Today's tips: Racing preview and best bets

Racing betting tips: Tuesday May 21

1pt win Buto in the 5.25 Hexham at 15/2 (General - min 13/2)

1pt win Ubetya in the 7.40 Huntingdon at 7/1 (General - min 13/2)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

5.25 Hexham

There are a couple of fairly obvious ones at the top of this modest staying handicap, namely Didn’t Ask and Better Be Definite, both of whom ran well over C&D last time out, but the pair have gone up in the weights for getting beaten and that reduces their appeal. In such a low-grade event they have their chances, but one who has similar form claims at a more attractive price is Buto, from the in-form Micky Hammond yar.

Buto’s 1-24 record over hurdles is hardly bet-inducing material but there are positives, not least that his win came around this time last year over C&D, and he ran to a similar level on his next two starts here before losing his way a little. Two runs in the winter on ground he wouldn’t have appreciated have seen him drop back to a mark only a pound higher than his last winning rating and the booking of Alice Stevens for her only ride on the card in this conditionals event is worth taking note of. She rode him when a close third here last June so knows the horse, and perhaps catching Buto fresh on ground he’ll like tonight is the key.

7.40 Huntingdon

This staying handicap hurdle is an interesting contest, not least because it pitches some dyed-in-the-wool hurdlers in amongst some that are better known as chasers, but with previous hurdles form that would make them of interest should the switch sweeten them up.

The useful Mole Court would be top of the latter list. Since seeing a fence he’s turned into a win machine, successful five times from seven starts, and a mark of 116 tonight means he’s 10lb well in compared to his chase mark. The ground will be fine for him, and the only question mark I have against him is the form of the Ben Pauling yard. They did have a bumper winner at Fontwell last week but equally a few well-fancied ones have run below form, and maybe there’s better value with Ubetya tonight.

Jedd O’Keeffe is a rare visitor to Huntingdon but he’s in decent form, with two winners an a close second from seven runners in the past couple of weeks, and after a winter of slogging around on bad ground Ubetya looked a lot happier returned to hurdles on good ground at Ludlow last time, staying on all the way to the line to finish a 6½-length fourth to Porter In The Park. That was his first crack at three miles, and he seemed to stay it fine, so it opens up new avenues for him to try this summer.

He too is better known as a chaser but his mark tonight is 8lb lower than he won off at Cartmel last summer, so he is well treated, and with Henry Brooke, riding out of his skin this month, on board, there’s a lot to like about his chances tonight.

Preview posted 0910 BST on 21/05/2024

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