Ben Linfoot is back with a look ahead to the racing on Wednesday, with the Nap running at Hereford.
Alan King can strike with his sole runner on the card at Hereford when his mare FINEST VIEW lines up in the Spa Motors Hereford Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase on Wednesday. She jumped well on chasing debut at Kempton last time when sent off favourite only to finish third, but she lost a shoe that day and it’s worth looking at the positives. The drop in trip here looks a good move and with that Kempton run under her belt she is expected to take a step forward here.
TREATY BOY is worth chancing in the Tant Pis Handicap Chase at Hexham. He raced too keenly over 2m5f at Sedgefield last Friday but was still going okay when hampered at the second last with Sam Coltherd knocked out of the side door. It’s interesting he turns out again so quickly and the drop back to two miles looks a smart move, so he could be worth backing despite being 2lb wrong at the weights.
Charlie Appleby’s WILD NATURE can make amends for defeat over the course and distance last time in the Unibet More Boosts In More Races Nursery Handicap at Kempton. The son of Kingman was keen held up in a steadily-run race here last time and had to settle for second behind Dante’s Lad. Up just 2lb with William Buick back on board, he can go in this time.
SULLIVAN BAY looked in good nick over hurdles just 10 days ago and his proven stamina should be a vital asset over 1m6f in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap at Chelmsford on Thursday. Jim & Suzi best’s four-year-old has been in good form since switching to his new yard and an all-weather mark of 56 does not look beyond him after his close-up Southwell third two starts ago. With Luke Morris taking over in the saddle a bold bid is expected.
TASHAN beat Denzil at Warwick last time out and he can uphold the form in the Jim Woodborne Memorial Junior “National Hunt” Hurdle at Taunton. Emma Lavelle’s horse was in receipt of 7lb when beating Denzil last time but he was too strong for that rival in the closing stages and even off these revised terms he could be tough to beat. The pair pulled clear that day and it could be the same again in this company.
Paul Nicholls’ ONETHREEFIVENOTOUT makes his belated chasing debut at Warwick in the M-Tec Engineering Solutions Novices’ Handicap Chase and he can make it a winning one. The eight-year-old is from a chasing family and always looked like fences were his calling but he’s been a slow burner having only made his hurdling debut last season. The good thing is Nicholls got six runs into him and if fences improve him again this season he can leave a mark of 117 behind.
Ben Haslam’s runners have been going really well at Newcastle in recent weeks and it’s an interesting tactic to drop TICKETS to five furlongs. He can be slowly away and was beaten a neck at this track over seven furlongs last time, but he was keen that day and reverting to sprinting could be just the, erm, ticket. The big field and likely strong gallop will certainly suit and it’s with hope his stamina kicks in late on.
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