Swinging Eddie tipped to win
SWINGING Eddie can get punters off to a flying start in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap at Wolverhampton.
In-form Grant Tuer sends his course specialist back down to Dunstall Park for the opening contest from his North Yorkshire base.
Swinging Eddie moves up to just beyond a mile again, having previously fared well at an extended nine furlongs when a decent third here last summer before returning from a break for two successful visits in three attempts over just seven.
The five-year-old is up 5lb for his victory at the end of last month, but that was a performance with a bit of substance for this grade.
Most compelling of all is the current well-being of Tuer’s string, having recorded a treble at Newcastle last week and a 100 per cent success rate on that card. Swinging Eddie looks well capable of keeping the good run going.
Tuer has so far eked just one win out of Kaafy, who could well double that tally in the Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap.
Kaafy has a patchy overall record
Huntingdon - (five-year record)
Top Trainers (with runners): D Skelton 30-149 (20.1%), Jonjo O’Neill 19-114
(16.7%), K Bailey 19-117 (16.2%) F O’Brien 18-66 (27.3%), O Murphy 13-51 (25.5%), A King 13-95 (13.7%) G L Moore 13-109 (11.9%), Mrs C Bailey 12-63 (19.1%), C Longsdon 11-105 (10.5%) B Pauling 10-90 (11.1%), S Edmunds 9-51 (17.6%), L Wadham 9-52 (17.3%).
Top Jockeys (with mounts): Harry Skelton 24-122 (19.7%), Sam Twiston-Davies 17-87 (19.5%), Paddy Brennan 16-75 (21.3%) Ciaran Gethings 15-82 (18.3%), Aidan Coleman
13-77 (16.9%), David Bass 13-87 (14.9%) Sean Bowen 12-61 (19.7%), Robbie Dunne 11-66 (16.7%), Gavin Sheehan 9-63 (14.3%) Jonjo O’Neill Jr. 7-41 (17.1%), James Bowen 7-42 (16.7%), Joshua Moore 7-57 (12.3%). Favourites: 199-558 (35.7%).
Redcar - (five-year record)
Top Trainers (with runners): T Easterby but was back in good heart again with an encouraging second here, on the card which yielded Swinging Eddie’s victory.
It was only deep in the final furlong, over this same trip, that Kaafy was outgunned - and despite a 4lb rise for that half-length defeat, he has a very feasible opportunity to go one better.
Masque Of Anarchy has run with promise on all three starts for his new stable, after returning from a long break at the start of last month.
The first two of those efforts came here, latterly at this distance, before he ran well over further despite finding himself in an awkward early position at Bath.
He should be more at home back here, and has shown enough of late to suggest he can break his duck at this moderate level.
In the closing Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap, Pips Tune may strike a winning chord. 35-392 (8.9%), R Fahey 31-257 (12.1%), D O’Meara 29-197 (14.7%) M Johnston 16-108 (14.8%), W Haggas 14-38 (36.8%), K Ryan 13-112 (11.6%) M Dods 13-167 (7.8%), A Watson 12-42 (28.6%), T D Barron 12-98 (12.2%) K Dalgleish 10-65 (15.4%), R Fell 9-101 (8.9%), M W Easterby 8-96 (8.3%). Top Jockeys (with mounts): Daniel Tudhope 26-128 (20.3%), David Allan 23-208 (11.1%), Kevin Stott 22-132 (16.7%) Jason Hart 18-155 (11.6%), Paul Hanagan 16-126 (12.7%), Ben Curtis 14-133 (10.5%) Graham Lee 14-161 (8.7%), Joe Fanning 13-82 (15.8%), Andrew Mullen 12-149 (8.1%) P J McDonald 9-91 (9.9%), Nathan Evans 9-95 (9.5%), Tom Eaves 9-120 (7.5%). Favourites: 177-516 (34.3%).
Windsor - (five-year record)
Top Trainers (with runners): R Hannon 50-277 (18.1%), A Balding 24-123 (19.5%), M Channon 20-125 (16%) W Haggas
19-65 (29.2%), E Walker 19-105 (18.1%), E
The son of Helmet raced exclusively at Southwell in three novice and two handicap starts, after making his debut in December, until trying this course and distance last month.
He gave himself a tough task after starting slowly but picked up well to finish a near five-length third of 13.
Pips Tune has been dropped 1lb for that effort, keeping him neatly in this realistic grade, and he could easily fare better from a decent draw at his second attempt here.
There are two Flat fixtures on the turf at Redcar and Windsor - and Pleasant Man catches the eye at the Berkshire track, in the Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Novice Stakes.
Roger Charlton’s colt is one of two who must concede a winner’s penalty, and he appeals as the obvious pick of the pair.
He scored comfortably as favourite on debut at Haydock in September, before heading for the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket three weeks later.
