Wednesday’s UK racing tips come your way from the meetings at Hereford and Kempton on 14 February 2024.
HEREFORD
Race 1 – EMOTIVO 11/4
Henry de Bromhead sends EMOTIVO on the long journey from his County Waterford base to Hereford and the hint should be taken.
Fourth in juvenile hurdles at Down Royal and Gowran, she is likely to find the standard easier in Herefordshire.
Rated 83 at her peak on the Flat, she is clearly no mug but she will need to settle better than last time out.
Race 2 – ILLICO DE COTTE 10/11
ILLICO DE COTTE is given one more chance in the Download The Vickers.Bet App Maiden Hurdle.
After being beaten a nose at Lingfield on his rules debut, he was upped in class at Cheltenham but he was pulled up quickly after losing a shoe.
Down in grade at Wincanton, he was beaten a length by Oak Creek.
He has been found a good opportunity to open his account.
Race 6 – ZESTFUL HOPE 10/3
ZESTFUL HOPE showed plenty of ability at Huntingdon when a strong second tackling this handicap hurdle grade over 2m5f and will be a leading contender.
Let’s Go Joe found success in a Sedgefield maiden hurdle before a decent fourth contesting a Catterick novices hurdle on New Year’s Day and is open to further progress.
Soldierofthestorm ran with credit during December finishing fourth in a Doncaster novices handicap hurdle and should be shortlisted with Jukebox D’Eddy who holds each-way chances.
Race 7 – FOUROFAKIND 10/3
FOUROFAKIND went well at Wincanton on heavy going when a smart second contesting a lower class 1m7f handicap hurdle. Improving this season and makes for plenty of appeal.
Thank You Ma’am brings good placed efforts including a second in a Wincanton 1m7f novices hurdle. That form has been boosted since and may go close again.
Iris Des Issards was a decent runner-up in a 2m1f maiden hurdle at Exeter two outings back and should be on the shortlist with Fresh Speculation.
KEMPTON
Race 3 – NATIVE APPROACH 2/5
Charlie Appleby’s NATIVE APPROACH was a beaten favourite on his debut but he still caught the eye with an impressive performance.
He reappears in the first division of the Unibet More Extra Place Races Maiden Stakes and it will take a smart one to beat him.
The son of Too Darn Hot was unraced at two and made his debut over seven furlongs at Kempton last month.
Having missed the break, he was always up against it but he stayed on powerfully to be just beaten by half a length.
Upped to a mile this time, he will be the one to beat.
Race 5 – INVERLOCHY 11/8
The handicapper has not been able to keep up with Simon and Ed Crisford’s INVERLOCHY who is out again in the Unibet Zero% Mission Fillies’ Handicap.
Winner of four of her last five starts, her winning run began off a mark of 66 and she is now up to 78.
Her last success was only by a neck and she is 3lb higher but she is one of those who only does enough, if she is allowed to dominate.
Race 6 – BATAL DUBAI 3/1
BATAL DUBAI can resume his progress by winning the Try Unibet’s Improved Bet Builder Handicap at Kempton.
A quality field has assembled for the best race of the day, and Harry Charlton’s sprinter can show the benefit of his last run at Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
That was his first outing for 74 days, having won at Chelmsford back in October, so it will have pleased connections that he showed up so well for so long in such a competitive race.
Clifford Lee attempted to make all and when he was two furlongs out, it was possible that he could drop off, but he kept on going to finish third behind Albasheer and the reopposing Fivethousandtoone.
He is 2lb better off with the runner-up for just over a length on this occasion, so combined with the fact he should strip fitter for the run, he should continue his upward trajectory of form here.
Race 8 – NIGHT AT SEA 13/8
NIGHT AT SEA looks to be the one to beat in the Try Unibet’s New Acca Boosts Handicap second division.
Andrew Balding’s filly finished runner-up over one mile and six furlongs last time out at Wolverhampton and will be going off the same rating here.
The booking of Oisin Murphy may swing this race in her favour along with dropping back to a shorter distance of one mile and four furlongs.
