Catching Pigeons: Tips from the gallops
Our gallops insider has all the latest tips and well-fancied weekend runners including Seddon in the valuable handicap hurdle at Ascot.
Seddon - 2.25 Ascot
Seddon can see off top-weights Ballymoy and Djingle and win the Matchbook Holidays Handicap Hurdle for Tom George at Ascot on Saturday. The son of Stowaway looked a potentially smart performer when easily beating recent hot Taunton handicap winner Not That Fuisse at Stratford in a November and followed that win with very solid placed efforts to two of the very best youngsters seen so far this season in Elixir De Nutz and Angels Breath at Cheltenham and Ascot. Found to be just short of pace at the crucial time in both heats, he should be suited by the step up in trip and he looks nicely weighted with his rating of 132.
Ecu De La Noverie - 1.15 Ascot
David Maxwell is an amateur whose riding style is a throwback to the days of Fred Archer and Sam Loates, but he is more than useful rider and should steer Ecu De La Noverie to his second success in the Matchbook Amateur Riders Handicap Chase. A winner of a hot novice Hurdle at Newbury in November, he should appreciate a slightly shorter trip after finishing a creditable third on his first try over British fences at Haydock last time.
Downtown Getaway - 4.05 Ascot
Downtown Getaway can bring what could prove a fruitful afternoon for Nicky Henderson at both the Berkshire course and Haydock to a close with victory in the Matchbook National Hunt Novices Hurdle qualifier. A winner of a bumper at Fairyhouse for Margaret Mullins, he carried plenty of stable confidence on his debut for Seven Barrows at Newbury last month. However, hopes of victory were dented by a blunder three out, and he was readily seen off by the highly rated Tidal River. Although that rival did nothing for the form at Warwick last weekend, the performance was too bad to be true, and Downtown Getaway has done well at home since.
Mister Fisher - 2.05 Haydock
Mister Fisher was beaten a short head by Ecu De La Noverie at Newbury, but has since impressed with a win at the Kempton Christmas meeting and is fancied to follow up in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Supreme Rossington Main Novices Hurdle at Haydock. Henderson predicted good things from this gelding at the start his season, and he showed a smart turn of foot to see off a high quality field at the Sunbury course. His work has progressed again from that success, and he looks ready for his first outing at this level.
New To This Town - 3.45 Haydock
Colin Tizzard's New To This Town has not been the easiest to train, but he has shown enough both here and earlier in his career in Ireland to suggest he can win a decent race or two. He is fancied to open his account over fences in the Cheltenham Preview Here In March Handicap Chase.
Nefarious - 7.15 Wolverhampton
Nefarious has been brought along steadily by Henry Candy and should build on his debut effort on the all weather in the Ladbroke Handicap. This marks his first appearance in this grade and he looks open to plenty of improvement after a solid fourth at Kempton on his first appearance since a promising effort in a good class novice at Newbury in July. Sure to be sharper for what was a five month absence, he also gave a hefty hint that this step up to seven furlongs would suit.
Remembering You - 3.10 Lingfield
Jack Frost looks sure to make his presence felt in the South next week, so events on the all weather may come into even sharper focus in the wintry days ahead. Clive Cox, who has a sound chance with Remembering You in the six furlong Median Auction Maiden at Lingfield on Saturday afternoon, has a handy team at work for the artificial surfaces and hopes are high that Stand N Deliver can win the Sun Racing Handicap at Wolverhampton on Monday evening.
Maybe Today - 1.25 Lingfield
Not the hottest weekend of Flat racing to go at but Simon Crisford hasn't stopped banging the winners in over the past couple of weeks and his sole Saturday runner is worth backing at Kempton. Maybe Today is clearly a filly on the improve and while hit with a 6lb penalty for scoring at Wolves, her work suggests she can scale even greater heights as time goes on.
Blessed To Empress - 4.40 Wolverhampton
Amy Murphy's Blessed To Empress is eminently well treated based on recent Chelmsford and Lingfield evidence and she's taken to land the Like Sun Racing On Facebook Apprentice Handicap at Wolverhampton. She flew home in the closing stages last time and came up just a nose short of a fourth career win, so must be backed to set the record straight off the same mark here.
Becker - 5.45 Wolverhampton
Becker looks to hold all the aces in the Betway Handicap at Wolves. He hit the front turning for home at Chelmsford only to weaken into fourth at the start of the month but the wider draw here means Luke Morris will probably have to bide his time a little more and that could ultimately suit the sizeable four-year-old. He's also better off at the weights with It's All A Joke from their previous clash at Lingfield.
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