The Punting Pointers team are back with three bets at Epsom on Tuesday.
Racing betting tips: Tuesday April 22
0.5pts e.w Faustus in the 1.35 Epsom at 25/1 (Sky Bet - 1/5 1,2,3,4) – min 18/1
0.5pts e.w Warda Jamila in the 2.45 Epsom at 20/1 (General - 1/5 1,2,3) – min 10/1
1pt win Kracking in the 5.00 Epsom at 13/2 (General) – min 11/2
1:35 Epsom – Class 3 (0-95) Handicap 5f
Robert Cowell has a trio of contenders here and all have chances on paper, but the Bottisham Heath handler has no great record at Epsom, and I prefer to look elsewhere for the winner. Spartan Arrow gets cheekpieces for the first time but backing Archie Watson’s runners when first trying that headgear is an expensive hobby.
FAUSTUS may be worth chancing for the Rachel Cook/John Bridger team having won six times at this trip including off just 1lb lower at Newbury on fast turf last summer on his second start for new connections having previously been with Cowell. His form tailed off on his last two starts, but that’s easy to forgive with many horses losing their form at the end of the season only to bounce back after a break.
Faustus has done a lot of his racing in lesser company but ran as well as he ever has when placed in a 0-98 at Ascot in September, and he should be a shorter price on balance.
2:45 Epsom – City And Suburban Handicap 1m 2f 17y
City of Delight has won all four of his starts on good or faster turf, so merits maximum respect having gone up 4lb for winning on his return at Doncaster, where he had Magico, Stressfree, and Rathgar nipping at his heels in a blanket finish. In truth, the quartet are closely matched again, and your view of this contest will depend on how highly you rate the Doncaster form.
I’m again happy to look elsewhere for an unexposed contender, and WARDA JAMILA very much fits the bill as a filly who could improve further having won a pair of handicaps at this trip in 2024, including when ridden by today’s rider to a career best at Haydock on her penultimate start. She came in for a rare moderate ride from Oisin Murphy last time (finished with running left having been short of room when travelling well) and is likely to be ready to go given how many of Andrew Balding’s runners have score first time up this term. Andrew Balding likes to aim one at this race, winning in recent years with Brorocco and Collaboration and saddling Achelois to be second from just eight runners in the last decade.
5:00 Epsom – Class 4 (0-85) Handicap 1m 113y
It was only a moderate race KRACKING win at Brighton last time, but it was the style in which he did it that was impressive. Allowed his head by Warren Fentiman, he bowled freely along on the lead and quickly opened up a big gap on the rest. Coming to the furlong pole he looked in a spot of bother but the way he picked up again to put the race to bed easily was both surprising and noteworthy, and he’s taken to follow up at a track with a very similar profile.
Fentiman is booked again today, and he clearly gets on well with the horse having had an opportunity to get to know his quirks on the gelding’s last three starts. This is clearly a tougher contest, but he’s in-form, handles a downhill track well, and his free-going style will again be an asset here.
5:10 Hereford – Class 5 Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 147y
Pooroldmackley was a well-backed winner at Newton Abbot at the weekend but that was a chase on heavy ground (which was given as the reason for the improvement) whereas over hurdles on quicker ground tonight is a different kettle of fish. He looks one to try and take on and we have a ready-made alternative in the shape of Mr Zee, who did the column a good turn by winning at Taunton last time and can follow up from a 4lb higher mark here.
Not only has he rediscovered his better form, but he’s been travelling well into his races, and this step back up in trip could easily see him in an even better light. The ground should be ideal again, and with the handicapper not going mad, he can win again for us before he starts to get a grip on him.
Preview posted at 0950 BST on 22/04/2025
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