UK Horse Racing Tips
Pleasing day yesterday getting the clean sweep with all three selections winning. It’s nice on the extremely rare occasions a day transpires like that! But this game has a humbling effect and today is a new day. I have four selections today, spread across Catterick, Musselburgh, Wolverhampton and Kempton.
Tip 1 – 2.30pm Catterick
The first selection comes in Catterick’s feature, the 6f handicap at 2.30pm. I think there’s a strong argument that Embour should be shorter than his current odds. This is a considerably weaker race than he’s accustomed to. It’s his first foray down in to Class 4 company and he’s down to a hugely competitive mark of 86. There is a lot in his favour.
He has been rather in and out this season but he won on seasonal reappearance in May. That was off a mark of 90 and he’s 4lb lower today. His last two runs at Musselburgh and Ripon suggest he’s in decent form and this is significantly easier. He’s yet to race at Catterick but this track should suit his run style. Moreover, he’s landed the inside draw in 1 and should have too much class for these.
I would be stronger on him but the yard are too in and out for my liking – with a moderate strike rate – and that does temper some enthusiasm. I’d be fearful of Lezardrieux but Embour should really be winning this and represents value at the prices.
2.30pm Catterick – 1pt win Embour 9/2 general
Tip 2 – 3.50pm Musselburgh
The money has come for King Of Tonga. He’s well handicapped and a potential pace angle on a track that suits front runners. However, he has a moderate strike rate and is too inconsistent for my liking
As a result of the money coming for King Of Tonga, Oso Rapido represents a shade of value. Oso Rapido, to my eyes, should be favourite. He rated higher as a juvenile and then struggled in a light campaign last year despite a promising reappearance.
Switching yards this year to Roger Fell he put a low-key seasonal appearance behind him at Doncaster 11 days ago. I think that effort can be upgraded a fair bit. For the first half of the race, he raced near side in a group of 4. The three others who raced near side ending up finishing in the last three positions. That included the 2/1 favourite.
That run suggested he’s back in form and ready to strike. I’d be slightly concerned if he got too far back on this track but he looks the value.
3.50pm Musselburgh – 1pt win Oso Rapido 10/3 general
Tip 3 – 5.35pm Wolverhampton
There are a lot of collateral formlines in this race with a handful taking each other on again. I thought Bro would be somewhat shorter than the current odds on offer.
He finished ahead of today’s favourite Be Be Ex last time at Wolverhampton. He came from a more uncompromising position than that rival. Bro also displayed signs of inexperience and lack of pace in the first half of the race. The step up to 7f will undoubtedly suit based on that. Connections’ have reached for cheekpieces for the first time and hopefully that will sharpen him up a bit. If he comes forward for that last run, he can go close here today.
5.35pm Wolverhampton – 1pt win Bro 11/2 general (some 7s available)
Tip 4 – 6.55pm Kempton
Thunderclap is rightly favourite but looks a touch short to me. Granted, he did it nicely over course and distance last time but that was against exposed older horses. I’m happy to look for an alternative at the prices.
I like the claims of the outsider Hot Day. Some of his best form to date has come on the all-weather and I think this track will suit him with a mile proving optimum. He shaped on both of his handicap runs at Newbury and Wolverhampton that a little further would be ideal.
Connections evidently thought the same and upped him to 10f at Windsor. He shaped nicely and looked like he would go close to challenging 2f out but perhaps his stamina gave way. Dropping back to a mile today should be ideal and I think he can hit the frame at a nice price.
6.55pm Kempton – 1pt each way Hot Day 20/1 general (some 22s available)