We take a look at the day’s primary card over the sticks and give our Leicester feature race tips for Wednesday’s main event.
Spearheading Leicester’s six-race card on Wednesday is the two-mile William Hill Golden Miller Handicap Hurdle which goes to post at 3.15pm as the fourth race on the card, and a competitive race awaits punters.
Eight runners go to post in all for the Wednesday main event with each boasting chances as they go in search of a win, and we’ve analysed the day’s racing highlight with a runner-by-runner looks at the field.
LEICESTER FEATURE RACE TIPS – OUR SELECTION
3.15 Leicester – William Hill Golden Miller Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-125)
MIAH GRACE
Showed some promise in bumpers where she twice made the frame prior to a successful transition to hurdles where she has won two of her three starts to date over obstacles.
Both wins have come at Hexham where she has proved her ability to handle testing ground and she won readily latest. Has top weight on her handicap debut, but she is still lightly raced and could have further improvement to come so may well defy the burden.
TOP GAMBLE
Formerly a very smart chaser who won twice at Grade Two level over fences earlier in his career. The veteran though is on a lengthy losing run stretching back to March 2016 and has shown definite signs of decline in latter outings over the larger obstacles and he doesn’t look the force of old.
Switched back to hurdling for his last run at Haydock in December, and while he turned in a fair effort there is a suspicion he’ll need more here if he’s to end his winless streak despite being very well treated on the best of his chase form.
Top Gamble doesn’t look the force of old and might struggle back over hurdles.
NELSON’S TOUCH
Fair on the flat prior to joining Seamus Mullins, and a winner of hurdles outings at Taunton and Uttoxeter although the latest of those came back in March 2018. He has however kept some decent company and he rounded off last campaign with back-to-back runner-up finished at Exeter and Newton Abbot.
The Mount Nelson gelding hasn’t fired in two starts this term where he has been beaten an aggregate sixty lengths and collectively has finished ahead of only four rivals. This looks no easier an assignment despite being dropped 3lbs in the weights, although he’s certainly not without claims if able to recapture his best form.
APPLESANDPIERRES
Knows how to win but has become an inconsistent performer although he did run one of his better races when taking advantage of a sliding mark to score in similar conditions over course and distance two runs ago, beating Ballyellis by seven lengths, although he failed to back up that win next time out.
That last run did come over a longer trip and stronger company however, and he could bounce back returned to this shorter trip and easier grade. He remains on a handy mark if taking into account his old form, but inconsistency has to be a worry and he’s not certain to turn up on a going day.
ROOTLESS TREE
Very lightly-raced sort who made a winning introduction in a bumper contest at Huntingdon although he was comfortably well-held in both subsequent outings including his hurdles debut at Hereford.
However, he proved testing ground to be no issue when scoring over course and distance two runs ago and possibly found his stamina stretched latest at Wincanton so may well bounce back returned to this shorter trip and the Jeremy gelding has to be respected especially if recapturing the form of his earlier win success at this venue.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies saddles Rootless Tree in Wednesday’s feature race at Leicester.
SWAFFHAM BULBECK
Has proved consistent over hurdles where he was only out of the frame once prior to getting off the mark at Fakenham last March at the sixth attempt. Subsequently there was little wrong with his next start when finding only one too good at Market Rasen, but he shaped as if amiss when beating only one home at Stratford latest.
He’s been absent since but makes his return to action for an in-form yard and he has shown in the past that these conditions hold no fears. There could still be improvement to come and the handicapper has eased him 2lbs, but he might just need this return to action although with his yard in good form it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him going well.
ARDMAYLE
A dual-winner during the 2017/18 season which includes over course and distance but has latterly been seen over fences. A light campaign over the larger obstacles last term yielded a wide-margin Sandown victory on his final start, but he has failed to fire in three outings this term.
The latter two starts have been over fences in some competitive company and he reverts to hurdles here only 3lbs higher than his last winning mark in this discipline. He could be more at home back in this sphere with sights lowered and he goes well in testing ground so may well play a big part. Not dismissed easily.
Ardmayle is a big player in Leicester’s feature race on Wednesday.
GREGARIOUS
Looked a useful hurdling prospect in his younger days, but progress has since plateaued although he remains capable of winning form. He has won on heavy ground in the past but scored his latest success on quicker ground at Carlisle last February although has failed to back up that form since in four subsequent starts which includes latest over fences at Lingfield.
He is back over hurdles here from his last winning mark in this sphere, and the application of blinkers might help to sharpen him up although he could face competition for the lead. He’s not discounted on his best form but needs to show more than has been the case recently.
VERDICT
Swaffham Bulbeck is interesting on his return from a break for a red-hot yard, while Ardmayle is on a handy mark and has ideal conditions; but MIAH GRACE (9/4, William Hill) has looked progressive over hurdles where she is 2-3 in this discipline and there may be better to come judging on her latest success in heavy conditions at Hexham in December.
Jedd O’Keeffe’s charge ran out a ready winner over Stainsby Girl, doing just enough in front to hold off the runner-up with the pair clear of the rest.
She looked a useful sort on that occasion and the form is holding up fairly well. Tthe lightly-raced Malinas mare could improve again to register another win despite the burden of top-weight on her handicap debut where her initial mark of 125 might not prove beyond her.