Horse Racing Tips on Monday, March 7
Racing over fences comes from Southwell and Wetherby in Britain on Monday. Our editor has picked a pair from each that go into their 5,219/1 Lucky 15 top tips.
Sam Barton (1.00 Southwell)
SAM BARTON looked a horse of real promise when winning a Doncaster maiden hurdle from a useful rival in January 2021.
It has not worked out since, especially over fences. Two starts in the autumn yielded little result, with wind surgery called upon back in December.
The very promising Erne River won the race in which he came back in January, though there were signs of better to come up in trip from Sam Barton last time. His second place at Leicester came over the furthest trip he has run over to date and though that field was small, this race may not be as strong.
Milton Harris’ Len Brennan is a clear threat utilising the same mark he won off a week ago, but he may find himself against a rival with real potential here.
Dieu Vivant (2.10 Southwell)
Both Activial and Solomon Grey reached peaks in the 140s under traditional rules, but neither has made a significant impact in hunter chases or point to points as yet.
Salvatore beat last season’s Cheltenham Foxhunters champion Porlock Bay at Bangor, although back in third, beaten only four lengths, was DIEU VIVANT and he looks a better price on that form here.
He is a thorough stayer of this trip, and it was a career best in this sphere last time out after wind surgery. He could well come on for his second start since that operation and now gets 4lb from the favourite which were not present before.
Onenightintown (2.20 Wetherby)
Off the basement mark in this particular handicap, ONENIGHTINTOWN may be able to utilise that in a race where not many will want to win.
None of the nine runners have won in any of their previous five starts respectively, so while Broomfields Ken came close last time, it was over half a mile further. Onenightintown, was beaten a little further into second on his last start, but that was over this distance at Catterick and only five days ago.
In the past, some of his better efforts have come after regular racing, so the small gap is seen as a positive for Micky Hammond’s charge. This is a distinctly winnable race if any of these could step forward and his lowly rating, coupled with race fitness, could give this eight-year-old one of the better chances.
Albert’s Back (3.30 Wetherby)
The last three starts have not been great from ALBERT’S BACK, but he is now 1lb below a course and distance success from November 2020 and there were signs of a revival latest.
He won his next start after that at Haydock on heavy going as well, boosting him briefly to a mark of 141. A fall at Wetherby in February of last year began a catapult back down the ratings and he is a stone lower than that mark now.
It has been a rapid fall, but his form at the track is good in the two starts he has had here and the fact Brian Hughes is renewing acquaintances with him here is a definite plus.