11th January betting tips & preview

Adam Kirby

Another 2 winners on the board at 9/4 and around 4/1 after the rule 4, which gives us 5 winners in the last 3 days, below are the 4 best chances on the day.

Lingfield

1.40 1m Class 6 Handicap – PHILAMUNDO 11/10

Broke his maiden tag when bolting in by 5 lengths at Chelmsford on his try over a mile trip and with first time blinkers attached, the handicapper has hit him with a 11lb rise but with the quick turn around, he’ll only have to contend with the 6lb penalty which makes him 5lb well in. This time he’ll have to do it at Lingfield, which being left handed and on polytrack isn’t too dissimilar to Chelmsford, but Lingfield can be too sharp for gallopers like Philamundo, so that is the worry, but the yard book Adam Kirby once again and the inform jockey rides Lingfield better than most and should have the horse positioned right and with him looking so well handicapped, the sharp course may not look such a disadvantage.

2.10 7f Class 2 Handicap – KEYSER SOZE 7/4

Same connections as Philamundo and Kirby again booked who rides the horse for the first time which is a big positive. Keyser is 2 wins from 3 on synthetic surfaces and was pretty unlucky not to have a perfect record with a bad start costing him. The last time we seen this gelding, he again didn’t break well which is a trait granted and only had one behind him when coming off the final bend and looked well beat, when trying to come up the rail which is not normally a good idea at Lingfield, but he defied the odds when storming home, he goes up 5lb for the victory but he’s very unexposed on the AW and exciting back over this C&D again.

Sedgefield

3.20 3m2f Class 4 Handicap Chase – NORTONTHORPELEGEND 7/4

Not normally a horse you can rely on, but the gelding is in excellent form and still very well treated even with the 12lb rise after the last 2 wins, but in reality he is only 5lb higher than from his first win with claiming jockey Aaron Anderson who is well worth his claim and more at the minute, he was on the gelding LTO when winning at Wetherby and knows the horse well for riding out for trainer Rebecca Menzies at her yard. The gelding is still 13lb under highest winning mark, 20 if including claimer and he thrives at left handed sharp tracks like this and has even won over C&D on his sole run here.

Wolverhampton 

5.15 5f Class 4 Handicap – KLASS ACTION 11/8

A well bred filly that won impressively on her first start on the AW, she beat an experienced filly that’s rated 70 by over 2 lengths which puts her around the 78 mark, the handicapper has put her in at 79 but she had plenty more to give and is open to plenty so she should make this mark look silly. Sir Mark Prescott sends 3 to Wolverhampton all with Luke Morris aboard and all with good chances, it wouldn’t surprise me seeing a treble on the day for them.

Brought to you by Russell Blair Racing

10th January preview & tips

10th January preview & tips

Another good day with 2 winners, one at 9/4 advised and one that drifted to a nice 15/2. Tomorrow’s best chances are below.

Southwell

1.20 5f Class 4 Handicap – ETERNAL SUN 9/2

A competitive sprint with tons of early pace that will suit those coming off the pace and there’s no one more obvious than Eternal Sun. The filly enjoyed a good quick early gallop LTO over this C&D and came with a very impressive eye catching flying ride to take the field, it was a great ride from Gabriele Malone who only used the whip twice, the last just to make sure she sealed the win, not only visually did it look like she had plenty more to give but the form of the race has worked out well with Tan in 3rd wining NTO, 4th Samovar unlucky twice after in stronger grades, 6th Bellevarde winning NTO. She only goes up 5lb for the win which looks very lenient.

Leicester

2.20 2m Class 3 Handicap Hurdle – MASTER WORK 11/4

Trainer Phillip Hobbs has been in great form the last few months and he’s one to follow blind when he sends them to Leicester the last 5 years, from his 22 he’s saddled up at this course 10 have won giving him an impressive 45% strike rate and a 77% win and place strike rate here in recent years. He sends 2 to Leicester and his best shot is Master Work whose form took a huge boost with Not That Fuisse that we tipped up winning well earlier today in a class 3 at Taunton, Master Work was just over 2 lengths behind Not That Fuisse in a good looking Class 3 at Cheltenham LTO, Master Work is 2lb better off in this race and not only is this much easier but the return to Leicester where he last won and impressed are big plusses.

Catterick

2.45 3m6f Class 3 Handicap Chase – SHARP RESPONSE 7/4

A weak renewal of the North Yorkshire Grand National which is down to the fast ground conditions. Which makes it easier to find the winner and it’s hard to look past Sue Smith’s Sharp Response, the trainer has won the race the last 3 years in succession, twice with Danny Cook who she calls upon tomorrow. The trainer loves Catterick which is her most successful course with a 29% strike rate in the last 5 years and a +55-level stake profit, which is even more impressive over fences with a 46% strike rate and near +56 LSP. The gelding is already a course winner on his only run here has been running well in some very tough higher-grade races with underfoot conditions not ideal. The return to quick ground and much easier competition will see his best and with his stamina looking his strongest attribute, this step up to 3m6f looks perfect.

3.15 2m Class 4 Handicap Hurdle – FLOWERY 9/2

The ex-Irish trained gelding broke his maiden tag on his first try for new trainer Iain Jardine with the first-time hood, the gelding is well bred and half-brother to a useful Knocknanuss whose rated 148. Flowery form took a huge boost yesterday when 4th placed Magic of Milan bolting in at Ayr, Flowery only has been risen 5lbs for that victory and with the Catterick course similar to Sedgefield it should suit. I am however a little worried about the ground as this will feel very different on fast ground even if breeding says he’ll be fine.

Brought to you from Russell Blair Racing