Horse Racing Tips on Wednesday, February 23
There are four meetings spread across Britain on Wednesday, February 23rd with the action coming from Doncaster, Kempton, Ludlow and Newcastle. Our expert tipster has produced their top tips across the cards, which make up our advised Wednesday Lucky 15.
Khilwafy (1:30 Newcastle)
KHILWAFY accounted for both Vis A Vis and Wemyss Point when scoring over course and distance last month and a subsequent 2lb rise in the weights for that recent success shouldn’t prevent the six-year-old from going in once again on Wednesday afternoon.
The six-year-old was well on top in the closing stages when returning to winning ways last time out, making smooth headway in between rivals before being nudged out for a comfortable victory under 5lb claimer Aled Beech.
David Thompson’s charge has certainly improved since stepping up in trip and remains thoroughly unexposed at staying trips on the all-weather. Khilwafy looks to have obvious claims in search of a third career success on Wednesday and rates one of the stronger bets on Newcastle’s six-race card.
Coolnaugh Haze (3:00 Ludlow)
Trainer Philip Hobbs has sent out six winners in the last couple of weeks and has his string ticking over nicely with Cheltenham just around the corner. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Somerset handler add to that tally at Ludlow on Wednesday with COOLNAUGH HAZE, who makes plenty of appeal on handicap debut off a mark of 111.
The four-year-old had previously finished a distant third on hurdling debut at Warwick last December but stepped up markedly on that initial outing over the smaller obstacles last month, making all to win a maiden hurdle contest at Plumpton by 5l after attracting significant market support.
There should be plenty more to come from Philip Hobbs’ charge on just his third start over timber and although this handicap demands more of him, Coolnaugh Haze receives plenty of weight from his older rivals on Wednesday and it looks fairly significant that jockey Tom O’Brien maintains the partnership at the bottom of the weights.
Chirico Vallis (3:25 Doncaster)
This should be a competitive Veterans’ event with the majority of the field holding claims in some shape or form. However, it might be worth following CHIRICO VALLIS who has returned this season in tremendous form for trainer Neil Mulholland since stepping up in trip.
The ten-year-old made his seasonal reappearance last October when gamely staying on best of all to deny Kitty’s Light by a head at Chepstow on just his second start over 3miles.
Connections then opted to enter Chirico Vallis in the Grade 3 Classic Chase at Warwick after that dour staying performance and despite being no match for runaway winner Eclair Surf on that occasion, the ten-year-old still ran with great credit to finish third on his first start over the marathon trip.
Neil Mulholland’s charge remains unexposed at staying trips at this stage of his career and with solid recent form in the book, he should take plenty of beating back down in trip with improvement potentially to come.
Heronord (4:45 Ludlow)
After just three chase starts, it might pay to give another chance to Evan Williams’ HERONORD who has had valid excuses in defeat since racing over the larger obstacles.
On his opening chase start and stable debut at Taunton last November, the five-year travelled smoothly into contention three from the finish before slithering on landing and unseating jockey Conor Ring. Evan Williams’ charge faced a similar fate at Market Rasen soon after, travelling much the best before a bad mistake two out put paid to his winning chance.
Although the five-year-old was below-par on his latest outing over course and distance, he was set a difficult task against much higher rated rivals and faces significantly easier opposition on Wednesday. Connections look to have found an ideal opportunity for Heronord and it would be disappointing if he can’t get his head in front in this company.