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Alan Kelly Horse Racing Tips for Thursday 2nd February
Two jump meetings on Thursday afternoon and we have a couple of horse racing tips for the card at Wincanton and one for the Norfolk racecourse at Fakenham.
“Tip of the Day” - Bashers Reflection (4.25pm Fakenham) - 7/2 with bet365*
A comfortable winner at Warwick on his handicap debut over hurdles, Ben Case’s unexposed six-year-old should prove hard to beat once again off a 9lb higher mark.
2.30pm Wincanton, 1m 7 1/2f - Midnight Midge (Next Best)
Harlem Soul, unbeaten on both chase starts at Wincanton, clearly saves his best for the track as Syd Hosie’s charge also recorded his only victory over hurdles here last March when in the care of trainer Colin Tizzard. The mount of 7lb claimer Jack Martin has a tendency to jump out to his left at many of his fences however and may struggle to confirm Boxing Day form with the sixth horse on that occasion, MIDNIGHT MIDGE, who meets the probable market leader on 12lb better terms.
Ben Jones’ mount is better judged on two previous victories at Taunton this season and on his most recent start finished a staying-on second at Wincanton last month over today’s trip. I think his rider will make more use of the nine-year-old’s early pace this time as the selection’s most impressive win came when making most of the running at Taunton last November.
3.00pm Wincanton, 3m 1f - Copperhead (Each Way) (Longshot)
Joint top weight Certainly Red came out of the Wincanton fog with a clear lead on his penultimate start, coasting home by a long-looking 17 lengths, before following up with another comfortable win, this time over five furlongs shorter at Sandown in January. Despite now running off a career-high mark of 135 it would be no surprise to see Lydia Richards’ charge land a hat-trick of victories. But the handicapper may have the measure of the nine-year-old now whereas the Joe Tizzard-trained COPPERHEAD (e.w.) is beginning to look seriously well treated over fences following a couple of promising runs over the smaller obstacles in December.
After winning the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot in February 2020, the Sulamani gelding achieved a rating of 155 and was sent off a well-fancied 6/1 chance against the likes of winner Champ, Minella Indo and Allaho when falling at the last (beaten at the time) in the Grade 1 RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival the following month.
While the mount of Brendan Powell has failed to reproduce his Reynoldstown form since then, the return to fences off a mark of only 131 would make Copperhead very hard to beat if running up to anything like his best as a chaser.
4.25pm Fakenham, 2m 4f - Bashers Reflection (Nap)
Following a break of 304 days, the David Pipe-trained Pachacuti made his handicap debut in a 16-runner contest at Wincanton on Boxing Day, going off the 11/2 market leader. The Walk InThe Park gelding failed to justify the support in finishing a respectable fifth and was again well backed two weeks ago at Hereford, finding only market rival Zestful Hope three quarters of a length too good with the rest of the field well beaten off.
Tom Scudamore’s mount should open his account soon. But on this occasion the six-year-old may have to play second fiddle once again, this time to BASHERS REFLECTION from the Ben Case stable who ran out an easy winner at Warwick on the final day of last year.
After showing some promise in novice company, Jack Quinlan’s mount was always going best on his handicap debut, travelling strongly for most of the race and was value for more than the half length that separated him from consistent runner-up Samatian, with the third horse almost ten lengths away. The son of Mount Nelson has been raised 9lb for that victory but still looks very much the one to beat with plenty more improvement to come.
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
About Alan Kelly
A passionate follower of horse racing for over 50 years, Alan has enjoyed a 40-year career in the betting industry, 28 of which he spent running his own betting shop as an owner/manager.
A successful punter, with a keen eye for value, Alan has had many betting highlights down the years including a Scoop 6 win and has shown a consistent profit in the battle with bookmakers since joining freebets.com in 2008.
You can follow Alan on Twitter for more racing insight.