UK Horse Racing Tips

In the Brewin Dolphin Marathon Handicap Chase (1.40) at Exeter on Friday, Heronshaw is blessed with an abundance of stamina and can make his first attempt beyond 3 miles 2 furlongs a winning one. The Heron Island gelding made a perfectly satisfactory debut over fences when third of nine, beaten 8¼ lengths, behind Wizards Bridge in a novices’ limited handicap chase over 3 miles on the Devon course last month and, with that experience under his belt, should go well off the same handicap mark.

Indeed, Wizards Bridge was only beaten three-quarters of a length in a similar race at Newcastle last week, off an 8lb higher mark, while St Dominick, who finished second in the aforementioned race, won a handicap chase over the same course and distance by 10 lengths, off a 7lb higher mark, eleven days later. The form looks significantly stronger than it did at the time so, with Heronshaw likely to improve for the run, his first since March, and the step up in distance, Henry Daly’s 8-year-old looks to have an outstanding chance. Make the most of your bet with a ladbrokes promo code.

Selection: Exeter 1.40 Heronshaw to win

Qualifiers for the Pertemps Network Final at the Cheltenham Festival are invariably fiercely competitive and the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (1.30) at Newbury on Friday is no exception.

Billy No Name returned from nearly two years off to win a 0-130 contest over 2 miles 3½ furlongs on soft going at Wetherby last month and, if he can build on that success, may be able to make an impact in this slightly higher grade. He’s 5lb higher in the weights this time, but his revised rating of 120 is still 1lb lower than that before his time off, so he still looks feasibly weighted. Furthermore, he ran well on both attempts beyond 2 miles 5½ furlongs, so should be suited by stepping back up in distance.

On the downside, the Westerner gelding is only small and, as a result, probably doesn’t want any deterioration of the already soft going at Newbury.

Interestingly, Paddy Brennan, who won on him at Wetherby, once again comes in for the ride, despite Billy No Name being set to carry 10st 1lb, or just 1lb more than his minimum riding weight over the last 12 months.

Selection: Newbury 1.30 Billy No Name

In the Totepool Supporting Sport You Love Handicap (6.40) at Chelmsford on Friday, it’s been a while since Shifting Star won at 0-80 level, but John Bridger’s veteran was only beaten a neck in a similar contest at Epsom in August, off a 6lb lower mark, so is far from a forlorn hope. Of course, the Night Shift gelding is unlikely to be improving in leaps and bounds at the age of ten, but ran well enough when second at Lingfield, off a 4lb lower mark, and when winning at Windsor, off a 2lb lower mark, on his two most recent starts to suggest that he may well be up to the task.

Shifting Star is making his sixteenth start of the season and, although still nowhere near the rating of 99 he achieved as a 3-year-old, he has officially improved 10lb since the turn of the year and appears to have found his level once again. In a race where recent winning form is thin on the ground, he must have a decent chance of becoming John Bridger’s first winner at the Essex track.

Selection: Chelmsford 6.40 Shifting Star to win

Unusually, the Racing UK Handicap (3.10) at Newmarket, run over 2 miles, is one of the most competitive races of the day on Friday. The four 3-year-olds in the field are obviously well treated by the race conditions, but there are one or two of the older brigade who could go well despite less evident credentials.

At the time of writing, the going on the Rowley Mile is good to soft but, with rain in the forecast for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, stamina may be at a premium. One who lacks nothing in that department is See And Be Seen, whose last two victories have come over 2 miles 2 furlongs, in the Pontefract Cup in June and the Cesarewitch Trial on this course last September.

Sylvester Kirk’s 5-year-old remains 5lb higher in the weights than for either of those successes, but was far from disgraced when eighth of 20, beaten 4¾ lengths, in the Irish Cesarewitch over 2 miles at the Curragh off his revised mark earlier this month. The son of Sakhee’s Secret has yet to win on going softer than good to soft, but his abundance of stamina should stand him in good stead, whatever the weather.

Blue Sea Of Ibrox was a maiden after 27 starts for Alan Brown, but got off the mark at the fourth time of asking for new trainer John Berry at Pontefract earlier this month and remains completely unexposed on the Flat. The Subtle Power mare steps up in class and distance off a 6lb higher mark, but has plenty of form on good to soft or softer going and, having been campaigned up to 2 mile 7½ furlongs over obstacles, should have no problem lasting home. She is far and away the most interesting runner in the race and it’ll be fascinating to see how she fares in the market.

Selections: Newmarket 3.10 See And Be Seen, Blue Sea Of Ibrox