Get all of the latest UK racing tips coming your way from Catterick, Lingfield, Fontwell and Kempton on 8 March 2023.
Racecourses are bracing themselves for the latest cold snap to cause disruption to the fixture list with Catterick, Fontwell and Lingfield facing inspections.
FONTWELL will stage a precautionary 10am inspection due to a yellow warning for snow ahead of Wednesday’s meeting. However, forecasts suggest there is a good chance that by 8am rain will have moved in to help dissipate any snow accumulation.
The all-weather meeting at LINGFIELD on Wednesday must also survive an 10am precautionary inspection with a similar forecast. With that in mind, let’s get stuck into the tips. Fingers crossed.
LINGFIELD
Race 2: FORGE VALLEY LAD 15/2
FORGE VALLEY LAD is on a roll and the hat-trick could be within his grasp in this handicap. Jamie Spencer has delivered him with two well-timed challenges on his last two starts, registering a half-length verdict over 10 furlongs at this track at the beginning of February before following up over a mile and a half at the end of the month. Forge Valley Lad shrugged off a 2lb rise on that second occasion and while he did not find quite as much as expected off the bridle, he still prevailed and must now deal with a further 3lb hike.
Race 4: CHANTICO 11/8
CHANTICO can make a victorious return to action in this novice Stakes. The four-year-old ran twice on the turf last year, not making his racecourse bow until September when he ran a creditable third over a mile, making late gains to be beaten just over three lengths. Roger Varian then sent him to Epsom, where he bumped into Nobel, who benefitted from a canny front-running ride to win impressively, with Chantico struggling to make inroads off what was only a steady pace. His pedigree suggests longer trips will be his forte in time, but in the interim he can shine over these 10 furlongs.
FONTWELL
Race 4: LIFETIME LEGEND 7/2
LIFETIME LEGEND struck gold at Catterick last week, with a follow up in this handicap hurdle not ruled out. He won a rather moderate affair in the hands of Bryony Frost, but the application of a hood certainly seemed to have the desired effect as he opened his account at the 22nd time of asking. A repeat of the form of that seven-length victory would likely be good enough.
KEMPTON
Race 4: DANGER ALERT 5/1
DANGER ALERT can reverse recent Lingfield form in the fourth here. Having recorded a first career success at Wolverhampton, Danger Alert then found Celtic Champion just under a length too good off level weights over six furlongs. Danger Alert’s chances were hardly helped as he was carried right across the track, before hanging back left, and a 2lb swing can help him come out on top.
Race 5: FIRST EMPEROR 9/1
FIRST EMPEROR can regain the winning thread in this handicap test. Purchased for 25,000 guineas last autumn after failing to win in eight starts for Donnacha O’Brien, First Emperor is now two from four for John Ryan. A winner off a perch of 72 at Lingfield in January, he defied a 5lb rise to follow up at Kempton four days later before the handicapper had a chance to have his say. He was duly raised to a mark of 82 and he did himself few favours when racing keenly off that revised perch, eventually having to settle for a conclusive second behind the useful Fleurman. If he can race with a little more restraint this time, with cover hopefully easier to find in this bigger field rather than that four-runner affair, First Emperor can oblige again for connections.
