3 minute read

Sam King returns with two selections on Monday afternoon…

It could pay to take a chance on the unexposed Honey Jack in the Join Racing TV Online Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Kempton (3.25).

The in-form Joe Tizzard, who landed the valuable Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last week, looks to have found a nice opening for his lightly raced five-year-old on his handicap debut.

Well beaten over inadequate trips on his first three outings, Honey Jack surely won't need to find much improvement to be competitive in a race of this nature off an opening mark of 89.

The £55,000 purchase was well beaten by some fair horses at this venue in May, leaving the impression that the step up to three miles and half a furlong would really suit.

Market leader Magical Arthur looks vulnerable racing off 2lb higher than when second over this trip at Ayr last month, while The Dark Edge will also need to find improvement as he continues to move up the weights.

Strength in the betting behind handicap debutant Honey Jack would bolster confidence, but nevertheless, Joe Tizzard's son of Golden Horn looks decent value at the current prices.

WIN - Honey Jack

Odds - 11/2

Heads turn to the all-weather for our second selection. There's no doubt Rogue Encore is a bit of an enigma, and it certainly shouldn't have taken him seven starts to get off the mark, but Peter Chapple-Hyam's gelding surely has more to offer in the Weekly Free Bets With BetMGM Extra Handicap (6.00) after his latest confidence-boosting success.

A frustrating sort after some promising early form this year, Rogue Encore finally got his head in front when landing a Class 5 handicap over course and distance last month. As so often is the case, he travelled kindly into the contest looking a serious threat approaching the final furlong. In previous outings, he might have struggled to put it all together from this point but sporting newly fitted first-time cheekpieces, Luke Morris' mount found plenty for pressure in the closing stages to go on and score by three quarters of a length.

The step back up to Class 4 company will demand more, but with proven form over course and distance and further improvement on the cards, Rogue Encore looks fair value to defy a potentially lenient 3lb rise in the weights.

WIN – Rogue Encore

Odds – 5/2