UK Racing Tips – Tuesday 28 March 2023

HUNTINGDON

Race 1 – LE TUEUR 5/2

LE TUEUR has been ultra-consistent over fences since joining Sarah Humphrey, finishing runner-up twice and winning twice at Huntingdon. The improving eight-year-old was a 20-length winner over the same course and extended two miles and seven furlongs distance on his penultimate start, and followed up over three miles and five furlongs at Fakenham 11 days ago. A 3lb rise seems fair as he bids for the hat-trick in the opener at Huntingdon today, with Jay Tidball again taking a useful 7lb off his back.

Race 2 – GREYVAL 2/7

GREYVAL can continue Fergal O’Brien’s excellent season by taking this juvenile hurdle for fillies. The four-year-old has made a pleasing start to her British career, finishing runner-up on her Doncaster debut to Arclight, who subsequently followed up at Kempton. Greyval got the better of the same rival on her second start, thwarting the Nick Henderson runner’s hat-trick bid, scoring by two lengths in a Listed event at Doncaster at the end of January. That victory resulted in the assessor giving her a mark of 120, yet there could well be plenty of improvement to come, particularly with her hurdling, which was occasionally lackadaisical. None of her rivals can match what she has achieved in two runs thus far and she looks the clear pick.

Race 6 – HILLFINCH 11/4

It would be hard to resent the likeable Shesupincourt getting her head in front following a string of second-placed finishes, but it might pay dividends to side with the Stuart Edmunds-trained HILLFINCH. The six-year-old filled the runner-up spot over an extended 2m4f here 13 days ago, keeping on well close home, and her pedigree would suggest another step up in trip could unlock further improvement. Harry’s Hottie should not be underestimated either.

HEXHAM

Race 1 – GROVE ROAD 4/11

GROVE ROAD can take the spoils in this novices’ hurdle for Archie Watson at Hexham. Winner of a Sedgefield bumper in December 2021, he did not reappear until the end of October, when he stayed on well on his hurdling bow to beat subsequent scorer The King Of Ryhope at Carlisle. Upped in trip to just short of three and a quarter miles at Hereford in December, he followed up narrowly, beating a previous winner and a 125-rated runner-up who was pitched into Grade Two company next time. Grove Road faces a solitary rival in Northumberland in Well Dick and is difficult to oppose.

Race 3 – BINGOO 6/4

BINGOO must be considered a major player in this handicap hurdle. Jimmy Moffatt’s inmate has already won a bumper and a novice hurdle at Hexham, suggesting the testing nature of the track brings out the best in him. He has had to make do with minor honours in his last couple of races, finishing third at Catterick and Ayr, but better can be expected on his handicap debut as he returns to a happy hunting ground.

Race 6 – CLOVIS ISLAND 85/40

CLOVIS ISLAND ought to make a successful start to his career under rules in the nightcap at Hexham this evening. The five-year-old was beaten by a head in an Irish point-to-point in the autumn and appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to go one better on his first start for Nicky Richards.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 4 – WOOLHAMPTON 8/11

WOOLHAMPTON will surely break her duck in this restricted novices’ stakes. The three-year-old has earned herself a not inconsiderable rating of 84 without winning, with eight outings so far yielding four placed finishes. She finished second in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury and returned to that track to be beaten a little over a length in a Listed race in August. She was last seen finishing third at this track behind Al Dasim, who has since won three times in Dubai, and will not need to improve much to get off the mark.