David Massey and Rory Delargy outline today's best bets, with a couple of selections across the all-weather action.
Racing betting tips: Thursday January 9
1pt win Starshiba in 2.32 Lingfield at 11/4 (General) – no lower
1pt e.w. Q Twenty Boy in 5.30 Chelmsford at 6/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4) – min 11/2
2.32 Lingfield
STARSHIBA is the interesting one here having been revived by a move to rookie trainer Jack Morland.
His form figures on Polytrack read: 5221673113137697731, which isn’t too shabby, but they improve markedly when racing over 7f/1m from a mark of 80 or lower. In those circumstances - which pertain today - his figures improve to 31131331, with his latest win coming on his second outing for Morland over C&D at the end of last month.
Morland has shown himself a trainer well worth following since leaving Ed Dunlop and setting up on his own, and his own figures in the last few weeks are 174111114, all in handicaps.
Starshiba has always been a talented individual but became a little frustrating in his last season with Mick Appleby, and like many older handicappers, he has found a different routine and fresh surroundings giving him a bit of a form bounce.
That should continue while he remains at this level, and he looks a solid bet to follow up his recent win here, with the small field and likely modest pace ideal for a horse who has a decent turn of foot on his day.
5.30 Chelmsford
Even by the standards of 0-52 company this is weak, with half the field out of the handicap; Piperstown, who was a winner by the narrowest of margins at Southwell last time out, would have been a warm favourite but is now a non-runner, making the race look even more attractive for our purposes.
Peachey Carnehan is an old favourite who is capable of a big run and we had him shortlisted based on his all-weather record over 6f when returning from ten days or less off the track, which is a very respectable 71136233221. Unfortunately, he's been taken out this morning.
Q TWENTY BOY has gained two of his six wins on the all-weather here, and with another five placed efforts to his name, he has plenty of course form to fall back upon. He's not hit the heights as yet this winter but might well have needed his latest outing after a month off, and in truth even a repeat of that midfield finish would give him a chance here.
Jockey Alicia Perkins is a permanent in the saddle with him these days and knows his tricks well, which is ideal in these “Hands and Heels” races as Q Twenty Boy rather needs to be finessed into things and then persuaded to put his head in front. On that score, Alicia holds the Keys (geddit? Not even sorry).
8.00 Chelmsford
Platinum Jubilee clearly comes with some risk, but equally this has the whiff of a plan about it, and she’s worth a second look in a desperately weak 0-50 Classified event. Des Donovan’s mare looked on the way back to form when beaten just over two lengths at Lingfield two starts ago, a piece of form that would give her every chance here but was slightly below that when only sixth in a similar contest to this at Southwell at the weekend.
This is a quickish turnaround for Platinum Jubilee and blinkers are now given a go. She’s fallen a long way in the weights in a very short space of time and it would hardly be a surprise to see her come out on top here.
Preview posted at 0915 GMT on 09/01/25
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
2025 successes
- Ormolulu 100/30
- Khangai 9/2
- Jimmy Knocker 6/1
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.