Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips for Fontwell, Lingfield & Kempton on Wednesday

After Eight to make it third time lucky at Lingfield

The ground was described as good to soft at Fontwell on Tuesday morning ahead of todays seven-race card with a dry day forecast.

En Coeur looks sure to run a big race in the amateur riders’ handicap chase which opens the card, but his three career wins have all been at Plumpton and there is more to come from the lightly raced Black Gerry (1.00pm) despite the fact that his best form to date has come on soft or heavy ground.

The selection is a half-brother to the Grand National winner Minella Times and finished runner up to the 135-rated Bobhopeornohope on his sole point-to-point in his native Ireland. He ran no sort of race on his chase debut when beaten a minute after an early mistake returning from a 650-day break, but showed he retained his ability when a staying on third at Chepstow last time. 

I am slightly surprised that connections have not stepped their charge up further in trip, given his pedigree, but the Gary Moore stable remain in good form, and he looks likely to leave his current mark behind in time. 

Recommendation: Black Gerry (1.00pm Fontwell) @ 2/1 with BetVictor

There is a valuable handicap hurdle over two-and-a-half miles and my two against the field on this better ground are Royaume Uni and Manvers House (2.40pm) and it is the latter – a long standing maiden – who gets the vote for Robert Walford.

Royaume Uni promises to be suited by the step up in trip for Gary Moore having been beaten less than 10L in a slowly run Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time. He was a winner over 1m 6f+ on the flat and today’s better ground is just what he needs.

Marginal preference, however, goes to Manvers House who is fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time and is another who will appreciate todays underfoot conditions. He has bits of form – second beaten less the 5L by Chantry House in a Maiden Hurdle at Newbury a couple of years ago. The yard had a winner at Wincanton last week and he gets the ew vote at 8/1 with William Hill.

Recommendation: Manvers House (2.40pm Fontwell) @ 11/1 with BetVictor (Each-Way)

At Lingfield this afternoon After Eight (2.25pm) would have been a fitting winner of the 8.15 at Wolverhampton last month but he was slowly away from a poor draw and ran a terrific race in the circumstances to finish second under today’s young apprentice. He has a good draw in stall one and I hope to see Callum Hutchinson get his mount into a better position go9ing into the first turn before making his move off the final bend.

The selection finished ahead of Miss Messenger – who was drawn in stall one – at Wolverhampton last time but that filly was constantly denied a run at the top of the home straight and her jockey was not hard on his mount when her winning chance had gone. She looks the main danger to the Andrew Balding trained three-year-old colt who receives 16lbs weight-for-age from the older filly. 

Recommendation: After Eight (2.25pm Lingfield) @ 4/7 with bet365

There is plenty of pace in the opening 6f apprentice handicap at Kempton and that should suit Arousing (5.30pm) who gets further than todays trip, can be keen and tends to hang right. This is the filly’s first start at right-handed Kempton, she is well drawn in stall four and has more to offer after just five career starts.

Recommendation: Arousing (5.30pm Kempton) @ 10/3 with bet365