UK Horse Racing Tips

In the Higos Insurance Services Handicap Chase (4.10) at Exeter on Tuesday, Two Faces West was beaten, but far from disgraced, by subsequent Midlands Grand National runner-up, Milansbar, over 3 miles on the undulating Devon course last month and can regain the winning thread. The pair pulled 52 lengths of the third, Kingswell Theatre, on that occasion and with the winner only beaten 2 lengths, off an 8lb higher mark, in a much better race at Uttoxeter, the form has a solid look to it.

Philip Hobbs’ 8-year-old has had just two starts over regulation fences, but won a point-to-point in Ireland as a 5-year-old and, while the ground is likely to be faster than any he’s encountered so far, he has winning form on good to soft going. The Dr. Massini gelding takes a slight rise in class, but is only 2lb higher in the weights than when last winning over hurdles (for Donald McCain last March) and, with plenty of stamina in his pedigree, looks a decent staying chaser in the making.

Historically, the Somerset trainer has done better with his hurdlers than his chasers at Devon, but his record with the latter is still none too shabby and champion jockey-elect Richard Johnson has a 30% strike rate, overall, for the yard this season.

Selection: Exeter 4.10 Two Faces West to win

Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins has some fine chances on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday and perhaps his best chance of all is Douvan in the Arkle Challenge Trophy (2.10). The French import has won all seven starts over hurdles and fences since joining the Co. Carlow trainer and has 6lb and upwards in hand of his rivals, according to official ratings. The Walk In The Park gelding has made a couple of minor mistakes in his chasing career so far, but he faces just six rivals, so it’s unlikely that his jumping will come under the same scrutiny as it would in a larger field and he remains open to significant improvement in any case. Unfortunately, the bookmakers are unlikely to be giving much away about the 6-year-old, but he has an outstanding chance on what could be a memorable day, even by Willie Mullins’ standards.

Selection: Cheltenham 2.10 Douvan to win

In the 3.50 at Sandown on Friday, Richard Johnson has a 4-9 (44%) strike rate on hurdlers trained by Henry Oliver during the last five seasons, so his booking for Spencer Lea – his only ride of the day – stands out like a sore thumb. The Overbury gelding returned from an absence of nearly two years to win a 0-120 event, over 2 miles 4½ furlongs, at Market Rasen last month and, although he steps back up in class off a 6lb higher mark, may well be equal to the task.

Although now an 8-year-old, he’s only had eight starts, six of them over hurdles, so he still remains open to significant improvement on his second start for his new yard. Course, distance and going should suit him admirably and he may be able to take this contest en route to better things, if he can be kept sound. Interestingly, Richard Johnson also rode him to his only previous success, over 2 miles 5 furlongs at Ludlow in February 2014, so the hint may be worth taking.

Selection: Sandown 3.50 Spencer Lea to win

In February, we wrote a very early article on the upcoming Cheltenham Festival and discussed some of the leading candidates for this year’s event. With one week until the meeting gets underway, we’re here to offer you a few more helpful tips and hints as to which horses look set to win at one of the most prestigious meetings of the National Hunt season – and here they are.

Douvan

In our previous piece, we fancied Faugheen to win on the festival’s opening day for the second year in a row, however he has been pulled after suffering an injury in the build-up to the event. Trainer Willie Mullins has plenty of incredible mounts running once again though, and fellow French-born thoroughbred Douvan may be the horse to watch in the Arkle Trophy on Tuesday.

Douvan romped home to win the Supreme last year and it would take a brave man to back against the Mullins-Ruby Walsh combination again in 2016. While Vaniteux is capable, Douvan, who is currently 2/5 with Coral to win the Arkle, is superior and should make all of the running to win comfortably. He certainly produced a dominating performance at Leopardstown in January to send a timely reminder to his nearest challengers.

Annie Power

For some, it might be a bit too soon to start trusting Annie Power again. Last year, she was clear in the Mares’ Hurdle and Ruby Walsh fell at the final fence – a huge stroke of luck for the bookmakers as they were set to be crippled for £50 million. This year, she’s back but will be entered in the Champion Hurdle instead after Faugheen’s injury. Annie Power is certainly capable but punters will be caught in two minds after last year’s mishap.

As the latest Cheltenham Festival odds reveal, Annie Power is priced at 6/4 with Coral to win the Champion Hurdle. Identity Thief may be her closest challenger and has the potential to cause an upset but Walsh should ride Annie Power to victory barring any unexpected jumping errors. On paper, she’s the best horse in the race and you should take her to eradicate any memories of last year’s defeat by bouncing back and winning this year.

Don Cossack

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the week’s racing and there are plenty of top contenders in this year’s race. It’s almost impossible to pick between the likes of Vautour, Djakadam and Don Cossack but the latter may be preferable after recent events. Prior to January’s Betbright Trial Chase at Cheltenham, Djakadam was the bookmakers’ favourite but a second fall at the circuit has put many people off.

Meanwhile, there are rumours that Vautour isn’t 100% and that leaves the door wide open for Don Cossack to romp home and snatch a Gold Cup victory for trainer Gordon Elliott. Without a shadow of a doubt, Don Cossack is a top-rated horse and he would be a deserving winner of this prestigious race but it’s almost too close to call. In fact, it could even be one of the closest races in Gold Cup history if Vautour is at his best.