Brian Healy looks over the Saturday National Hunt action and gives his Saturday jumps racing tips and best bets for the day’s meetings over the sticks.
Sandown might have been lost to the elements but there are still three jumps racing meetings going to post across the UK and Ireland with meetings at Ayr, Hereford and Gowran Park in Ireland as the road to the Cheltenham Festival enters its’ last few days.
Ayr (jumps) – 1.55 – 5.20pm (7 races)
Gowran Park (jumps) – 2.15 – 5.40pm (7 races)
Hereford (jumps) – 2.20 – 5.15pm (6 races)
We take a look at the day’s trio of UK and Irish meetings over the sticks and Brian Healy gives his Saturday jumps racing tips and best bets for all three fixtures.
SATURDAY JUMPS RACING TIPS AT A GLANCE
2.30 Ayr – ULTERIOR MOTIVES (7/1, Bet365)
2.55 Hereford – BUSTER EDWARDS (11/4, William Hill)
3.25 Gowran Park – HELL ON EARTH (5/2, William Hill)
3.30 Hereford – GO STEADY (9/4, William Hill)
4.00 Gowran Park – THE LONG MILE (5/2, William Hill)
4.15 Ayr – BORDER VICTOR (5/1, Bet365)
AYR RACING TIPS
(2.30 Ayr)
ULTERIOR MOTIVES (7/1, Bet365) has been a generally consistent sort since joining this yard from the Irish point-to-point sphere, getting off the mark at the fourth attempt over hurdles with a victory at Sedgefield where the Stowaway mare ran out a two lengths’ winner over Clondaw Pretender.
Martin Todhunter’s charge failed to back up that win next time over the same course and distance, but there is a feeling the run came too soon just nine days on from her victory and she’s been given more of a break this time.
Back in a handicap against her own sex, she could bounce back from that run last time out. It wouldn’t be a surprise if she were to make her presence felt here for all she probably needs to find a shade more improvement.
Saturday jumps racing tips. Martin Todhunter can saddle an Ayr winner.
(4.15 Ayr)
BORDER VICTOR (5/1, Bet365) showed up better than had been the case in previous starts following wind surgery and a two months’ break to find only one too good at Catterick latest.
Barry Murtagh’s Beat All gelding was only run down late in the day on that occasion and he could be worth chancing to go one better here if the run doesn’t come too soon.
He’s been raised 4lbs for that near-miss but he did win at Wetherby last March from just 1lb lower than his current rating. This is a slightly easier contest compared to the one he took in last time out and every chance he can get back to winning ways here.
1.55 – Clan Legend
2.30 – Ulterior Motives
3.05 – The Con Man
3.40 – Marown
4.15 – Border Victor
4.50 – No No Mac
5.20 – Castle Rushen
GOWRAN PARK RACING TIPS
(3.25 Gowran Park)
HELL ON EARTH (5/2, William Hill) produced a career-best effort to get to within a neck of Birdie Blitz at Fairyhouse last month and Gordon Elliott’s charge could go one better here to get off the mark.
The Germany gelding was stepping back up in trip on that occasion and he was only run down late by the winner who had an advantage at the weights.
A repeat of that run from just 4lbs higher in the ratings might be enough to see him get off the mark here in what looks a relatively weak contest and he ought to make his presence felt.
(4.00 Gowran Park)
THE LONG MILE (5/2, William Hill) has won two of his last three starts, most recently at this venue last month over two miles, and the Kayf Tara gelding can follow up.
James Dempsey’s charge had also won at Naas previously and he ran out a comfortable two lengths’ winner in that latest start with the front pair pulling clear.
The runner-up has since done the form no harm with a solid effort in defeat during the past week where he again bagged a silver medal, and the selection turns out here over a longer trip which might help him to offset the 9lbs rise in the weights he has to carry here.
2.15 – Future Proof
2.50 – Energumene
3.25 – Hell On Earth
4.00 – The Long Mile
4.35 – Discordantly
5.10 – Aloneamongmillions
5.40 – Katoune Tara
Saturday jumps racing tips. Gowran Park are racing on Saturday.
HEREFORD RACING TIPS
(2.55 Hereford)
BUSTER EDWARDS (11/4, William Hill) showed himself to be a dour stayer when grinding out a narrow victory over course and distance back in December and David Pipe’s charge repeated the dose at Haydock next time.
The Kalanisi won an unlikely victory that day where he finished from out of the clouds to register a head defeat of Strike West who has won since and he ran a respectable third when last seen at Warwick last month where he stayed on well but was no match for the winner.
Since being applied with blinkers he has looked an improved performer and he should continue to remain competitive here from the same mark as last time in what looks a slightly easier assignment than the one he took in last time.
(3.30 Hereford)
GO STEADY (9/4, William Hill) is low-mileage for an eight-year old and Dan Skelton’s charge arrives here in good form having won two of his three starts over fences.
The Indian Danehill gelding posted the latest of those successes at Warwick last month where he beat Glorious Boru by just over two lengths and a subsequent 5lbs rise in the weights could prove lenient given he has the potential to improve further.
He did look quirkly last time, idling in front having travelled well into the race and he was wandering close home; but he appeared to have enough in the tank to hold off the runner-up and further progress could make him hard to beat here.
2.20 – Chazza
2.55 – Buster Edwards
3.30 – Go Steady
4.05 – Baby King
4.40 – Hideaway Vic
5.15 – Dollnamix