The Punting Pointers team are back with a look ahead to today's action and David Massey has two tips for Tuesday.
Racing betting tips: Tuesday March 3
1pt win Wannabe in the 14:35 Newcastle at 7/2 (General, min 11/4)
1pt e.w Whimsy in the 14:55 Leopardstown at 11/2 (1/5 1,2,3,4 General, take no lower)
14:35 Newcastle – Class 5 (0-100) Novices' Handicap Chase 2m4f19y
This is a pretty moderate event, even for the level, and it may pay to forgive WANNABE a poor effort when well backed on handicap and chase debut at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. In truth, he looked a bit of a plot for a trainer who does so well with handicap debutants, but something was clearly amiss on the day.
To recap, Wannabe gained a mark by running three times over 2m in novice hurdles but was switched immediately to fences and stepped up in trip for his chase debut. He was far from disgraced in a couple of those hurdle starts on yielding/soft ground against better opposition that this, and it’s possible that he found quicker ground against him last time. Whatever the reason, he’s been given a couple of months to get over it, and previous positives still apply about a horse who cost £72,000 as a three-year-old and who has the stamp of a chaser. Tom Lacey is nobody’s fool when it comes to his handicappers, and I’m sure he’s left no stone unturned in making sure Wannabe is ready to make up for his Christmas mishap.
Huit Reflets is the obvious one for forecasts with Mark Walford’s charge never worse than third in his last eight outings going back to Hexham in August. He ran right up to form when second and Sedgefield last time and if the selection again fails to live up to expectations, he should be hard to beat. Those more adventurous, myself included, will be thinking about having an interest in the forecast.
15:35 Newcastle – Class 4 (0-110) Handicap Hurdle 2m7f149y
Nick Alexander has a strong hand here as he saddles both Whiskey On Ice and Better Be Definite, and it’s not easy to choose between them. The latter has Bruce Lynn on board, making him look the first string, but I fancy that Whiskey On Ice has the edge, with Dominic Hislop taking off 10lb of the burden of top weight.
Whiskey On Ice took a big step in the right direction when a length second of 8 to Dearkeithandkaty in a 3m hurdle at Musselburgh last time on what was his handicap debut and can be forgiven a lesser effort on debut for Alexander on account of heavy ground. Out of a half-sister to Ar Muin Na Muice, who was a very talented hurdler for Jonjo O’Neill back in the day, Whiskey On Ice showed plenty of ability for Shark Hanlon last season and looks like he’s ready to fulfil that promise if his latest run is a guide. Three of the stable’s last ten runners have been successful and conditions look ideal for the son of Yeats who is bred to stay well and is unexposed over this trip.
14:55 Leopardstown – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 2m2f72y
WHIMSY ran a blinder in the Paddy and Maureen Mullins Handicap over track and trip at the DRF and she’s still on a fair mark after a small rise for that. She wasn’t running well out of turn, either, having shown decent form in black-type company in the autumn. She meets lesser rivals here, and while a big weight complicates things, that is again eased by Eoghan Finegan’s 10lb claim. She looks the one to beat under similar conditions to last time.
Preview posted at 09:30 GMT on 03/03/26
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