Ian Ogg's 3/1 Nap won at Thirsk last night - Matt Brocklebank is back with the best bets for Wednesday's meetings in the UK.
Wednesday selections
DENEMETHY - 2.18 Perth (NAP)
A decent little contest for the GS Group Balnakeilly Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Perth but the seven-year-old DENEMETHY stands out as a promising chaser with scope to improve some way past his current mark of 123. Raised just 3lb for a neck second at Market Rasen when last seen, that could prove highly lenient seeing as the winner and third have both scored since and stepping back up to an intermediate trip should really help Fergal O'Brien's horse here as he looked just a bit outpaced a key moment last time.
MANALA - 4.10 Ludlow
She's not a stable star by any means but MANALA looks quite well placed here by the Skeltons and a first career win could be in the offing. She skipped a recent handicap debut assignment on account of heavy going and could be better served by the good ground at Ludlow having gone close in similar conditions in a bumper for Nicky Henderson a couple of years ago. Her three qualifying runs over hurdles included a reasonably promising effort when sixth of nine at Uttoxeter in February and her opening mark of 83 looks feasible now stepped up in trip (unraced dam a half-sister to 2m5f hurdles winner La Perrotine, whose progeny include Gold Cup hero Sizing John among others).
CATHEDRAL PEAK - 4.50 Lingfield
Track position can be key in amateur riders' races on the all-weather and it's hoped CATHEDRAL PEAK is able to sit just behind the pace, likely to be set by Senseofentitlement according to Timeform. This lightly-raced horse potentially needed the run when down the field on stable debut at Doncaster last month and he's arguably better judged on his five-length fifth of 15 at Gowran Park when signing off for Joseph O'Brien in the autumn. A revised BHA rating of 62 looks manageable on that evidence and a switch in surface could really spark something as there are loads of all-weather performers on the dam's side of his pedigree including Silvery Mist herself, who won a Listed event on the Polytrack at Deauville in 2018.
DAYTONA LADY - 5.10 Catterick
With a few of Ruth Carr's horses going quite well in recent weeks, it could be worth taking a chance on her DAYTONA LADY in the last race at Catterick. She looked better than ever at points last last year, after Carr introduced the cheekpieces, and it's clear we didn't really see the best of her on seasonal debut after being hampered over course and distance earlier in the month. The first two were prominent throughout that day and the race just didn't pan out at all well for Daytona Lady, who can be slow to get going, but there's much more early pace in this field which should help. Eased a pound and now rated just 3lb higher than when last successful, there's a chance we could see a far more positive effort from the selection.
JUBILEE GOLD - 7.30 Taunton
JUBILEE GOLD isn't the least exposed in this field but he's hardly been over-raced for one of his age and looks fairly solid on the back of his three-length second at Plumpton earlier in the month. He could be the horse to beat with a repeat of that form as the winner looked set to go close off a higher mark before falling two-out at Huntingdon just the other day. It was clearly a decent effort from Jubilee Gold, who is obviously a happier horse on a sound surface, having been pulled-up on heavy the time before. His current mark of 98 gives the nine-year-old every chance of claiming a second career success.
Thursday selections
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DOCTOR KEN - 4.33 Perth (NAP)
Olly Murphy does really well with the runners he sends north of the border to Perth (29-116, 25% strike-rate prior to Wednesday's action) and, having won last year's Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase with Sure Touch, it's not hard to see the trainer - and same jockey Sean Bowen - doubling up in the race courtesy of DOCTOR KEN. He's clearly a little fragile but did make a good start over fences in the 2022-23 campaign before missing last season through injury. Back this term with a solid second behind Es Perfecto at Kempton in November, he's got to defy another layoff here but seems to go well fresh and looks to have his ground too which is likely to be drying out all the time. I'd be surprised if a handicap mark of 135 proved beyond this talented horse if fit enough to do himself justice and it's hoped the plan comes together on Thursday afternoon.
BREDON HILL - 2.35 Warwick
There are some in-form horses higher up the weights but it could be worth siding with BREDON HILL who looks feasibly handicapped back from a short break after a creditable third on ground arguably a shade softer than he'd ideally want at Kempton in February. Conditions (watering to maintain) at Warwick should be perfect for the lightly-raced five-year-old, who won his novice here under the same rider on good ground back in November. A bold bid from the front looks highly likely.
BLUE TEMPUS - 5.25 Beverley
Alan King could have a well-handicapped three-year-old on his hands in BLUE TEMPUS who makes his seasonal debut in a very winnable 0-65 contest at Beverley. The son of Highland Reel is quite nicely bred (winning dam is out of a Listed scorer) and looked to get a bit stuck in the mud during three fairly swift qualifying outings in the autumn of last year. Sixth behind the promising Perfect Your Craft at Salisbury in October, the second and third from that novice race are now rated 80 and 76 so this evidently represents a much more feasible opportunity for Blue Tempus. He should also benefit from the step up to middle-distances this spring.
NAMMOS - 6.55 Chelmsford
NAMMOS struck gold on a couple of occasions at Chelmsford last year and wasn't seen to best effect when sent off favourite on her return from a winter break here earlier in the month. Given a bit too much to do in a race dominated by those who raced more handily here 21 days ago, Jane Chapple-Hyam's mare has been eased a pound in the weights and looks poised to strike if getting away nicely enough from the widest stall on this occasion.
MOKORO - 7.40 Bangor
MOKORO stepped up on previous handicap efforts when a close third - beaten less than a length - at Warwick 10 days ago and looks to hold cracking claims off the same mark and over a similar trip at Bangor. This minor prize won't be the one that decides the trainers' title but every little helps for Dan Skelton at this stage and the 2lb well-in Mokoro can do his bit for the team under bottom weight here.
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2025 winners
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