Ballyoptic and Ozzie The Oscar among Saturday tips for Wetherby
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Ballyoptic odds worth a wager in West Yorkshire Hurdle
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has his team in flying form and Ballyoptic can provide him with another winner in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby (14:45).
The gelding was a winning pointer in Ireland and took to hurdling like a duck to water last season when joining the Naunton-based handler, winning all three of his starts.
In the last of those, Ballyoptic showed a tremendous attitude to rally gamely and get back up to beat Bellshill by a neck in a Grade 1 contest at Aintree.
It was a performance which suggested the six-year-old was one to keep onside, and that view was confirmed when Ballyoptic landed the valuable Silver Trophy Handicap on his return to action at Chepstow earlier in the month.
The son of Old Vic kept on strongly to score by 1 1/4 lengths, with some useful and well-treated sorts in behind.
This demands more, but Ballyoptic remains open to stacks more improvement. He also has the potential to take high rank in the staying division if continuing to progress.
Pass The Time bets tick all the right boxes
Pass The Time has some strong form to her name and looks to hold leading claims of providing in-form trainer Neil Mulholland with another winner in the Listed 2m mares’ hurdle (14:10).
The seven-year-old ran an absolute stormer when keeping on gamely under pressure to finish a 4 1/4 length fourth of 19 to the brilliant Vroum Vroum Mag in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival back in March.
That form is extremely strong in the contest of this lower grade contest and Pass The Time has since gone on to land a brace of novice chases, including when scoring in good style at Stratford on seasonal reappearance.
Although disappointing last time out when onlt fourth of five at Newton Abbot, Pass The Time made some costly errors and the return to the smaller obstacles can see her bounce back to land the spoils.
Coral ambassador Tom Scudamore, who recently steered Thistlecrack to winning debut over chase fences, is also on board, and that gives Pass The Time bets another rubber stamp.
Ozzie The Oscar holds obvious claims
In the 2m novices’ hurdle (15:55), Ozzie The Oscar looks to have been found a nice opportunity to notch a fourth career success.
The Philip Hobbs trained five-year-old showed progressive form last season when winning his first three starts over the obstacles. He then lost little in defeat on the final start of the campaign when beaten 3 3/4 lengths by West Approach at Newton Abbot.
Ozzie The Oscar stuck to the task well and the winner is a useful sort, who has gone on to finish an excellent close second in a decent contest at Cheltenham.
The third home Black Corton has also gone on two win his next two starts and that gives the form a rock solid look.
With the prospect of even better to come, and champion jockey Richard Johnson in the saddle, Ozzie The Oscar can take this en route to better things.
Wetherby tips for Saturday
13.35: Double W’s
14.10: Pass The Time
14.45: Ballyoptic (NAP)
15.20: Menorah
15.55: Ozzie The Oscar (NB)
16.30: Royal Vacation
17.05: Blue Rambler
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