Snoopy merits support at a generous 9-1

MANY of England’s top trainers have their eyes on the BHB Order Of Merit, which carries a first prize of £200,000 and goes to the horse which wins and is placed most in a series of specified races during the National Hunt season.

Leading the way on 40 points is Peter Bowen’s Betfair Chase winner Snoopy Loopy, who was yesterday given the green light to contest the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Victory or a bold show there would strengthen the horse’s place at the top of the leaderboard and, if Snoopy Loopy were to go well in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, he would be in a powerful position at the turn of the year.

Bearing all this in mind, Snoopy Loopy has to be a decent wager at 9-1 (Paddy Power, Coral) for the Order Of Merit, with Bowen insisting he will be going flat out to scoop the pool.

Certainly, he makes much more appeal than 6-1 shot Master Minded, who is expected to be given a light season, 10-1 chance Kauto Star, still without a point and not the force of old, and the 12-1-quoted Chomba Womba, who is likely to find things much tougher following victories at Wincanton and Ascot which netted her 30 points.

As a back-up to Snoopy Loopy, I suggest you consider Petifour, who already has 15 points on the board for winning a decent race at Wetherby and takes on Inglis Drever and Co. at Newbury on Saturday.

This six-year-old, trained by the in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies, is unbeaten in four starts over hurdles, is clearly progressive and is a tough individual who relishes a battle.

With Inglis Drever in the autumn of his wonderful career, Petitfour could be his successor (although Kasbah Bliss fans will argue otherwise) and races like Saturday’s toteswinger Long Distance Hurdle, the Long Walk at Ascot and Cheltenham’s World Hurdle will all be on his agenda, providing him with the opportunity to amass Order Of Merit points.

Petitfour is a generous 20-1 with Paddy Power and you might also wish to have a look at the 16-1 Ladbrokes are offering about him for the World Hurdle. 

KAUTO Star’s last-fence fall at Haydock on Saturday has seen his price for the King George pushed out to 6-4.

Paul Nicholls’ superstar has won the last two runnings of the race in great style and deserves to be favourite despite his latest lapse.

However, he does not seem to be quite as good as he was judged on his most recent runs and, while he may still be good enough to win over a course and distance he clearly loves, there are better 6-4 shots to be had every day of the week.

Much of the ante-post value for the King George has gone, but Tamarinbleu was a gallant second to Snoopy Loopy on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock on Saturday and the 20-1 freely available about him for Kempton is quite generous.

Should the David Pipe string return to form next month, Tamarinbleu - who boasts top-class form from two miles to three - could get many of his rivals in trouble with his frontrunning tactics.

There is no way he should be more than 13 times the price of Kauto Star.