Our star daily duo of Rory Delargy and David Massey look ahead to today's racing.
Racing betting tips: Thursday January 15
0.5pts e.w. Talap in 13:52 Wincanton at 40/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4) - min 33/1
0.5pts e.w. Java Point in 15:27 Ludlow at 33/1 (bet365) - min 22/1
13:52 Wincanton
This is a fascinating race despite the low ceiling and a number can have a case made for them. St Lukes Chelsea just failed to see things out when a creditable fifth to Premier at Taunton last time, finishing in front of next-time winner Rukaana. Premier was third in a better race at Newbury yesterday and this sharper test will suit Neil Mulholland’s runner.
Ugo Bingo is a C&D winner who ran well when fourth here on Boxing Day behind Queenie St Clair. He should go well again having been dropped 2lb for his effort, but another to catch the eye in the same race was TALAP, who raced enthusiastically before lack of fitness told in the straight and he finished 5¾ lengths behind Ugo Bingo in eighth.
That was his first solid effort for veteran handler Gordon Edwards (the man who provided A P McCoy with his first winner in the UK), but he had scored on the Flat for David Pipe in the colours of Edwards back in the day. He’s nine now and the fact that he’s been lightly raced in the intervening period points to physical issues, but Wincanton was his third run since returning from a year off in November, and he appears to be getting a clear run at things for the first time in while.
He’s 10lb lower now than he was then, having had to run from out of the weights, and is capable of springing a shock if his last run has brought him on at all.
14:17 Ludlow
Another Folly would appear to be the one to beat here, his second to Chuggy at Warwick last time a strong piece of form, but wind surgery since then is a little off-putting given the yard’s record with them first time after the operation, with not so much as a placing from the six Williams have run in the last couple of years that fit the criteria, and that shifts the emphasis to Move With The Beat.
Move With The Beat came down at the last at Taunton last time when in with every chance of beating the well-backed and improving Fat Faced Columbo, the pair nicely clear, and that rates a good effort.
The handicapper has put him up 6lb for it which looks very fair, and this multiple point-to-point winner has suitable conditions again today and ought to go close in a race that isn’t as competitive as the numbers would suggest.
15:27 Ludlow
Here’s one I missed on sister column Away From The Spotlight on Monday, mainly because I don’t take a lot of notice of hunter chases until the day (and a Ludlow hunter chase isn’t the same without Bletchley Castle, anyway) but also because I did not expect JAVA POINT to be rocking up in it either.
Java Point is on our Trackside horses to follow after what I thought was a perfectly satisfactory effort at Sandown on his reappearance. He looked big in the paddock and badly in need of the run after the best part of eight months away, but he came up the final hill with some gusto and was closing on on fourth pretty quickly. One more stride and he’d have got there.
My assumption was, given a liking for Sandown, he’d reappear there but Ludlow is just as happy a hunting ground for Java Point,with two wins and a third from three starts here, all on soft ground. Lemos De Souza continues in good form, with a couple of winners in the last fortnight on the Flat, and for all this is not an easy contest - Aintree Foxhunters winner Gracchus De Balme just one of a few worthy opponents - he should strip fitter today.
Take All is worthy of a strong mention too, having had a spell with Ben Pauling before returning to Pauling’s former assistant Myles Osborne, who trains from Pauling’s old base in Gloucestershire. Take All did well in hunter chases for Osborne last season, when regularly partnered by today’s rider Sam Scott, whose parents own the gelding.
Take All jumped really well here in a 2½m hunter chase at Cheltenham’s May meeting but was given too much to do in a race which didn’t test stamina, and he was doing all his best work from the last fence. The son of Golden Lariat might have sneaked into the frame in the St James’s Place Hunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, making a move from the rear and still travelling fine when falling at the third-last fence. He made amends here next time and ran up to his best when 4th of 16 for Pauling in an amateur riders’ handicap back at Cheltenham in the autumn.
Preview posted at 09:28 GMT on 15/01/26
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
2025 successes
- Jacques Clouseau 8/1
- Gogo Yubari 7/2
- Ali Star Bert 100/30
- Rossbridge 9/2
- Kala Conti 5/2
- Found A Fifty 100/30
- Hold Up La Colmine 9/2
- Ben Solo 9/2
- Eldorado Allen 17/2
- French Emperor 15/2
- Lud'or 9/2
- Iddy Wood 9/2
- Jager Time 11/2
- Susie Sioux 3/1
- Smooth Silesie 13/2
- Sticktotheplan 6/1
- Daryz 11/1
- Expressionless 9/1
- Blue Jay Way 11/1
- Revival Power 13/2
- Yanifer 10/1
- Saddadd 5/2
- Dark Cloud Rising 11/2
- Forglen 13/2
- Brazilian Belle 11/4
- Red Panda 17/2
- Bearwith 7/2
- Nogo’s Dream 2/1
- Alpha Magic 20/1
- Minnie Hauk 5/1
- Gore Point 17/2
- Molten Sea 6/1
- Pay Attention 5/1
- Laser Focus 13/2
- Phaedra 2/1
- Eldrickjones 8/1
- Straight F/C Cosmic Year/Marvelman 28/1
- Pink Eyed Pancho 12/1
- Pep Talking 7/2
- Ultra Beat 7/2
- Les's Legacy 13/2
- Coniston George 9/2
- Fairlawn Flyer 12/1
- Finn Lough 9/2
- Magma Sam 9/1
- Hawajes 9/2
- Trouble Man 3/1
- Royal Jewel 11/4
- Mr Vango 5/1
- Jack Sprat 11/4
- Ormolulu 100/30
- Khangai 9/2
- Jimmy Knocker 6/1
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.