Return Flight and Wild Hacked among best bets for Southwell and Windsor
Published:
David Metcalf | October 3, 2016
Return Flight weighted to strike at Southwell
Return Flight can capitalise on what looks a lenient mark to make a winning debut for trainer and Coral horse racing ambassador Dan Skelton in the 2m handicap hurdle on today’s card at Southwell (15:40).
The gelding had some very useful form in bumpers when trained by Micky Hammond, including when a 2 1/4 length runner-up to the now 146-rated Shantou Village in a 13-runner contest at Wetherby.
Although the five-year-old has failed to trouble the judge in five starts over hurdles, he has shaped better than the bare result suggests on more than one occasion, running his best race to date when last seen in action and finishing a close-up fourth at Wetherby back in March.
Return Flight kept on strongly from off the pace to be beaten just 1 1/2 lengths and it was an effort which suggested there was better to come.
A handicap mark of 100 looks very exploitable, especially on his run behind Shantou Village, and the son of Kayf Tara now makes his debut in what looks a very winnable class 4 contest for a yard which does particularly well with new recruits.
Bandol worth a bet to follow-up
Bandol scored in good style last time out, so can defy a rise in the weights to follow-up in the 2m novices’ handicap chase the gets proceedings underway (14:10).
The Henry Oliver trained eight-year-old came good at the second time of asking over the larger obstacles when justifying strong support to beat Deise Vu by 3 1/2 lengths at Worcester.
Bandol only had to be driven out to get the job done having blundered badly three from home and was value for more than the winning margin.
It was a most taking display and the pair pulled 23 lengths clear of the field to give the form a solid look in the context of this contest.
Although now 7lb higher in the weights, Bandol was a winning pointer, remains unexposed over the larger obstacles and looks the type who should have plenty more to offer.
Southwell best bets
14.10: Bandol (NB)
14.40: Robert’s Star
15.10: Utility
15.40: Return Flight (NAP)
16.10: Quieto Sol
16.40: New Member
Wild about the chances of Hacked at Windsor
Wild Hacked ran a stormer last time out and can take advantage of a drop in class to get back to winning ways in the extended 1m 3f handicap on today’s card at Windsor (15:50).
The Marco Botti trained colt won a maiden at this venue on return to action and has since posted several solid efforts in decent handicaps.
They include a a fine fifth of 13 to Garcia in the valuable class 2 Silver Bowl at Haydock and a solid 1 3/4 lengths third to Threat Assessed at Sandown in a race which has thrown-up plenty of subsequent winners.
Wild Hacked has since gone on to score in good style at Chelmsford, and comes into the contest on the back of a career-best effort when a 3 1/4 length fourth of 12 to New Caledonia in an ultra-competitive class 2 contest at Ascot.
The three-year-old is able to race in this lower grade class 3 affair off an unchanged mark of 89, and that gives the consistent son of Lemon Drop Kid major claims from a handicapping perspective.
Fire Ship looks hot under Crowley
Fire Ship has become dangerously well-treated and looks decent value to land an overdue success in the 1m handicap (16:50).
The William Knight trained seven-year-old is on a long losing run having not scored since landing a Group 3 at Deauville back in August 2013.
However, the gelding has run some solid races to make the frame including last season when a 1/4 length third in a Group 3 at Leopardstown and third in a Listed contest at York off an official rating of 105.
Fire Ship is now able to race off a career-low mark of just 80 and that makes him a huge player on the pick of his form in this class 4 contest.
The son of Firebreak also has a strike rate of 40 per cent in the grade, handles cut in the ground, and has the services of title-chasing jockey Jim Crowley in the saddle.
Windsor tips
13.50: Santorini
14.20: Glorious Forever
14.50: Earthly
15.20: Cold Fusion
15.50: Wild Hacked (NAP)
16.20: Geneva Convention
16.50: Fire Ship (NB)
17.20: Limerick Lord
Related
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