Key Points
- Today’s betting tip is dangerously handicapped at 13lb below his last winning mark
- This horse takes a huge drop in grade from Class 3 to Class 5
- The amateur jockey on board reduces his weight from 12st to 11st 7lb
For those who follow my free betting tips here at Betting.co.uk
we ended November in profit, and we now move onto December! I have a tasty selection to start the month off, and I believe he has a far better chance than his 10/1 odds suggest. Hopefully he can produce the performance that I know he is capable of, and if so, he could just be a class above this level of opposition.
If you’re just discovering my articles for the first time, I’m RacingGav and I’m the resident horse racing tipster at Betting.co.uk. Within that role, I produce numerous articles every month. As my title might suggest, they are predominantly betting tips, but you’ll also find other interesting content like educational guides, big race trends, results updates and more.
If you are a fan of antepost betting, make sure you check out my existing antepost betting tips. I have a great selection for the
King George VI Chase, although the price I advised originally is gone now. However, fantastic value remains for my 2026 Cheltenham Festival and
2026 Aintree Grand National
picks!
Betting advice
- 15:10 Wincanton -
Animal
@ 10/1 (4 places) -
1pt each way
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If Animal retains his ability, he is a class above this opposition!
There is risk attached to this bet as Animal is nine now and in the New Year, he’ll be 10. In addition to that, he is ridden by an amateur jockey, which presents its own risks. However, if he retains his ability, he is far superior to this level of opposition and could take a lot of beating. It’ll be interesting to see how he shapes up in the market as I could easily see him going off a fraction of the 10/1 currently available.
Animal is dangerously handicapped at 13lb below his last winning mark
Whilst I appreciate it was nearly two years ago, Animal’s latest win came off a 13lb higher mark off 113. That was no fluke performance either, as he was beaten less than a length on his next start in the Lincolnshire National off a 4lb higher mark of 117. He then backed it up again by finishing second in the Surrey National off a mark of 118.
He was only a remote fifth on his next start but he had been through a tough campaign. They gave him a 67 day break but he still didn’t fire on the next start. After 272 days on the sidelines, he pulled up in back to back efforts at the start of 2025. However, he had wind surgery shortly after.
Animal takes a huge drop in grade from Class 3 to Class 5
Following the wind surgery in February, he returned from a 259 day absence at Cheltenham’s “The Showcase” (October) meeting. He was only tenth, beaten 15 lengths but it was a very respectable run. Similarly he ran in the Southern National at Fontwell last month and again ran better than the 6th placed finish and 20 length losing margin suggests.
It is also worth noting that both of those runs were in Class 3 (0-125 company) and this is a huge drop in grade, now running in Class 5 (0-100) company. Also for his four runs in 2025, he has dropped 15lb, which is a massive helping hand from the handicapper. Let’s hope he can take advantage of that here!
Jack Stenhouse reduces Animal’s weight from 12st to 11st 7lb
Jack Stenhouse will take the ride on Animal today. He is a 20-year-old amateur jockey who has been riding winners in the Point To Point scene. He is now based with Philip Hobbs & Johnson White racing, and it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on this season riding under NH Rules. He has only had 13 rides under Rules to date, and he’s yet to ride a winner, but he did achieve a creditable third place in one of them.
There are obviously risks attached in having a far less experienced jockey in the saddle. However, the trade off is that he can claim a huge 7lb here. As a result, rather than carrying top weight of 12st, Animal will carry a much more manageable 11st 7lb, which might ultimately be the difference. It effectively sees him running off a mark of 93, a whole 20lb below his last winning mark!
Can Animal bounce back to winning ways?
The handicapper has given Animal every chance of getting back into the winner’s enclosure, as is his trainer Suzy Smith, with this huge drop in grade. Likewise, Jack Stenhouse is doing his bit for Animal’s cause by taking 7lb off his back. While the form of his last two runs doesn’t read that well on paper, I think Animal had two very solid runs in good races.
On the negative side, he does have to prove he retains his ability and his enthusiasm for the game, especially when the going gets tough at the business end. Jack’s inexperience also has to be factored in as a negative but he does claim the 7lb to reflect that.
All things considered, I think Animal has the class to blow this opposition away today. I think a price of 10/1 massively underestimates his chance in the race and he could make those odds look silly. It would be no surprise to me, if he was to go off a fraction of that price. I think Bebside Banter, Special John and Of Corse I Can could all want to go forward and if so, there could be a strong pace on. That would be ideal, as it would play into Animal’s hands being a hold up horse. I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t at least in the frame but he really should be winning this.
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