There are not many stars of past, present or future on show on Wednesday’s five cards, but there are a handful of runners whose recent form may be a little better than the market gives them credit for, the most obvious being Mudallel (6.25) in the one-mile handicap at Kempton in the evening.
Ed Dunlop’s gelding is the certain favourite after an emphatic success over course and distance off a mark of 70 last time out. Mudallel is up 8lb in the ratings, but the manner of his win – and the time of the race in particular – suggest that he still has plenty in hand of today’s field. A gelding operation and a switch to the all-weather seem to have improved him significantly, and 2-1 is a big price about him following up his latest success.
Bogart (3.30) also stands out in the sprint handicap at Musselburgh on Wednesday afternoon. He has not registered a win since August 2013, but has gone close on his last two starts and was within a length of the winner in a strong race at Thirsk last time out. Bogart can run off the same mark today in what looks like a weaker race and a repeat of his latest form would probably be good enough.
There are only six runners in the six-furlong handicap at Lingfield but both Under The Covers and Ocean Temptress put up performances last time out that would make them a worthy favourite. Narrow preference is for Under The Covers (3.40) at around 7-4, as Ocean Temptress was racing over further when she broke her maiden at Brighton earlier this month.
Rock On Bertie (3.10) had nowhere to go in the closing stages last time out and is a fair price for the nursery at Lingfield at around 7-1, while Magical Effect (3.20) and Melaniemille (3.50) both have something to recommend them on the card at Catterick Bridge. The former took a while to get going at Ripon last time but finished to good effect and may appreciate today’s extra furlong, while Melaniemille found winning form in a fair time with a drop back from seven to six last time and is up just 2lb today.
Wednesday’s tips
Catterick Bridge: 1.50 Cool Spirit 2.20 Eponina 2.50 Question Of Faith 3.20 Magical Effect 3.50 Melaniemillie 4.20 Bop It 4.50 Fire Leopard 5.20 Caesar’s Comet
Lingfield: 1.40 Malcolm The Pug 2.10 Gavota 2.40 Indicia 3.10 Rock On Bertie 3.40 Under The Covers 4.10 De Vegas Kid 4.40 Ban Shoof 5.10 Wassail
Musselburgh: 2.00 Three Saints Bay 2.30 Relight My Fire 3.00 Sakhalin Star 3.30 Bogart (nb) 4.00 Alnasl 4.30 Kalann 5.00 Suwaan
Worcester: 4.35 Washed Ashore 5.05 Gentleman Jon 5.35 Sam Noir 6.05 The Raven Master 6.35 Shanksforamillion 7.05 Amadoue 7.35 Over The Air
Kempton Park: 5.55 Voicemail 6.25 Mudallel (nap) 6.55 Delayla 7.25 Miss Liguria 7.55 Atkinson Grimshaw 8.25 Percy’s Word 8.55 See You Mush
