Horse Racing Tips on Thursday, April 21
Thursday’s racing continues at Perth over jumps, with Warwick the other daily National Hunt meeting. Our editor’s Lucky 15 best bets come from those two tracks and the four selections are previewed below.
Marmalaid (1.10 Warwick)
None of this field bring particularly outstanding hurdles form to the table so turning to Nicky Henderson’s challenger, MARMALAID, could be the answer.
Seven Barrows have a very useful strike rate at Warwick this season, with 27% of their runners ending up victorious. Backing all 130 of their entries would have resulted in a level stake profit of 11.88 points.
This mare was uncompetitive on her hurdles bow in December, finishing down in eighth. However, she was not the best behaved, jumping noticeably left on occasions at right-handed Exeter, so this track should suit much better.
The five-year-old was fifth and not beaten very far in a very strong mares’ bumper at Uttoxeter last season and that suggests she could win a race of this nature.
Castletown (1.30 Perth)
Lucinda Russell’s horses have been in good heart in April, with four winners from 12 runners, including Ahoy Senor’s Grade 1 win at Aintree.
Four more of those dozen were placed, so the omens are good for CASTLETOWN, who will be having just his second start for the yard. He was unplaced on his last 11 starts for Pauline Robson, but went very close on his stable debut. Though out of the frame in fourth out of ten, he was beaten only 3¼ lengths at Ayr.
That was a strong effort for his first run in over three months and 18 days later, there is good reason to think he can build off that. He stayed on very stoutly to the line and is 2lb lower in the handicap here.
The grey now has Derek Fox aboard too, which can only be seen as a benefit to his chances.
Nordic Combined (2.50 Warwick)
The unexposed Hyland heads the market for this handicap hurdle, but there are a couple of more experienced types who have sunk down the ratings but may be ready to compete again.
Elham Valley has had an enormous drop off since being third in the 2021 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. However, he does not look like staying this trip even on a decent surface and he remains too far out of form.
Instead, NORDIC COMBINED might be the option for David Pipe. He enjoyed himself between April and June last year, with one win and three seconds from six starts, the only unplaced finishes coming on soft ground and when carrying 12st 1lb on his back.
He is now 4lb below his last winning mark after four disappointing efforts this season. However, he showed nothing between December and March last season as well before coming good and his showing at Exeter in November gives hope that a seasonal rebound is in the offing.
Cracking Destiny (3.15 Perth)
There is almost certain to be a Rule 4 at time of writing with favourite Coach Carter having run on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, there should be an each-way price about CRACKING DESTINY. The nine-year-old is a previous course and distance winner, who has been very consistent since last summer.
He was twice second over track and trip in July 2021 before a victory at Stratford. Three game efforts followed in much stronger races than this at Kelso and Wetherby, with his mark remaining almost untouched.
He can go well after a layoff, so if he is fully tuned up, expect him to be very competitive here.