Friday’s UK racing tips come your way from meetings at Leicester and Exteter on 8 March 2024.
EXETER
Race 1 – ISOCRATE 4/9
ISOCRATE can break his duck in the CRS Building Supplies “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle.
The six-year-old has made steady progress for Jonjo O’Neill and was only beaten a short head by Victoria Milano last time out at Sandown when hanging right on the run-in.
The soft ground will suit and the drop in the class will also be in his favour at the Devon track.
He returned to the racecourse following an extended 311-day absence at Chepstow in January and the two-and-a-half-mile distance looked too much for him as he did not stay and weakened having been prominent for the majority of the race.
The drop back to two miles at Sandown was more to his liking and over the same distance and can get off the mark at the fourth time of asking under rules.
Race 3 – CAST’S TASHA 1/1
CAST’S TASHA appears capable of defying top weight in current form. Aims for back-to-back wins after a Ffos Las novice handicap chase victory and switches to open company.
Bonza Boy produced a solid second over course and distance in a fourteen-runner contest last time and enjoys these conditions.
Dylan’s Double returns to fences following some midfield hurdling performances.
Moorland Rambler returned after a three month freshen with a fifth at Wincanton. May come forward for the run.
Race 4 – ZAMBEZI FIX 3/1
ZAMBEZI FIX can get back into the winner’s enclosure in the feature Westexe Forklifts Ltd Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
The nine-year-old won going away at Chepstow at the end of December at this level and was beaten a neck when jumping right on returning to the Welsh venue a month later.
Robert Williams again takes off a valuable 3lb and he can build on last month’s staying-on second in a Pertemps qualifier back over fences, with the ground in his favour once more.
Race 6 – ACTIVIST 10/11
ACTIVIST bids for a hat-trick in the Brett Martin Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
The David Pipe-trained five-year-old was a clear winner of a similar Taunton event last time and can defy top weight.
My Granny Lily showed improvement scoring by 2.25L at Ffos Las in latest outing and will be thereabouts if replicating that performance.
Killigarth holds each-way chances on fourth career start. Remains unexposed and is making steady improvement with each run.
LEICESTER
Race 1 – MARBLE SANDS 2/5
Marble Sands can make it back-to-back National Hunt victories in a match race in the Weatherbys Retire A Military Animal #datr Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Even with Nick Slatter taking off 5lb, Marble Sands is giving a stone away to Lord Of Kerak but he can back up last month’s win at Musselburgh with another win after a first run on the all-weather when he missed the start.
Race 2 – ROYAL MER 15/8
The booking of title-chasing rider Harry Cobden can help guide ROYAL MER to another Leicester success in the William Hercock Limited Royal Lancers Association Handicap Chase.
Although not a frequent visitor, Cobden has a 28 per cent strike-rate at the East Midlands circuit and his mount is fancied to reverse the form with Noche Negra from their meeting at Southwell last month, with the drop back in trip to two miles not a negative.
Race 3 – BOBBI’S BEAUTY 4/5
BOBBI’S BEAUTY ran second on heavy going attempting a two mile mares handicap hurdle at Ffos Las before a 3.5L victory among this company over course and distance, so will be a leading contender.
Jack Doyen was not disgraced here when third just missing second spot in the final stride tackling a heavy ground 2m7f handicap chase here ten days ago. Has a big chance set to build on that effort.
Higgs placed third tackling track and trip in this grade three runs ago and holds claims along with Nine Nine Nine who won by 0.5L contesting a 2m7f novices handicap chase at this venue two starts back.
Race 6 – CAP DU MATHAN 11/8
CAP DU MATHAN can make a winning start to his hunter chase career for champion trainer Paul Nicholls and his daughter Olive Nicholls in the closing Leicestershire And Derbyshire Yeomanry Open Hunters’ Chase.
Cap Du Mathan has been pulled up in three of his last four starts, but the drop in class and distance can invigorate him and guide him back into the winning enclosure for the first time in more than a year.
