Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Lingfield, Sandown and Wincanton on Saturday. View selections below.
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UNIVERSAL GLEAM (12.10) made the trek from Scotland to Lingfield worthwhile when scoring over course and distance in November and a repeat performance is on the cards in the 1m 2f Betway Handicap.
Keith Dalgleish’s gelding has been raised 4lb but won with a little in hand. Callum Rodriguez rode a canny race, waiting for a gap before pouncing at the furlong marker. Star Of Southwold and Sky Defender both like to force the pace so Universal Gleam can again benefit , arriving late on the scene off a lively gallop.
DROMARA KING (1.15) made an eye-catching debut at Kempton, staying on into third sport behind Eevilynn Drew. That form is working out quite nicely and Dromara King holds one of his market rivals, Made In Italy, on a line through Eevilynn Drew.
SMARTY WILD (3.35) is trading at attractive odds in the 2m handicap hurdle at Sandown. With favourite Gunnery and Totterdown, both winners under front-running rides last time out, likely to set a strong pace, the race could be set up nicely for Smarty Wild. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding drops slightly in class following his close fourth to Mack The Man over course and distance in early December. He finished on the heels of Protektorat, disqualified controversially at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
The Unibet Tolworth Hurdle is always a fascinating contest and this year’s renewal is no exception. Fiddlerontheroof made all to score easily over course and distance (heavy) early last month and Colin Tizzard’s gelding is likely to be sent off favourite. Slight preference is for Emma Lavelle’s HANG IN THERE (2.25) who improved for his Exeter success when whipping useful Pacify at Cheltenham in November. Irish mare Jeremy’s Flame split Floressa and Silver Forever at Newbury and is in receipt of a handy 5lb sex allowance. Nicky Henderson’s dual Newbury winner Son Of Camas cannot be discounted after beating King Roland (hacked up at Exeter on New Year’s Day) last time.
At Wincanton, SAINTEMILION (2.05) made a valiant effort to concede 16lb to the winner when beaten a neck over course and distance on Boxing Day and local maestro Paul Nicholls wastes no time in stripping him for action under Bryony Frost in the Boylesports Handicap Chase.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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