With the spring festivals approaching, it’s a slightly quieter period, but there’s still plenty of good racing. Haydock has a nice card with a couple of Grade 2s and the Grand National Trial, alongside Graded action at Ascot, some interesting races at Gowran Park and the usual all-weather fixtures. Let’s hope we can keep the momentum going after last week’s winner at Warwick, on what looks a tricky Saturday.
14:00 Lingfield – THECOFFEEPODDOTCO (3/1 Generally)
Several arrive here with fair claims, but the one to be with looks Richard Hannon’s consistent filly THECOFFEEPODDOTCO . She has been in solid form on the all-weather this year and has taken well to handicap company, posting a series of good efforts.
After finishing third at Southwell, she followed up with an impressive course-and-distance success here under Joe Leavy, where she won going away by one and a quarter lengths. The daughter of Sergei Prokofiev then ran another fine race when a close third at Wolverhampton on Monday, finishing strongly from the rear and going down by just half a length. With a slightly handier position, she may well have won. This four year old filly seems to thrive on racing and the quick turnaround is no concern.
Hello Luna and Honour Your Dreams look the main dangers, but she beat them comfortably here at the end of January and can go very close again.
14:25 Ascot – DE TEMPS EN TEMPS (16/1 Generally Each Way)
This is a competitive handicap hurdle and, on recent form, DE TEMPS EN TEMPS is not an obvious selection.I backed him at Cheltenham in November at a big price, and he was strongly supported to start at 13/2, but he raced far too keenly and faded into sixth. It was a similar story at Kempton in December, where he again over-raced in front before unseating Freddie Keighley when beaten.
However, despite all that, I think Martin Keighley’s gelding is worth another chance. He looks well handicapped judged on his wins at Cheltenham and Uttoxeter. The form of the latter has worked out particularly well. That day he beat Jamie Snowden’s Tiptoptim, who won either side of that run and later finished third in a Grade 1. He also had Marsiac over seven lengths behind, who has since won twice, and Kelijoe back in eighth, who later bolted up at Doncaster in December. His Cheltenham win has substance too, with Percy Shelley, a previous dual winner behind him.
Since his two disappointments, he has had a wind operation and will be refitted with a hood, a combination that can help him settle and find a better rhythm. If he relaxes and races more efficiently, he is capable of outrunning his odds. A versatile individual, with wins at both two miles and two and a half, with extra places on offer, he is worthy of each-way support.
SATURDAY SELECTIONS
14:00 Lingfield – THECOFFEEPODDOTCO (3/1 Generally)
14:25 Ascot – DE TEMPS EN TEMPS (16/1 Generally Each Way)
*Odds correct at time of posting – 3:40pm Friday 13th February
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Please note that although Matt has uploaded the tips, he is not our Racing Club Insider – the insider will remain anonymous!
