UK Horse Racing Tips

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In the Betway Handicap (6.20) at Wolverhampton on Monday, Flight Of Fantasy is untried on Tapeta, but her form on Polytrack bears close inspection and she looks worth chancing off an 8lb higher mark than when winning by 5 lengths, eased down, in a 0-75 contest at Kempton 17 days ago. By necessity, Harry Dunlop’s 4-year-old filly steps up into 0-85 company, but had previously only just been touched off – albeit off a handicap mark 9lb lower than today – in a 0-90 contest, also at Kempton, and is clearly going the right way. In fact, the winner that day, Al Hamdany, was only beaten a neck, off a 3lb higher mark, in a 0-105 contest over this course and distance on his next start, so the form looks strong. The daughter of Nathaniel is entitled to improve for her latest Kempton run, her first since early November, and looks to have an outstanding chance if taking to the surface. She’s better on the all-weather than elsewhere and was considered a possible for an Oaks trial early last season.

Selection: Wolverhampton 6.20 Flight Of Fantasy to win

The 32Red.com Nursery Handicap (1.45) at Lingfield on Wednesday is a competitive little heat for the grade, but may provide Motown Mick with an opportunity to open his account on Polytrack. The Intikhab gelding has run respectably on both visits to Kempton, most recently when a never-nearer third of five, beaten 2¾ lengths, in a 0-90 nursery handicap over 7 furlongs six weeks ago. Richard Hannon’s charge will be suited by returning to a mile in due course but, for the time being, 7 furlongs around Lingfield – where late pace is vital – may be sufficient to show him in better light. One or two of his rivals like to race prominently so, hopefully, he should have a decent pace to aim at.

Selection: Lingfield 1.45 Motown Mick to win

The Betway Dash Handicap (2.10) at Lingfield on Tuesday is worth £20,000 in guaranteed prize money and it’s a little surprising that it’s not better subscribed. Still, that won’t bother the connections of those horses that have turned up and may present dual course and distance winner Gracious John with an opportunity to return to the winners’ enclosure.

David Evans’ 4-year-old wasn’t seen to best effect on soft going at Nottingham in November, but won in this grade at Leicester in October and remains 6lb lower in the weights than when winning over course and distance at around this time last year. The Baltic King gelding is hard to ignore from a handicapping perspective and appears to have every chance of making a winning return to Polytrack under Fran Berry, who has a decent strike rate for the yard at Lingfield.

Selection: Lingfield 2.10 Gracious John to win

Plantagenet failed in his bid for a five-timer when switched to fences at Plumpton earlier this month, but nevertheless made a highly promising debut over the larger obstacles and can open his account in that sphere in the Level Peakes Associates Handicap Chase (2.10) at Hereford on Wednesday. The Plumpton form has already been franked by the winner, Cucklington, who followed up in convincing style, off a 5lb higher mark, at Wincanton last Thursday, so Plantaganet must have every chance of regaining the winning thread off an identical handicap mark. Seamus Mullins’ 5-year-old has done all his winning on good, or faster, ground, so should be in his element and is far from fully exposed after just five starts for his current connections.

Selection: Hereford 2.10 Plantaganet to win   13/8