UK racing tips – Tuesday 27 February 2024

CATTERICK

Race 1 – COULD BE TROUBLE 11/2

COULD BE TROUBLE placed second among similar company here in November over 3m1f before a good Aintree third.

Produced a fair Doncaster fourth since tackling this trip and now rates a serious player.

Out Of Focus did well at Chepstow on heavy going when third in a 2m3f novices handicap hurdle and has a good chance.

Zwicky showed ability two starts back finishing a decent third in a Hexham handicap hurdle. Holds claims on this going.

Race 2 – CARRIGEEN CASTLE 4/1

CARRIGEEN CASTLE can strike gold at Catterick in the Easby Abbey Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Micky Hammond’s eight-year-old has won his last two starts, including a 22-length victory at Wetherby last time out.

He looks at home on testing ground and while the handicapper is bound to catch up with him eventually, there may still be mileage in his revised mark of 109.

The same trainer can also enjoy success in the Visit racingtv.com Handicap Chase with Mister Bells.

The 10-year-old was a winner over the course and distance on his most recent outing late last month and another bold bid should be expected.

Race 4 – STAY IF U WANT TO 6/5

STAY IF U WANT TO caught the eye in November scoring at Market Rasen in a 2m1f jumpers flat race. Progressive and rates a leading chance making hurdling debut.

Isholo Du Vivien brings good placed form including a decent third in a two mile novices hurdle at Hereford and could go close again.

Wolfburg ran with credit at Kelso finishing fourth in a heavy ground two mile maiden hurdle. Open to further improvement.

Race 6 – SHANTOU MOON 9/4

SHANTOU MOON holds strong form with a 1.5L course and distance handicap hurdle success in this grade preceding a neck second here earlier this month. Holds every chance for a second course win.

Lincoln Burrows won by two lengths on heavy ground at Newcastle attempting a lower level 2m6f handicap hurdle and has a good chance.

Burrows Hall maintains solid form including a 6.5L runner-up effort over 2m3f at this track in December. Makes for appeal up in trip.
Accidental Legend won at Uttoxeter before a smart Chepstow second tackling 2m3f and shouldn’t be ruled out.

LEICESTER

Race 1- HATOS 4/7

HATOS bids to complete a February hat-trick in the Fernie Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old’s two prior victories this month came in heavy ground and by comfortable margins too, and he looks set to encounter similar conditions as he seeks to record another success.

The Anthony Honeyball-trained gelding is in fact unbeaten when the official going is heavy, and while a 6lb hike for his latest triumph clearly makes life tougher, he might just have another win in him.

Race 5 – ESPOIR DE TEILLEE 11/2

ESPOIR DE TEILLEE can take the Jumping For Fun Open Hunters’ Chase for Ben Brookhouse.

The 12-year-old has not been seen under rules since disappointing at odds-on in hunter chase company in May of last year, but did recently prove his well-being with victory in the point-to-point sphere.

Rated in the mid-140s at his peak, Espoir De Teillee is clearly not the force of old, but he should still have enough about him to make his presence felt at this level.

Race 6 – ISKANDAR PECOS 8/13

ISKANDAR PECOS showed plenty of ability on testing ground at Haydock recently when a runner-up tackling 2m6f, so will be a leading contender here.

Fine Investment found success last time attempting a point-to-point over 3m on heavy going and should be put on your shortlist.

Ultra Viers holds claims if at best and could feature alongside The Creadan Rogue who placed third contesting a point-to-point last month.

Southwell

Race 1 – DAVID’S DIVA 13/10

DAVID’S DIVA is difficult to oppose in the curtain-raising Win £2,000,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Fillies’ Handicap.

Rod Millman’s filly has won her last three outings on artificial surfaces, striking at Southwell, Kempton and Wolverhampton respectively.

Naturally, she is climbing up the handicap and carries top-weight in her bid for the four-timer, but she is likely still ahead of the curve and can continue her winning streak.

Race 2 – INGLEBY ARCHIE 2/7

INGELBY ARCHE will not be winning out of turn if he can come good in the Boost Your Acca-Fenwa With BetUK Restricted Novice Stakes.

The three-year-old was placed in four of his five starts as a juvenile, twice going down by a neck and beaten only a length on another occasion.

He has been gelded over the winter and Adrian Nicholls appears to have found him a gilt-edged opportunity to get a number one next to his name on his return from almost five months off the track.

Race 4 – TORRENT 3/1

The lightly-raced TORRENT is backed to open his account at the fourth time of asking in the Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap.

Like a couple of his key rivals in this one-mile-and-three-furlongs contest, Andrew Balding’s charge is stepping into the handicap arena for the first time – and all three are open to sizeable improvement.

Torrent finished sixth behind a rare Aidan O’Brien runner at Salisbury when beaten just under seven lengths by subsequent Group Three runner-up Cambridge on his racecourse debut in September, before placing third behind the now 84-rated Let’s Dream at Goodwood three weeks later.

The Camelot colt had to make do with minor honours again when switched to the all-weather at Wolverhampton earlier this month, but should strip fitter for that comeback run and with Oisin Murphy booked for the ride, everything points to a big effort off an opening mark of 75.

Race 9 – JUMIRA BRIDGE 10/1

JUMIRA BRIDGE scored by 2.75L tackling this handicap grade and trip at Wolverhampton and is a leading contender set to follow up based on that performance.

Toptime holds strong form with a course and distance handicap second preceding a 5f handicap success by a neck here a month ago and should be respected.

Similar comments can be applied to May Remain who posted a neck second at Newcastle before a handicap victory here attempting the journey.

Sassy Redhead maintains a consistent profile and might feature once more.