Didero Vallis looks cracking value to provide in-form trainer Venetia Williams with another winner in the feature race at Wetherby on Boxing Day, the 3m Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (14:10).
This six-year-old is unexposed over fences having had just seven starts – winning twice – with the last of those successes coming at Haydock 12 months ago where he scored by just under two lengths off a mark of 130.
Didero Vallis went on to run a blinder at the Cheltenham Festival two starts later when fifth off 22 to Siruh Du Lac in the Grade 3 Brown Advisory Plate off 135.
This son of Poliglote tracked the leader until losing his place two from home and weakening to be beaten 11 1/2 lengths.
The runner-up and third, Janika and Spiritofthebgames respectively, have both bagged valuable prizes this season to give the form a solid look.
Didero Vallis has had just two starts this season, failing to shine when pulled-up at Ascot before running much better to finish fifth of 14 to Hogan’s Height in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree last month.
He has since been eased another couple of pounds in the weights and is now able to race in the Rowland Meyrick off a revised rating of 132. That is just 2lb higher than when last victorious.
Judged on his Cheltenham Festival run, it makes Didero Ballis a key player from a handicapping perspective in this. Lucy Turner also takes off a handy 7lb with her claim.
So, with the yard operating at an incredible 48 per cent strike rate in the last 14 days at the time of writing, Didero Vallis looks overpriced at 12/1 with Paddy Power and well worth an each-way wager.
Bennys King feared most
Trainer Dan Skelton saddles Bennys King, an impressive scorer last time out, who lines-up here in preference to the Welsh Grand National for which he had been a leading fancy with many in the ante post betting.
That win came over 2m 6f at Newbury where, despite making a bad mistake four from home, the eight-year-old powered clear after leading at the final fence to easily beat Sametagal by six lengths.
There was nothing not to like about the way in which Bennys King got the job done with the minimum of fuss in that decent class 2 contest.
The way in which he finished off the race suggested the extra two furlongs in this would hold no fears.
Not surprisingly, the assessor has hit the son of Beneficial with an 11lb rise in the weights for that most taking display.
A career-high rating of 145 is going to make things tougher for Bennys King in what is a stronger renewal of the Rowland Meyrick, but he is now three from five over fences and is clearly going the right way.
Jockey Bridget Andrews is two from two on him. Bennys King also has a 33 per cent strike rate on the forecast soft ground.
With further improvement likely, a bold bid to follow-up looks assured. Bennys King thus rates the main danger to Didero Vallis and can be backed at 5/1 with BetVictor here.
Guitar Pete the each-way play in Rowland Meyrick
Given his excellent record at the venue, Guitar Pete appeals as the each-way value in the race.
Trained by Nicky Richards, this nine-year-old has won twice and been placed on two occasions from four starts at Wetherby.
He beat subsequent King George winner Clan Des Obeaux in the 2017 Capsian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham and also ran well in the same contest a year later when a 16 1/4 lengths third of 12 to Frodon.
The winner went on to land the Cotswold and Ryanair Chases, so that form is strong.
Guitar Pete comes into the Rowland Meyrick having looked as good as ever on seasonal reappearance when staying on strongly to beat Happy Diva by 3 1/2 lengths when landing a Listed handicap chase here for a second time.
He was then far from disgraced when eighth of 17 to the same rival in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham when weakening two from home to be beaten 33 lengths.
Richards believed he “bounced” that day following a quick turn-around after his success here and reports him to be in rude health ahead of this test.
Connections are keen to step Guitar Pete back up to 3m for just the second time in his career, as he often finishes off his races strongly.
Judged on his aforementioned runs in the Caspian Caviar, it should be within his compass.
So, with regular pilot Ryan Day – who gets a great tune out of him – once again in the saddle, Guitar Pete appeals most each-way at the 11/1 on offer with William Hill.
