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Today's tips: Racing preview and best bets


Rory Delargy and David Massey mark your card with a look ahead to the competitive all-weather action in Britain this afternoon.


Racing betting tips: Thursday March 28

1pt e.w. Saaheq in 2.15 Chelmsford at 5/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4) - take no lower

0.5pts e.w. The X O in 3.35 Newcastle at SP (General 1/5 1,2,3,4)

0.5pts e.w. Riot in 4.35 Chelmsford at 12/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4) - take no lower

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook


2:15 Chelmsford - It's Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap

SAAHEQ comes with some risk at the age of ten, but after losing his way in the second half of last year, he’s dropped back to a very workable mark and came back from his winter break to finish a length third to Latin Five at Newcastle, which represented a return to form.

That run ties him in very closely with likely favourite Phoenix Star, who finished just in front of him that day, but is 5lb worse off here after winning at Newcastle last week.

Saaheq is a three-time C&D winner from eight starts at the track, including in this race last year, appears very nicely drawn in stall 2 and Adrian Nicholls had a winner at Doncaster at the weekend. He looks the each-way value in a race where a case of sorts can be made for plenty.

https://m.skybet.com/horse-racing/newcastle/handicap-flat-class-2-1m-2f-42y/33312257?aff=681&dcmp=SL_ED_RACING_EXTRA52903

3:25 Chelmsford - bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap

Like the previous contest, it’s not hard to make a case for a few here, but Churchella has a solid profile and looks the one to beat after her defeat of the in-form The Craftymaster at Southwell last time out.

The runner-up had won his previous six starts and went in again at Newcastle last week, so the form looks rock-solid, and the 5lb rise is entirely justified. Throw in the fact she scored on her only previous run over C&D in December and this improving four-year-old makes plenty of appeal.

4:35 Chelmsford - bet365 6 Horses Challenge Handicap

We’re both fans of the training operation of Daniel and Claire Kübler, who have an excellent record with handicappers, notably improving the former Sir Michael Stoute Astro King to win two Heritage Handicaps last season, including the Cambridgeshire. They have Deceiver in this mile contest, and the son of Cracksman appeals as the type to improve markedly this term having run in just a handful of handicaps to date. All but three of the field in this handicap could be described as fully exposed, and Deceiver is by far the most interesting of a trio who could be described as unexposed.

A 7f maiden winner first time up at Kempton last year, he threw in a stinker at Haydock on handicap bow but, given time off, returned to form on two all-weather starts at the back end of the year; he was arguably a touch unlucky at Wolverhampton on his final start, having tanked along on the front end for much of the race he was mugged by the more patiently-ridden Kings Code late in the piece. That run came over the extended 1m½f at Dunstall Park, and he looks likely to be suited by the return to a bare mile now.

Deceiver travelled like a horse in front of his mark last time, and given we know he goes well fresh, the fact he’s been off since October is of no concern.

Al Marmar had a few of these behind him when a C&D winner back in January but it opened up for him beautifully up the inside as the whole field swung off the bend to race up the middle, and his winning distance of 3¼ lengths is flattering.

Back in the ruck that day was RIOT, who got no run when he needed one, and ended up finishing midfield after being forced to switch more than once. His overall record of three wins and four places from ten starts at the track entitles him to plenty of respect and although almost all of his form is over 7f, he stayed Lingfield’s mile fine two starts back and it ought not be an issue.

He rates the bet at current odds, and is possibly worth including in exotics along with Ribal, a maiden winner here last time from a subsequent scorer.

https://m.skybet.com/lp/acq-bet-x-get-30?sba_promo=ACQBXG30&aff=681&dcmp=SL_ED_RACING

3:35 Newcastle - BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap

THE X O was third at 22/1 to Desert Cop in the 3-y-o Championship Conditions race on the card last year, and although a big price for this sprint again this time around, might once again outrun his odds.

The X O was off after Royal Ascot last year and after predictably needed his first two starts of the winter, he ran much better at Lingfield last time. After getting a bump at the start and getting lit up from a wide draw, he made a huge move to circle the field, going very wide in the process to get to the front at halfway.

Unsurprisingly, the effort of such a mid-race move took its toll at the finish, but he hung on much better than Silky Wilkie on the front end and was only swamped late in the day and was beaten under a length and a half at the finish.

He needs to build again on that in such a competitive event but stall 12 is no bad place to be if connections plan on firing him out in front and I reckon he can return an each-way dividend with the extra places.

Posted at 0928 GMT on 29/03/24


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