Brian Healy looks over the Sunday racing action across the UK and Ireland and gives his Sunday racing best bets and selections in every race going to post.
The Cheltenham Festival is only two days away and Sunday’s fixture list sees just three meetings going to post. There is jumps racing from Warwick, as well as from Naas in Ireland where there is Grade Three and Listed action as well as the competitive Leinster National taking place at the County Kildare track.
Completing the trio is a mixed all-weather and jumps racing card at Southwell who race both on the fibresand and turf courseswith the meeting an all-female jockeys fixture.
Southwell (mixed) – 1.50 – 5.30pm (8 races)
Warwick (jumps) – 2.00 – 5.10pm (7 races)
Naas (jumps) – 2.10 – 5.20pm (7 races)
Brian Healy looks over all three of the day’s meetings across the UK and Ireland and gives his Sunday racing best bets and selections for every race going to post.
SUNDAY RACING BEST BETS AND TIPS AT A GLANCE
2.20 Southwell – FINAL LEGACY (9/4, William Hill)
2.40 Naas – GALLANT JOHN JOE (6/5 Ladbrokes)
2.50 Southwell – UHLAN BUTE (11/4, William Hill)
3.15 Naas – CHEB DE KERVINIOU (6/1, William Hill)
3.35 Warwick – GOODNIGHT CHARLIE (10/1, William Hill)
3.45 Naas – BEACON EDGE (11/8, Betway)
4.40 Warwick – SUPREME ESCAPE (9/2, Unibet)
SOUTHWELL RACING TIPS
(2.20 Southwell)
FINAL LEGACY has been in good form on this surface in 2020, making the frame in all five starts which includes a win over this distance back in February where the Coach House filly beat Amazing Amaya by a neck.
Derek Shaw’s charge almost followed up five days later under a penalty but was denied by a nose; but he ran well again in defeat when finishing third latest to Gorgeous General where he was probably given too much to do.
Hollie Doyle takes over from a claimer and racing from the same mark she could be worth chancing to get back on the score sheet here given a more positive ride.
Sunday racing best bets. Hollie Doyle can ride a winner at Southwell.
(2.50 Southwell)
It might be worth chancing on UHLAN BUTE to come back to some semblance of his old form and the Brier Creek gelding is more than capable of winning here if in the mood.
Venetia Williams’ charge has been out of sorts this term, but he appeared to be running a better race latest at Plumpton before a chance-ending mistake three fences from home having also made a mistake at the previous fence.
He eventually trailed home a well-beaten fourth, but this looks a winnable race and he won here on his only previous start. He’s won off higher marks than this in the past, and while he’s not the force of old judging on past efforts he could be worth taking the risk that he can build on his more encouraging outing last when last seen.
1.50 – Battleofthesomme
2.20 – Final Legacy
2.50 – Uhlan Bute
3.25 – Windsor Cross
3.55 – Ostuni
4.30 – Split Down South
5.00 – Dublin Four
5.30 – Londonia
WARWICK RACING TIPS
(3.35 Warwick)
GOODNIGHT CHARLIE won this race twelve months and although the Midnight Legend mare turns out here out of sorts she could be worth chancing to bounce back with a better effort.
Caroline Fryer has flown too high in previous starts at Newbury and here in the Classic Chase, pulling up both times. But she ran arguably her best race of the season back here in January, fading late to finish sixth. There is a suspicion that the run came too soon just eleven days on from her Classic Chase exertions.
She’s been given more of a break between outings and she’s 1lb lower in the weights than when winning at the Cheltenham April meeting last campaign under Bridget Andrews who is in the saddle again.
It might be worth sticking with her to mount a successful title defence here and racing from a winnable mark it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her going close.
(4.40 Warwick)
SUPREME ESCAPE is an unexposed sort who could have further improvement to come following a breakthrough hurdling success at Doncaster in January.
Evan Williams’ Milan gelding was a winner between the flags for Peter Flood prior to joining this yard. He’s shown progressive form with each start, incliding when finishing just two lengths’ fourth behind Potters Corner at Chepstowback in December on his handicap debut.
The winner went on to land the Welsh Grand National over fences, while the third has won since. He followed up that effort by beating Dubh Des Champs latest, scoring by almost two lengths.
A 7lbs rise for that success might underestimate him given his potential for better still and this longer trip could unlock additional improvement so every chance he can follow up here despite tackling a higher grade now.
2.00 – The Cob
2.30 – Massini’s Dream
3.05 – Lunar Baby
3.35 – Goodnight Charlie
4.10 – Detatched
4.40 – Supreme Escape
5.10 – Western Starlet
Sunday racing best bets. Warwick race on Sunday.
NAAS RACING TIPS
(2.40 Naas)
GALLANT JOHN JOE was only beaten around seven lengths behind Notebook in the Irish Arkle and a repeat of that effort would likely make the Presenting gelding very hard to beat in this Grade Three contest.
Oliver McKiernan’s charge had previously finished runner-up to Melon at Leopardstown over Christmas on his chase debut. The dual-winning hurdler sets a decent standard on those two runs over the larger obstacles and he can improve again.
Three subsequent winners have come out of that Leopardstown contest so the form looks strong allied with his latest outing and this looks a decent opportunity for him to get off the mark over fences.
(3.15 Naas)
CHEB DE KERVINIOU has only been raised 2lbs for his latest third at Punchestown when contesting the Grand National Trial behind Ifyoucatchmenow and a repeat of that effort might be good enough to see the Tiger Groom gelding get off the mark for trainer Gordon Elliott.
A multiple winner in France, he came to the Meath handler late. But he has largely shaped well in his trio of starts to date which includes finishing runner-up on his debut for Elliott at Fairyhouse.
One of only six finishers last time, he is now tried in a tongue-tie which may help him find some improvement and he can open his account with Rachael Blackmore in the saddle once more.
Sunday racing best bets. Noel Meade can saddle a Naas winner on Sunday.
(3.45 Naas)
BEACON EDGE would be giving away weight in a handicap so the Doyen gelding looks a solid option here to get back on the scoresheet.
Noel Meade’s charge won a bumper for Nicky Richards prior to joining this yard; he then made the frame in both starts in that sphere last term which includes finishing behind Envoi Allen in a Grade Two bumper.
There was a lot to like on his first start over hurdles at Punchestown, beating Mystery Stowaway by ten lengths. He was then beaten only a nose latest behind Jason The Militant here last month in a Grade Two. That form is hard to get away from and likely to have further improvement to come he ought to prove tough to beat here.
2.10 – Cappuccimix
2.40 – Gallant John Joe
3.15 – Cheb De Kerviniou
3.45 – Beacon Edge
4.20 – The Very Man
4.50 – Ificudiwud
5.20 – Castra Vetera