UK Horse Racing Tips

In the Thank You & Farewell Jane Hedley Handicap Hurdle (3.30) at Market Rasen on Thursday, Cotillion returned to action at Chester in July three years, to the day, since his last run but, although now a 10-year-old, has looked as least as good as ever over hurdles this season. The Sadler’s Wells gelding has recorded two facile victories in selling handicap hurdles at Leicester and Fakenham and, unsurprisingly, takes a rise in class.

Nevertheless, he’s still only 2lb higher in the weights than when winning a Class 2 affair at Chepstow as a 7-year-old and such was the manner of his victory, on soft going, at Fakenham three weeks ago that he must be followed until beaten. In fact, the Fakenham form has already been franked by the remote third, Guaracha, so Cotillion appears to have an outstanding chance, without even considering that jockey Toby Wheeler can claim 10lb, by virtue of riding for his own yard.

In other news, with the Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, we’ll be sure to start covering that in much more detail soon, with our choice picks, naps and ones to watch highlighted. Then of course before we know it, it’s the big one in April, namely the Grand National. You can check out some of the 2016 Grand National runners here, alongside their current betting odds. I’ve got my eye on a couple, but it’s early days yet, so will keep my cards close to my chest for now!

Selection: Market Rasen 3.30 Cotillion to win

The £10 Free at 32Red.com Handicap (5.45) at Wolverhampton is only a 0-60 contest, but features lesser lights from some leading yards and may prove quite competitive. The likes of David Evans, Richard Fahey and William Haggas all feature highly on the leaderboard for the All-weather Championship, but the one that takes our eye on this occasion is Dalalah, trained by Richard Guest.

The Exceed And Excel filly has yet to trouble the judge in five starts, but caught the eye when a fast-finishing seventh of 13, beaten 2¾ lengths, behind Hold On Magnolia over 6 furlongs at the West Midlands track 17 days and should appreciate stepping back up in distance. That was her first run for the West Yorkshire trainer, and her first since September, so she may be open to some improvement and has been dropped 2lb in the weights in the meantime.

She’s probably not one to go overboard about, but she showed definite signs of promise last time and can put her previous experience of the Tapeta surface to good use.

Selection: Wolverhampton 5.45 Dalalah to win

The MITIE Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (3.05) at Ascot on Friday looks competitive to start with and could turn into a slog, so a ‘shock’ result doesn’t look entirely out of the question.

Knight Of Pleasure hasn’t won for two years and is clearly a difficult horse to catch right, but Gary Moore has been in decent form in recent weeks and the 6-year-old is well handicapped on his best form. The Exit To Nowhere gelding has been put back over hurdles after and an unsuccessful spell over fences last season and is, in fact, 3lb lower in the weights than his last winning mark. He has his stamina to prove over 2 miles 5½ furlongs, but both his career wins came on heavy going, so he won’t mind any rain that falls in Berkshire and George Gorman takes off a useful 8lb.

Vale of Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams has also been among the winners of late and his 8-year-old Lava Lamp wouldn’t be without a chance if able to recapture his best form. The Sharmadal gelding remains 4lb higher in the weights than when winning a similar race, over 2 miles 2½ furlongs, at Newton Abbot in the summer but, by virtue of riding for his own stable, Cian Maher can claim 10lb. Lava Lamp has plenty of winning form on soft going, including over 2 miles 6 furlongs, so could go well at a nice price.

Selections: Ascot 3.05 Knight Of Pleasure, Lava Lamp

The CF Roberts Electrical + Mechanical Services Handicap Hurdle (1.10) at Cheltenham on Friday is the most competitive race on the card, numerically, and should give us a decent chance of unearthing a winner at rewarding odds.

The one that takes our eye is Cappielow Park, who hasn’t run over hurdles since March, but had a pipe opener on the all-weather at Kempton nine days ago and still looks reasonably handicapped on his best form. The Exceed And Excel gelding appeared to improve for the switch to Ali Stronge two seasons ago and is only 3lb higher in the weights than when winning a 0-130 novices’ handicap hurdle at Wincanton in February.

It’s interesting to note that recent Racing Post Henry VIII Novices’ Chase winner, Ar Mad, could only finish fourth in that contest and, having won twice on heavy going, Cappielow Park won’t care how much rain falls on Prestbury Park. Ali Stronge has only saddled one runner, without success, during the last five seasons, but the 6-year-old appears to have plenty going for him and might just slip in under the radar.

Selection: Cheltenham 1.10 Cappielow Park to win