Horse Racing Tips on Sunday, April 24
Just the two meetings to end the weekend with the action coming on the flat from Bath and Wetherby. Our editor’s Lucky 15 best bets come from those two tracks and the four selections are previewed below.
Symbol Of Hope (1.00 Bath)
The return to the minimum trip should enhance the chances of SYMBOL OF HOPE, who was far from disgraced on the all-weather over six furlongs earlier in the week.
Contesting the lead, the four-year-old only gave way inside the final furlong and faired significantly better than his 33/1 starting price, beaten just four lengths at the line.
Formerly with Tim Easterby, Symbol Of Hope has previously run well from much higher marks including when winning off 63 over the stiff five furlongs at Beverley.
Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time on Sunday, Grace Harris’ sprinter is well worth a second look at the current prices and with talented rider Ray Dawson taking the ride for the very first time, the four-year-old will be expected to go well from a mark of 55.
Hallowed Time (2.40 Bath)
It will be interesting to see which way HALLOWED TIME goes in the betting market on the first start for trainer Robert Cowell.
Previously trained in France, the four-year-old had shown a decent level of form across the Channel, finding the frame on several occasions before going on to land back to back victories at Deauville and Dieppe last August.
The market will likely play a key role in determining his chance on Sunday afternoon, however, it seems significant that the four-year-old also holds an entry in a much deeper contest at Ascot next week.
The Cambridgeshire trainer is renowned for his sprinters and with the yard’s impressive 66% strike rate at Bath over the past 12 months (2-3), Hallowed Time gets the nod to come out on top on his first start on these shores.
Sunday Lucky 15 Tips. Hallowed Time can make a winning start on British soil for trainer Robert Cowell.
Dulla Bhatti (3.30 Wetherby)
There should be plenty of scope for improvement from DULLA BHATTI as the four-year-old makes his seasonal return.
Unraced as a juvenile, Michael Dodds’ charge was quick to get off the mark on just his second start last year, staying on well to land a 6f novice at Hamilton by two and a half lengths.
Although he failed to get his head in front on his following three outings, Dulla Bhatti ran encouragingly in defeat, including when not beaten far on his final three-year-old start at Haydock on his first start over seven furlongs.
Setting the pace, Michael Dodds’ charge relinquished the lead inside the closing stages but kept on noticeably well in behind to go down narrowly in fourth place. That particular effort in defeat looks useful considering the first, second, and fifth have all franked the form since.
Whilst he might strip fitter for his return to action on Sunday afternoon, a mark of 77 appears workable and connections will be expecting him to record another victory before stepping up to one mile later in the season.
Trainer Michael Dodds can get amongst the winners at Wetherby with Dulla Bhatti.
Marbuzet (5.45 Wetherby)
Expect a few of these to improve significantly now granted a proper test of stamina, and with that being said, MARBUZET can strike on his reappearance now returning for his three-year-old campaign.
In truth, Tim Easterby’s charge showed very little in his opening starts last season as a two-year-old, trailing home in novice events at Thirsk, Haydock and Beverley.
However, fitted with blinkers on handicap debut off a mark of just 49, Marbuzet produced an eye-catching display to finish fifth on his final start at Nottingham over the extended mile, keeping on well in the closing stages and suggesting a step up in trip would very much suit.
Dropped 1lb for that taking effort at Nottingham, Marbuzet could be the type to contest staying handicaps this season for connections and is surely capable of picking up a race or two over the coming months from his lowly rating.