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Alan Kelly's Tips - Wednesday, 22 July
Following a couple of quiet days the horse racing action steps up a gear on Wednesday, with tips from the meetings at Catterick and Worcester.
2:25pm Worcester - Harrys Hope
With the prospect of some decent jumping ground for the meeting, Worcester has attracted a total of 68 runners for the seven-race card, including 9 for this Arc Summer Chase Series Qualifier. Jack Jones' Regal Renaissance is on a four-timer following wins at Ludlow (for previous handler Henry Daly), Uttoxeter and Market Rasen.
Champion jockey Sean Bowen, successful on the last two occasions, takes the ride again, this time off a career-high mark of 120. However, I prefer the chances of the Ben Pauling-trained HARRYS HOPE, the mount of the excellent Ben Jones.
The eight-year-old mare is 5 from 11 over fences, including wins at Warwick and Uttoxeter (the latter in the stewards' room) around this time last year. On her first outing for 8 months, the daughter of Quest For Peace looked as if she would improve for the outing when runner-up at Stratford last month. Second over today's course and distance last September, Harrys Hope is fancied to record win number 6 over the bigger obstacles.
Recommendation: Harrys Hope - 7/1 with bet365
2:37pm Catterick - Hamdani Mokhater
The outcome of this 7f nursery is likely to concern Karl Burke's top weight Little Lady Karen and the James Horton-trained bottom weight Hamdani Mokhater, the vote going to the latter who receives a handy stone from Sam James' mount.
Following three runs in novice company, the Mohaather gelding was backed into favouritism on his handicap debut at Leicester 8 days ago, only to find George Scott's Emerald Bay, a winner 10 days earlier at Beverley, three quarters of a length too good. Running off the same mark of 60, Ray Dawson's mount is fancied to go one better at the North Yorkshire racecourse.
Little Lady Karen will be having just her third career start, the daughter of Dark Angel headed inside the final furlong when runner-up to Charlie Johnston's Lady Caroline Lamb at Beverley last month. The filly makes her handicap debut on a fair mark of 74 but may find the concession of 14lb to HAMDANI MOKHATER just beyond her.
Recommendation: Hamdani Mokhater - 11/4 with bet365
4:30pm Worcester - Roadshow
Any market support for Dan Skelton's handicap debutante The Grayster for this 2m 4f handicap hurdle should be taken seriously, the grey son of Way To Paris having his first start for the stable since leaving that of Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole recently.
Harry Skelton's mount needs to improve significantly on his three outings for previous connections, but an opening handicap mark of 100 leaves plenty to work on for the champion trainer. Despite a field of 13, it is hard to raise much enthusiasm for many of the runners, one exception being Paul Nicholls' top weight ROADSHOW.
Today's 5lb claiming rider Freddie Keighley was successful on the Galileo gelding in a Sedgefield handicap last September off a mark of 100, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th horses home all going on to record subsequent victories. Now running off a mark only 3lb higher and with the aid of blinkers for the first time, Roadshow will strip a lot fitter for his run at Newton Abbot four weeks ago when partnered by 7lb amateur rider Mr Lucas Murphy.
Recommendation: Roadshow - 11/1 with Ladbrokes
5:05pm Worcester - Back To Cali (Nap)
With four decent chances on the card, the combination of brothers Dan & Harry Skelton are unlikely to go home empty handed, their best chance from the quartet possibly coming in the finale courtesy of the ex 'Shark' Hanlon-trained BACK TO CALI (Nap) (Hanlon runs joint top weight Roxboro River).
The six-year-old showed plenty of promise for the Irish trainer, in particular when finishing third in big field handicaps at Down Royal and Cork, the latter on his final start for Hanlon back in April. Sent off at odds of ½ on his first start for Skelton at Stratford three weeks ago, Back To Cali was just outpointed by Mickey Bowen's Slack Alice, who was following up her Market Rasen victory of 17 days earlier.
Back in third place at Stratford was Max Comley's French Diablo, who ran out a comfortable winner on that course earlier this month. In a race which should take little winning, Back To Cali is expected to open his account at the main expense of David Pipe's Mancero, a winner on this course two months ago.
Recommendation: Back To Cali (Nap) - 11/8 with bet365
Ante-Post: Coral Golden Mile (Goodwood, 31 July) - Tribal Chief (Each-Way)
Having selected the David Menuisier-trained Tribal Chief for Saturday's valuable Coral Challenge at Sandown, the race was pretty much over for Saffie Osborne's mount as the stalls opened, the five-year-old losing in the region of 8 lengths to his rivals in a race where it was almost impossible to win from such a position.
A fast finishing sixth, beaten three lengths, the son of Sioux Nation nevertheless ran a cracking trial for Goodwood's Coral Golden Mile later this month. Currently standing at number 46 for the £175k handicap on the Friday of the five-day festival, and with a maximum field of 20, the five-year-old will need a few to come out in order to make the cut.
Sixth in last year's race off a 2lb lower mark when beaten three lengths after being slowly away once again as a strongly-fancied 11/2 chance, TRIBAL CHIEF (Each-Way) will need to get his act together as the stalls open on the Sussex Downs, but following excellent efforts in both the Lincoln and Victoria Cup this season, the ante-post selection has a big handicap within him at some point.
Recommendation: Tribal Chief (Each-Way) - 16/1 with Betfred & Paddy Power (¼ odds, 1-2-3-4)
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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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 betting shop as an owner/manager.
A successful punter with a keen eye for value, Alan has had many betting highlights, including a Scoop 6 win and has shown a consistent profit in the battle with bookmakers since joining Free Bets in 2008.
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