Wetherby Placepot: Friday November 2

AP McCoy will be aboard Hilali at 14:35.

Timeform's Matt Gardner heads to Wetherby in search of Placepot success on Friday...

13:00 - Mr Watson is likely to prove popular in the opener having been purchased by current connections for 215,000 but he's likely to be carrying plenty of lines so the two to take are Beeves and African Gold, who bring previous experience to the table and it is an unlikely event that they will both finish out of the first three.

13:30 - Sporting Boy could still be well treated following a 5 lb rise for his latest win but he may need good ground or firmer to be at his best so we will take him on with Meetings Man and Zaplamation, who ran in the same race at this track last month. The former looked sure to take a hand in the finish but for falling at the second last, having travelled well and made some smooth headway, and he can make amends for that mishap whilst Zaplamation, another to have travelled fluently, eventually finished third and is possible that he can build upon that effort here.

14:00 - Nez Rouge is a fascinating contender but cannot be included in the Placepot due to the fact he has been off since July last year, and we will instead side with Gansey and Bless The Wings. The former ought to strip fitter for his reappearance over C&D last month and looks to be on a fair mark whilst Bless The Wings, who looked progressive when winning two of his first three starts over fences last season, may have been freshened up by a break and can prove his two most recent starts to simply be blips.

14:35 - This looks to be between Samtegal and Hilali and, with there being no opportunity to save lines through the remainder of the card, we will take just one. The former is very interesting on his first starts for Paul Nicholls having transferred from Guillaume Macaire on France, but Hilali sets a decent standard and could improve further himself, so is the one to bank on.

15:10 - This is a tricky race to assess as not all that many make much appeal. Quetzal probably boasts the most positive profile and, despite having to overcome an 11-month absence, it would be no surprise were he to defy his new mark for trainer Martin Todhunter. The one to stick in alongside him is Sparkling Tara, whose jumping was more proficient than usual when finishing in front of the reopposing Eyre Apparent last time and he ought to be in with a chance of making the places.

15:45 - In direct contrast to the previous leg there is quite a few that catch the eye here, with High Kite and Royal Deal the two names going onto the ticket. The former kept some good company when trained by Henrietta Knight and caught the eye on handicap debut on his final start of last year. It would come as no surprise were he to prove superior to his current mark and he should go well. Royal Deal, trained by Mick Easterby, was just modest on the Flat but has come into his own over jumps, winning all five starts in point-to-points this year, and he is another that can prove his handicap mark underestimates him.

Selections:
13:00 - 1, 2
13:30 - 4, 9
14:00 - 4, 8
14:35 - 1
15:10 - 2, 4
15:45 - 4, 5
= 32 lines

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