Warwick – Sunday 23rd January

Day 3 of the inaugural Winter Million, and it feels a little like day 3 of Cheltenham’s November meeting, whereby much of the interest was focussed on the two days prior, before small fields dominate the final day – with a big field handicap chucked in for good measure – for the Greatwood Hurdle, read today’s Surrey National.

If there were to be a bet on the card at Lingfield Park today, it would be Just Your Type at 8/1 in the racehorselotto.com Surrey National at 3.35 – he should find things a little easier than in the Tommy Whittle last time, but I stopped short of a full-on recommendation, as I’d have hoped for a double figure price really.

Instead, today’s sole recommendation comes from the supporting card at Warwick, and is in the competitive looking and catchily titled Try Racing TV For Free Now Handicap Hurdle at 2.50.

It is rare for me to have a bet on a horse, with the main angle being what might be to come, and less so on the nuts and bolts of what he has achieved previously – but what strikes me most about Olly Murphy’s Washington, is the potential of what he looks likely to do in a well-run race now he’s thrust into handicap company.

Available at the clunky price of 15/4 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook, for 2 places each-way, make him your bet of the day.

Two hugely impressive and smooth bumper wins preceded an equally slick win on hurdle debut. What he beat at Bangor that day, in relation to the quality of rival that he meets today, is open to question. But what is not up for debate is the likely ability of the horses he has met on his last two hurdle starts, both at Cheltenham.

On both occasions, Washington has been held up off a slow pace, and thus afforded better track position at most stages of each race to good horses in front of him. That he made a race of it on both starts, against the likes of Jpr One, Datsalrightgino and I Like To Move It was markedly suggestive of Washington being able to mix it at a very good level over hurdles, when given the right scenario.

Hopefully that is today, as there should be at least an honest tempo thanks to Barrichello, and with his super-slick hurdling technique, Olly Murphy’s Washington can start to climb the ladder.

In campaigning him the way he has, Murphy has almost handicapped him too well, as given his Betfair Hurdle entry suggests of more to come, he is perhaps a little too far down the list to actually get in the race. Thus, a win and a penalty today would be just the ticket for connections of Washington, if indeed that race at Newbury is the plan.

Good Risk At All would be a big danger on his bumper form, but doesn’t look a natural hurdler, while Lydford could have more to come, and Barrichello would be a danger if handed a soft lead – so it is competitive.

But at 15/4 each-way with Paddy Power or Betfair Sportsbook, Washington has a golden chance to begin his progression, for a decent pot at 2.50 at Warwick today.

Earlier at Warwick, I wouldn’t put anyone off a speculative each-way bet on Tim Vaughan’s Clemencia at 25/1 in the 1.50, as he jumped well apart from one mistake in a much better race at Exeter last time. He can outrun that price if keeping the errors out of his jumping. While, Dhowin looks well suited to going back left-handed in the 3.25, but is short enough at a general 7/2.