Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Kempton, Warwick and Lingfield on Saturday. View selections below.
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DOESYOURDOGBITE( 2.40) has the progressive profile needed to land a decent handicap like the 32Red Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton.
Jonjo O’Neill’s five-year-old has won his last three races, the latest coming over course and distance when accounting for Spiritofthegames and Dell’Arca on Boxing Day.
Doesyourdogbite had to dig deep as he looked in trouble three out before rallying gamely to throw down a sustained challenge on the run to the last flight. A 6lb rise doesn’t appear too excessive.
Jaleo has been well backed during the week but his Lingfield victory doesn’t over-excite and Bennys King makes more appeal at an each-way price
Venetia Williams took this race 12 months ago with Yala Enki of a lowly mark and Bennys King, a gutsy winner from Pure Vision at Uttoxeter, has a light weight, despite a 6lb rise.
Paul Nicholls has won this race twice in the past decade and relies on Modus and top weight Old Guard. The latter is best overlooked but Modus will find this a bit easier than when finishing only seventh to Brain Power at Ascot.
The handicapper took notice of his close third to Sternrubin, again at Ascot, in October and Modus ran a cracker when chasing home North Hill Harvey at Cheltenham. Trading around 10-1, Modus makes plenty of each-way appeal.
Colin Tizzard keeps mopping up some tasty Saturday prizes and SANDY BEACH (3.15) is another likely lad in the 32Red Handicap Chase.
The seven-year-old has still to conclusively prove he stays three miles, but he wasn’t stopping over 2m 4f at Newbury when pulling readily clear of Ericht. Up 8lb, Sandy Beach shouldn’t be inconvenienced if the track rides testing as he won on heavy at Chepstow last March.
At Warwick, the Betfred Classic Chase over 3m 5f will not be pretty and a dour stayer will be required. Step forward Emma Lavelle’s stalwart SHOTGUN PADDY (3.35).
The winner of this event in 2014 when beating Carruthers, and third last year behind Hawkes Point, my selection is racing off an 8lb lower mark and will strip a good bit sharper for his comeback at Cheltenham in November following a 210-day absence.
Shotgun Paddy is a regular in these long-distance slogs, finishing second in the four-mile Betfred Eider Chase at Newcastle last February and third in the Coral Welsh National, and he looks a sensible each-way option in a wide-open contest.
Of the younger brigade, Nigel Twiston Davies saddles Ballycross, a six-year-old with a consistent string of efforts against his name, with solid place claims.
‘Twister’ brings out COGRY (2.25) in the Pertemps Networks Handicap Hurdle qualifier, fresh from the gelding’s brave Cheltenham victory on New Year’s Day.
Clearly appreciating the return to hurdles following a few non-completions over fences, Cogry cut out most of the running and found extra when looking likely to be swallowed up off the home bend. A 6lb rise seems fair enough and, once again, this 3m 2f event will be a war of attrition.
There should be no weather concerns at Lingfield where THIRD TIME LUCKY (2.00) is well worth an each-way interest in the one-mile handicap.
Richard Fahey’s former Cambridgeshire winner has been short of luck on his last two visits to Lingfield, finding little racing room when finishing fifth to My Target in a similar Class 2 contest a fortnight ago. Third Time Lucky is better off at the weights with the winner and is fancied to turn the form around from a good pitch in stall six.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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