Rory Delargy and David Massey look ahead to today's racing and have bets to consider at Doncaster and Ludlow.
Racing betting tips: Wednesday February 19
1pt win Snowy Clouds in 2.50 Doncaster at 5/1 (William Hill, Unibet) - min 4/1
1pt win Supervisor in 4.10 Ludlow at 15/2 (William Hill, 888Sport) - min 13/2
2.50 Doncaster
He looked badly in need of the run after a long absence here in December, so that failure to complete can be disregarded, making SNOWY CLOUDS look very well treated dropping in class for this Class 4 handicap.
A progressive novice in 2022/23, Snowy Clouds would surely have landed a hat-trick but for falling three from home when dominating a stronger handicap at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting in April of that season. He was in front and travelling best that day when taking a chance at the last open ditch which put him on the deck.
The winner that day has won twice since off higher marks, as has the fifth home that day. That was a well-contested Class 3 contest and Snowy Clouds had won his previous two handicap starts over fences with contemptuous ease.
He’s now 4lb lower than at Ayr and with his return sure to have done plenty to tighten him up (looked very burly but travelled well on the heels of the winner until getting tiring and being eased when beaten), he should have no problem winning at this level assuming he retains that old ability.
3.20 Doncaster
Not a race to approach with a lot of confidence but there are at least a couple of likely outsiders worth a mention.
One of these days the moody Good Bye is going to fancy it and when he does, he’s going to take a field like this apart, and with something to spare. Go back to 2023 and you’ll find him dotting up here off a mark of 108 in a much better race than this; back then he was consistent, but after a long absence hasn’t seemed the same horse over the past few months.
Southwell last time a perfect demonstration of where we are with him now, as he all but refused to jump off, then got himself into contention, led three out and looked like hitting the places at least before fading out of things, probably not helping himself by racing on the worst of the ground up the inside. Who knows what will go through his head at the start today, but should he be on his best behaviour, I’d not rule him out of this.
The tally for Toucan Sam now stands at twenty without success, and I don’t suppose there are many offspring of Frankel that have run in a point-to-point, but here we are. The case for Toucan Sam is simple enough - he simply doesn’t get on with fences, and as such three of his last five efforts have seen letters rather than numbers in his form, but in between the disasters are two efforts over hurdles that might give you some hope of him hitting the frame here.
One was over a trip far too short at Ayr where he was outpaced for pretty much the whole contest - tailed off turning in, in fact - before staying on strongly to challenge for minor places late, and it was a similar story over further on his other start there this winter, merely plugging away late for third over their extended 2m5½f trip. He’s clearly no good thing, but stepping up to three miles should suit, and maybe he can reward each-way players with extra places on offer.
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4.10 Ludlow
A race where all six have some sort of question mark hanging over them and it’s a case of who is most likely to bounce back.
Kelce would look the one to beat on paper, as for all he’d likely have been beaten by O’Connell at Market Rasen in the Lincolnshire National last time out but for a final-fence fall, that form was franked by the winner at Sandown a couple of weeks ago. However, a 5lb rise looks harsh and means he probably has a bit more to do.
SUPERVISOR looks the one. But for an unseat here a couple of seasons back the likelihood is he’d be 2-2 at Ludlow, so he clearly likes the place, and comes here a relatively fresh horse after an early unseat at Plumpton last week. He’d run a personal best when second on his reappearance at Warwick and as long as he picks his feet up today, must have every chance of success.
Published at 0916 GMT on 19/02/25
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