Today's tips: Racing preview and best bets

Racing betting tips: Friday May 3

0.5pts e.w Captains Nephew in the 4.15 Punchestown at 33/1 (Bet365 ⅕ 1,2,3,4,5 - min 25/1)

1pt win Skukuza in the 4.45 Newmarket at 10/1 (General - no lower)

1pt win Lifetime Ambition in the 5.25 Punchestown at Betfair SP (5.5 or bigger acceptable)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

4:45 Newmarket - William Hill Extra Places Handicap 1m

SKUKUZA went right into the Massey notebook after his sixth at Newmarket on his reappearance, as not only did he look like he’d need the run beforehand, but he needed it for a handicap mark, which he now has. He ran a nice race to finish a staying-on sixth in a maiden that not only looked strong on paper, but in the paddock as well. He goes up a furlong in trip for his handicap debut today, which is going to suit, and we know Ed Dunlop can ready them first time for handicaps, with a 5-38 record over the past year.

4:15 Punchestown - EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m4f55y

Here’s a touch of deja vu - if the following text sounds familiar, it’s because you may have seen some of it yesterday: CAPTAINS NEPHEW has won two of his four starts in handicap chases, with his fluent jumping a feature of those successes. The handicapper has hit him for his recent half-length defeat of Mount Frisco at Fairyhouse, but the pair were 31 lengths clear of Figaroc in third and the rise looks justified, particularly with two horses beaten over a distance that day running respectably in the 2m handicap here yesterday, and even Figaroc was beaten further at Fairyhouse than he was in yesterday’s race.

Captains Nephew was conceding 10lb to Mount Frisco who wasn’t disgraced behind Il Etait Temps in Grade 1 company on Thursday, so there is plenty to like about his profile over fences. His best form to date has come on soft/heavy ground, and he was a non-runner yesterday due to the going. There has been rain overnight, however, and there will be more ease underfoot today, but just as important is the longer trip here, which will ensure he’s not taken out of his comfort zone in terms of speed.

The claims of Perceval Legallois are obvious here, although that is reflected in the overnight support for the gelding. Gavin Cromwell’s charge would have gone very close but for falling at the last in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase at the DRF, and the handicapper has been remarkably kind in raising him just 2lb for that with winner Heart Wood placed in Grade 1 company at Aintree on his next start. He’s clearly the one to beat, although his jumping record does add a cautionary note.

5:25 Punchestown - Event Power Champion Hunters' Chase 3m160y

LIFETIME AMBITION has an excellent record at this venue, with form figures of 2341723 tending to come in strong races, and he goes best in the spring, winning the Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle here in 2021 from Fastorslow and finishing second to Capodanno in the Grade 1 Ellier Novice Chase the following year.

His latest appearance here saw him finish third to Galopin des Champs in the 2022 John Durkan Chase and he made a winning start under Rules for Pat Doyle when winning a hunter chase at Cork last time having also scored three times between the flags under Pat’s daughter Susie. A repeat of his Cork win would put him bang there in this company but there must be a significant chance that he will improve again for the return to regulation fences at Punchestown. I’d make him favourite and think he could be a major force in this division, with Aintree 2025 very much his long-term aim given he took well to the fences in his guise as a handicapper.

Posted at 1010 BST on 03/05/24

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