Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Newbury, Kelso and Lingfield on Saturday. View selections below.
TWINJETS (3.45) can defy top weight in the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.
The 2m 4f handicap chase has attracted an 11-runner field and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding can atone for a rare jumping blemish at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day when unseating his rider at the seventh fence.
Twinjets had earlier made all for a course and distance victory in late February, having earlier mastered subsequent winner Etalon and re-opposing Heltenham at Fontwell.
Market rival Vincenzo needed stoking along before asserting his authority at Ascot last month and 2lb rise is very fair. Sam Thomas’ ultra consistent gelding has never been out of the first two places in his last seven outings.
Triple Trade’s Cheltenham third behind Donnacha and Jagwar gives him prospects, while Issam was always travelling well before pulling clear at Ascot 26 days ago. He has risen 7lb but cannot be ignored.
Earlier on the card BRENTFORD HOPE (2.10) won’t be inconvenienced by any rainfall and provides Megan Fox with another winning opportunity in the 2m 4f BetVictor Handicap Hurdle.
She rode an accomplished race when Brentford Hope scored at Haydock before outrunning his 50-1 odds behind The New Lion and Nemean Lion in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. My selection runs off the same mark in less demanding company.
Taunton scorer Brave Knight and Doctor Blue appear the principal dangers.
LUCKY BERE (4.23) should go off at each-way price in the competitive 2m 4f handicap hurdle.
Kate Woollacott’s gelding was always up with the pace before going down by a head to Kel du Large at Hereford (heavy) 17 days ago, having previously won at Wincanton. Cheek-pieces are applied for the first time and Joshua Newman’s 5lb claim is a bonus.
Harry Coben has ridden Lucky Bere previously but is claimed to ride Just A Rose for the Nicholls yard.
Feature race at Kelso is the 17-runner bet365 Morebattle Handicap Hurdle with last year’s winner Cracking Rhapsody returning off a 4lb higher mark.
That gives the local hero every chance but slight preference is for HOT FUSS (2.55) at a nice price.
Tom Dascombe’s five-year-old landed a big pot at Windsor last month and goes well in big fields, posting an excellent fourth of 22 runners in last March’s Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Sean Bowen rides Hamlet’s Night and the gelding has taken an unconventional route into this race, having won on the Kempton all-weather ten days ago on the back of a lengthy absence.
Wise Eagle warmed up with a solid third to Star Of Guiting and Afadil at Musselburgh four weeks ago and should be thereabouts.
Dan Skelton’s Quaviste carries a light weight and has a squeak.
Most firms are offering advantageous ew terms.
BetMGM sponsor the feature Lingfield Spring Cup on the Polytrack and TEN CARAT HARRY (2.35) has been one of the revelations of the winter, bagging six victories from seven starts.
Jamie Osborne has booked Tom Marquand for the mount and they’ll need a little bit of luck in running from stall one. This step up to seven furlongs shouldn’t present a problem.
Top rated Sir Albert, placed in last season’s Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster, represents the hot Andrew Balding yard, while Richie’s Rocket could be anything on the evidence of his nine lengths course and distance romp for the Ralph Beckett stable in November.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
