UK Horse Racing Tips

The Apollobet Bet on Lotteries Handicap (3.10) at Haydock on Friday is competitive, but Richard Fahey’s filly Giddy is held in high regard at home and, after apparently wintering extremely well, can win en route to better things. The daughter of Kyllachy scored in taking fashion on her racecourse debut, over 5 furlongs, at Beverley last August, only to disappoint (when favourite) in a valuable nursery handicap, over 6 furlongs, at Ayr last September on her only subsequent start.

She was narrowly beaten, off today’s mark of 77, by the progressive Glenrowan Rose in a fillies’ handicap over 6 furlongs on her seasonal reappearance at Ripon 12 days ago and, dropping back into 0-80 company, she deserves another chance to confirm the favourable impression she created last season. Trainer Richard Fahey was contemplating running her in a Group 3 contest on her second start last season, so she could conceivably be a handicap ‘snip’, despite facing 16 rivals.

Selection: Haydock 3.10 Giddy to win

In the EBF Breeders’ Series Fillies’ Handicap (4.00) at Goodwood on Friday, Hestina confirmed the promise of her racecourse debut, over 1 mile 2 furlongs, at Sandown last month when easily winning her maiden, over 1 mile 4 furlongs, at Beverley ten days later and begins life in handicaps on an attractive mark. The winner at Sandown, Southern Stars, finished last of ten, beaten 10½ lengths, behind We Are Ninety in a Listed race at Newbury on Saturday, having raced freely and the second, Amjan, was narrowly beaten in a similar race at Ascot two weeks ago, but that shouldn’t count against Hestina, who was noticeably green in the preliminaries.

The daughter of Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune makes her third appearance within the space of a month, which suggests she’s thriving, and she can make her presence felt against largely exposed rivals. The prevailing good to firm going is an unknown but, with heavy, thundery showers forecast in the South East, some easing of the ground is a distinct possibility.

Selection: Goodwood 4.00 Hestina to win

In the Betway Huxley Stakes (2.40) at Chester on Thursday, Western Hymn was turned over at odds-on on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown last month, but looks to have a decent opportunity to make amends. John Gosden’s 5-year-old finished in front of Cannock Chase a couple of times last season and, with his old rival penalised 7lb for winning the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine last October, is favoured by the race conditions. His high head carriage at Sandown is a slight worry, but it’s a trait he’s shown before and doesn’t appear to be any reflection of his genuineness or otherwise. He won both starts at this level last season and ran creditably in defeat in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Coral-Eclipse, so sets a high standard.

Selection: Chester 2.40 Western Hymn to win

At the time of writing, the going at Chepstow is good but, with an unsettled outlook and widespread, heavy showers forecast for the latter part of the week, some easing of the ground is a distinct possibility. Medburn Dream has shown improved form since stepped up in distance on soft ground this season and appears to have every chance of defying a 6lb penalty in the Tradeteam Handicap (4.00), especially if the rain gets into the ground.

The son of Showcasing won with plenty in hand over 1 mile 114 yards at Epsom nine days ago and is 2lb well in compared with future engagements, so it’s understandable that connections are keen to strike while the iron is hot. Medburn Dream failed to trouble the judge in three starts over 6 furlongs as a juvenile, including on good and good to soft going, but has yet to prove conclusively that soft ground is a necessity. He’s clearly going the right way, so looks worth chancing whatever the weather in South Wales between now and Friday afternoon.

Selection: Chepstow 4.00 Medburn Dream to win