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Free horse racing betting preview and tips for sunday February 23


Thomas Darby looked good when switching back to the smaller obstacles at Ascot and can go in again at Fontwell, according to Keith Hamer.

Nap: Thomas Darby (3.20 Fontwell)

Next Best: Black Gerry (3.50 Fontwell)

Thomas Darby looked good when switching back to the smaller obstacles at Ascot - and can build on that to win the Stella Artois National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

Olly Murphy's seven-year-old defied top weight of 11st 12lb with some authority to capture a competitive handicap at the Berkshire track.

It was a return to form for Thomas Darby after two runs over fences that did not go to plan, although the stable was struggling for form at the time.

The step up to near two and a half miles suited him, on his first run over hurdles since finishing second in the Supreme at last year's Cheltenham Festival.

Gary Moore can strike at the West Sussex track with Black Gerry in the Sustain Our Sport Adopt An Ex-Racehorse Novices' Hurdle.

The five-year-old showed he had come on bundles for his hurdling debut at Sandown when scoring at Lingfield last month.

At Wolverhampton, Irish Roe may get back to winning ways in the Novibet Super Odds "Jumpers' Bumper" National Hunt Flat Race.

Peter Atkinson's admirable mare is highly consistent in her favoured conditions over jumps, up to graded level.

She has not won since taking a handicap at Aintree last May, but ran as well as ever when second to Lady Buttons at Doncaster last month - and she has nothing of her calibre to worry about on this Flat excursion.

Longhouse Sale is another bidding to rediscover the winning habit in the Download The Novibet App "Jumpers' Bumper" National Hunt Flat Race.

Dan Skelton's six-year-old has had a wind operation since his last run, at Kempton back in October.

He finished sixth that day behind the prolific Pacify, having also disappointed when favourite for Market Rasen's Summer Handicap Hurdle, both times at Listed level.

But Longhouse Sale was previously well-placed to be unbeaten in eight career starts, including a point-to-point and bumpers.

Skelton looks to have found the right opportunity for him to try to set up another sequence for new owners.

Paul Nicholls is taking the opportunity of running Birds Of Prey in the Visit Novibet Casino "Jumpers' Bumper" National Hunt Flat Race, before a possible tilt at the Imperial Cup back over hurdles.

The six-year-old began life on the Flat with John Oxx in Ireland, winning twice from seven starts before joining the Ditcheat trainer for 2018.

After running respectably in defeat on the Flat, Birds Of Prey has taken well to hurdling with two victories and a host of placed efforts.

Over at Naas, Andy Dufresne is bound to be well-fancied to take his career record to five wins out of six - including a point-to-point - in the Grade Two feature Paddy Power Betting Shop Novice Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott's six-year-old must concede 6lb all round, on account of having succeeded at this lofty level already.

He is still just about the likeliest winner, though, despite a decent field which includes two unbeaten stablemates.

Sporting Life tips

FONTWELL: 2.20 Echo Watt, 2.50 Grand Sancy, 3.20 THOMAS DARBY (NAP), 3.50 Black Gerry, 4.20 Kilconny Bridge, 4.50 Wizards Bridge, 5.20 Frenchy Du Large.

NAAS: 2.10 Hardline, 2.40 An Fraoch Mor, 3.10 Andy Dufresne, 3.40 Pasley, 4.10 Pure Genius, 4.40 Muhaafiz, 5.10 Farouk D'Alene.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 2.00 Surf Walk, 2.30 Getariver, 3.00 Longhouse Sale, 3.30 Irish Roe, 4.00 Birds Of Prey, 4.30 Highway Companion, 5.00 Red Force One.

DOUBLE: Thomas Darby and Black Gerry.

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