nine winners were having at least their 10th run over fences.

Interestingly, none of the first three in the betting have had more than three runs over fences.

For that reason, I will be having an each-way saver on last year’s fourth IMPULSIVE STAR.

He looked a strong stayer when winning the Classic Chase at Warwick back in January and has double the experience of the front three.

What he lacks in quality, he more than makes up for in experience and guts, so I’ll take the 14/1 on offer with Coral.

I’m also encouraged by the fact that his trainer Neil Mulholland has been in red-hot form recently and this has been the plan for some time.

POINTERS

Ballyward 5.30pm Cheltenham

Impulsive Star e/w 5.30pm Cheltenham