Pleasant Man was last of five throughout there, but beaten little
J-Houghton 14-108 (13%) S C Williams 13-86 (15.1%), R Beckett 13-98 (13.3%), H Palmer 12-67 (17.9%) R Charlton 11-60 (18.3%), M Bell 11-61 (18%), R Cowell 10-62 (16.1%). Top Jockeys (with mounts): Oisin Murphy 49-268 (18.3%), James Doyle 29-119 (24.4%), Adam Kirby 29-169 (17.2%) Sean Levey 24-139 (17.3%), David Probert 17-187 (9.1%), Pat Dobbs 15-98 (15.3%) Kieran Shoemark 12-106 (11.3%), Hector Crouch 11-102 (10.8%), Charles Bishop 11-140 (7.9%) Martin Dwyer 10-94 (10.6%), William Buick 9-33 (27.3%), Richard Kingscote 9-82 (11%). Favourites: 242-730 (33.2%).
Wolverhampton - (five-year record) Top Trainers (with runners): A Carroll 50-471 (10.6%), R Fahey 48-464 (10.3%), A Brittain 45-430 (10.5%) D O’Meara 44-404 (10.9%), M Loughnane 42-487 (8.6%), R Hannon 41-314 (13.1%) S C Williams 27-170 (15.9%), A Balding 26-168 (15.5%), R Harris 21-231 (9.1%) R Carr 18-193 (9.3%), J Fanmore than four lengths and therefore sets a lofty standard as he seeks to justify his Dante and Derby entries - shawe 17-87 (19.5%), D Shaw 15-207 (7.2%). Top Jockeys (with mounts): Luke Morris 116-1015 (11.4%), Jack Mitchell 70-337 (20.8%), Cam Hardie 48-565 (8.5%) Dougie Costello 31-360 (8.6%), Clifford Lee 29-214 (13.6%), Phil Dennis 21-263 (8%) Nicola
Currie 18-231 (7.8%), David Egan 17-133 (12.8%), Joey Haynes 16-224 (7.1%) Charlie Bennett 15-218 (6.9%), James Sullivan 13-227 (5.7%), John Egan 10-145 (6.9%). Favourites: 914-2821 (32.4%).
The following horses have cheek pieces:
Huntingdon: 1.00 Schnabel, Shall We Go Now, 2.30 Olympic Conqueror, 3.00 Fraterculus 3.30 Havana Hermano, 4.00 Arthur’s Reuben, Dapa Lad, Push Ahead.
Redcar: 2.20 Super Over(*), 2.50 First Greyed(*), 3.20 Defence Treaty, Home Before Dusk Motawaafeq, 3.50 Military Mission(*), 5.00 Jupiter Road, 5.30 Spantik.
Windsor: 2.10 For Peat’s Sake, Mister with the move up from a mile to 10 furlongs highly likely to help him.
At Redcar, Super Over is of obvious interest in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Novice Median Auction Stakes.
Archie Watson’s colt has acquired cheekpieces since failing by just a short head on debut over this trip at Newcastle in November - when he ran with promise but left the impression both the experience, and the headgear, will be of assistance.
Over jumps at Huntingdon, former point-to-point winner Powerstown Park is likely to be very popular on his switch to fences after three very easy handicap hurdle wins last month.
But Iconic Muddle’s hurdles form was at least as good last year, and he too has always looked as if fences will suit.
Gary Moore’s grey ran with credit when third trying to give weight to a very useful winner on his debut over the bigger obstacles at Warwick in December and should be a significant threat to the likely favourite on his return in the Racing TV Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Bluebird(*), Papas Girl, Silver Diva(*) 3.10 Order Of St John, Polar Cloud(*), Thorn(*), 3.40 The Lamplighter 4.10 Alto Volante(*), 4.40 Kingston Kurrajong, Strawberry Jack. Wolverhampton: 4.50 Divine Connection, Makambe, 5.20 Born To Sire(*), Lukoutoldmakezebak Masque Of Anarchy, Mostaqqer(*), 6.20 Lets Go Lucky(*), London Calling Puchita, 6.50 International Law, 7.20 Lawmans Blis(*), 7.50 Ghostly The Bay Warrior.
(*): horses wearing cheek pieces for the first time.
The following horses have tongue straps:
Huntingdon: 1.00 Schnabel, Shall We Go Now, Brecon Hill, San Pedro De Senam, 1.30 Aliandy, 2.00 Exelerator Express, Powerstown Park, Loughan, 3.00 Long Call, Misstree Song, Fraterculus, 3.30 Go Steady, 4.00 Lord Sparky, Arthur’s Reuben, Witches Glen, Frilly Frock, Dapa Lad, 4.30 Hors Guard.
Windsor: 2.10 Thomas Daniell, 3.40 The
Lamplighter, 4.40 Strawberry Jack, Heaven Forfend, Big Brown.
Wolverhampton: 4.50 Don’t Jump George, 5.20 Pedro De Styles, 6.20 Aces, Akua,Bernie’s Boy, 7.50 Beija Flor.
The following horses are visored for the first time:
Huntingdon: 4.00 Puppet Warrior
Windsor: 4.40 Heaven Forfend Wolverhampton: 5.20 Super Superjack; 7.50 Laetoli; 7.50 Beija Flor
The following horses are blinkered for the first time:
Windsor: 2.10 Shessweet
Longest travellers: Empress Sheba in the 1.50 and Super Over in the 2.20 and Zhui Feng in the 3.20 and Parachute in the 4.25 and Red Flyer in the at Redcar (252 miles).