It might be day two of the Cheltenham Festival but there is horse racing action elsewhere around the country and Brian Healy gives his Wednesday racing best bets and tips for every race.
Four meetings go to post across the UK on Wednesday including the second day of the Cheltenham Festival where the Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature of the day.
In addition to Wednesday’s top-class fixture there is also jumps racing from Huntingdon; while on the all-weather there is action on the Lingfield polytrack. Completing the Wednesday line-up is an evening all-weather fixture at Kempton under the floodlights.
Lingfield (flat, aw) – 1.20 – 5.15pm (7 races)
Cheltenham (jumps) – 1.30 – 5.30pm (7 races)
Huntingdon (jumps) – 1.45 – 5.40pm (7 races)
Kempton (flat, aw) – 4.40 – 8.20pm (8 races)
Brian Healy looks over all four of the day’s fixtures and gives his Wednesday racing best bets and tips for every race throughout the day.
WEDNESDAY RACING BEST BETS AT A GLANCE
1.55 Lingfield – JANUS (4/1, Betway)
2.10 Cheltenham – COPPERHEAD (9/2, Unibet)
2.50 Cheltenham – CHAMPAGNE WELL (14/1, Unibet)
3.05 Huntingdon – EMMA LAMB (11/4, Unibet)
3.15 Lingfield – RHYME SCHEME (7/4, Betway)
4.25 Huntingdon – GRANITIC (11/4, Betway)
5.20 Kempton – DANCING FEET (4/5, Unibet)
5.50 Kempton – VEGA’S ANGEL (85/40, Unibet)
LINGFIELD RACING TIPS
(1.55 Lingfield)
JANUS put it all together to win over course and distance last month and Milton Harris’ charge could be worth chancing to back up that success.
The Rock Of Gibraltar gelding hadn’t shown much in a couple of previous starts since joining this yard from Seamus Mullins; but he finished like a train latest to get up late and deny Highway One last time and if he can build on that effort then he could follow up.
That form has taken a couple of knocks, but only 3lbs higher here he could improve again for the application of cheekpieces and he can strike again here.
Wednesday racing best bets. Lingfield are racing on the all-weather.
(3.15 Lingfield)
RHYME SCHEME has shown steadily progressive form with each of her three starts, finishing third the last twice on turf which includes at this venue.
The Poet’s Voice filly was last seen finishing two lengths’ third to Spring Of Love in a useful contest at Newmarket in October.
That race has thrown up a couple of subsequent winners and if building on that effort returning from five months off the track with Sylvestre De Sousa booked for the ride then she could go well and can open her account.
1.20 – Abel Tasman
1.55 – Janus
2.35 – Keane’s Kingdom
3.15 – Rhyme Scheme
3.55 – Ginger Fox
4.35 – Sound Mixer
5.15 – Tarseekh
CHELTENHAM RACING TIPS
(2.10 Cheltenham)
COPPERHEAD is going from strength to strength over fences this term, winning his last three which includes a wide margin success in the recent Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot.
Colin Tizzard’s charge was impressive that day and the race is often a good pointer to this novices’ championship where he could continue to improve despite taking another step up the ladder into Grade One company.
This is his toughest test but he likely has better still to come and looks well-suited to the demands of this contest. He can cope with the rise in class and likely to make his presence felt he can extend his winning run.
(2.50 Cheltenham)
CHAMPAGNE WELL had finished runner-up in a trio of Grade Two starts this term, latterly finding only Albert Bartlett Hurdle hope Ramses De Teillee too strong at Doncaster in the River Don Novices’ Hurdle.
Fergal O’Brien’s charge had chased home Thyme Hill over course and distance back in November last year before again finding only one too good over three miles here in the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle; but dropping into a handicap he could be well treated off this 141 mark and he can get competitive.
She has progressed well this term since being fitted with a tongue-tie, scoring a win over course and distance on his seasonal debut and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see the Gold Well gelding posting a big run here.
1.30 – Envoi Allen
2.10 – Copperhead
2.50 – Champagne Well
3.30 – Chacun Pour Soi
4.10 – Tiger Roll
4.50 – Night Edition
5.30 – Ferny Hollow
Wednesday racing best bets. Tiger Roll will bid for a fifth Cheltenam Festival win.
HUNTINGDON RACING TIPS
(3.05 Huntingdon)
EMMA LAMB emerged from a spell in the doldrums to chase home Minnie Escape at Taunton back in January and the Passing Glance mare could be worth chancing to go one better.
He showed only moderate form for Jedd O’Keeffe prior to joining Dr Richard Newland and he appreciated the lesser test last time although he was no match for the easy winner, crossing the line almost ten lengths’ adrift.
This looks an easier race and if building on that latest run then she could break her duck here.
(4.25 Huntingdon)
GRANITIC stepped up on his previous efforts when fitted with a first-time tongue-tie, finding only one too good at Wincanton latest behind Blue Monday.
Seamus Mullins’ Court Cave gelding was beaten around four lengths, no chance with an easy winner; but her mark has remained unchanged following that outing and assuming he turns out here in the same form then he could go one better.
1.45 – Dagueneau
2.25 – Brophies Doll
3.05 – Emma Lamb
3.45 – Chain Smoker
4.25 – Granitic
5.05 – Chez Casterl Mail
5.40 – Faivoir
Wednesday racing best bets. Seamus Mullins can saddle a Huntingdon winner.
KEMPTON RACING TIPS
(5.20 Kempton)
DANCING FEET won with plenty to spare on his first start for eight months and debut for Archie Watson, scoring by an easy six lengths at Wolverhampton last month.
The Footstepsinthesand filly had shaped with some promise previously on her sole outing for David O’Meara when finishing fourth on turf; but she clearly progressed for that experience and the manner of her win last time suggests there’s more in the locker to come.
She is penalised here for that success and the form of that win might not be the strongest; but she is open to improvement and looks capable of defying her penalty here with a repeat.
(5.50 Kempton)
VEGA’S ANGEL has improved with each of her three starts to date, getting off the mark at the third attempt when beating Agreed by one length at Lingfield latest.
William Haggas’ Lope De Vega filly saw the longer trip out really well on that occasion and the form looks useful with the runner-up since filling the same spot, while the third won next time. She switches now to a handicap where a mark of 77 doesn’t look unduly harsh and she ought to continue to progress.
The drop back in trip is a slight worry given how strongly she finished last time, but if coping with the shorter distance then there’s every chance she can follow up here.
4.40 – Say It Simple
5.20 – Dancing Feet
5.50 – Vega’s Angel
6.20 – Mouriyani
6.50 – Red Jasper
7.20 – Armed
7.50 – Musee D’orsay
8.20 – Burguillos