Friday’s UK racing tips come your way from meetings at Sedgefield and Huntingdon on 12 January 2024.
SEDGEFIELD
Race 1 – ONE MORE STROKE 5/2
Donald McCain could be on the mark in the opening Download The Vickers.Bet App Maiden Hurdle with ONE MORE STROKE.
Went well when resuming under rules when second in a Musselburgh two-mile jumpers flat contest.
Get A Superstar found success by half a lenght attempting a heavy ground jumpers flat race at Newcastle and has a good chance on hurdle debut.
Golden De Coeur also rates highly after showing plenty of promise this season at Ffos Las with a maiden hurdle second tackling a similar trip prior to a 2m maiden hurdle third last month.
Race 2 – CONISTON CLOUDS 13/8
The Nicky Richards-trained CONISTON CLOUDS has a 5lb rise to overcome for a win at Catterick but he appeared to score with plenty up his sleeve and can follow up at Sedgefield in the Vickers.Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Horacio Apple’s scored by an easy 12 length attempting a heavy going chase at Bangor-on-Dee and will provide the biggest threat.
Race 5 – SUNDAY SOLDIER 4/5
SUNDAY SOLDIER arrives in excellent form bidding for a hat-trick following a pair of Musselburgh victories including in a similar level contest last week over two miles and has a top chance.
Callin Baton Rouge was not disgraced at Fontwell on Boxing Day when fourth in a 2m3f handicap hurdle and could go close.
Riccirella filled the same position during November at Doncaster tackling this trip and holds claims.
Race 6 – SPEED DAVIS 11/4
McCain’s SPEED DAVIS was bought for a six-figure sum having won an Irish point-to-point and will undoubtedly fare better than when fading into sixth on his debut under rules in April when he runs in the Les Parker “20 Years At Sedgefield” Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Future Fortune made a winning debut in October at Hereford before an Ascot Listed eighth.
Back down in grade and open to further improvement so is expected to make a bold challenge.
HUNTINGDON
Race 2 – MOONLIT POTTER 8/1
Henry Daly’s MOONLIT POTTER caught the eye in what looked an above-average Wetherby bumper on her racecourse introduction.
Sent off 5/2 a good run was obviously expected and if you look back far enough in her pedigree you will find she is related to Denman.
It seems interesting Daly is sending her over hurdles for the first time at this relatively late stage of the season.
Race 3 – TELLHERTHENAME 2/5
TELLHERTHENAME is taken to get his career back on track in the Arkle Finance EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
Bought for £200,000 in March, he was always going to have a bit of a reputation and made a fine start to his career under rules at Ascot.
He pushed Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie all the way and then had no trouble in justifying short odds over the same two miles he faces here.
His trainer Ben Pauling was not afraid to take on Jango Baie again in the new Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day, but after travelling powerfully to the fourth-last, he stopped very quickly and was pulled up.
His jockey reported he lost his action, yet after running numerous tests Pauling could find nothing amiss so is running his charge again relatively quickly. The fact Jango Baie won at Aintree suggests Tellherthename still has plenty of potential.
Race 4 – WHISPERING ROYAL 7/2
WHISPERING ROYAL might give likely favourite Kabral Du Mathan something to think about in the Weatherbys Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle.
Alan King’s charge was third on his hurdling debut to Liari, who represents the same connections as Kabral Du Mathan and has secured Listed honours at Aintree.
The second that day, Inside Man, bolted up next time, while Whispering Royal made all at Doncaster, showing the benefit of his first run.
He may have beaten a smart type there in the Henderson-trained Kado De Joie as they were almost 30 lengths clear of the third.
Whispering Royal is getting 8lb off Kabral Du Mathan so looks a safer proposition.
Race 5 – MIXEDWAVE 11/4
MIXEDWAVE showed plenty of ability in this handicap chase grade at Market Rasen when second over three miles and has a leading chance here.
Twenty Twenty returned to best with a win of a handicap chase at Wincanton and will be the main danger.
Felton Bellevue has a top jockey Harry Cobden booked. Posted a decent fourth tackling 2m7f at Lingfield and holds claims.
