Wincanton & Catterick – Wednesday 26th January

Yesterday was definitely not the day we were hoping for at Down Royal – with some inexplicably poor runs. These days can sometimes happen and it’s all about trying to regroup and finish off the week and month in a strong way. We are only slightly down on the month at the moment and it is nothing a good couple of days could not solve. The racing today comes from Wincanton and Catterick – where there are three selections coming to you for today’s racing.

Starting with Wincanton, who host a competitive six race card and the first selection comes in the opening contest of the day – which is the 1.50 mares handicap hurdle over 2m5f. This race for mares rated between 0-120 doesn’t look to have much between an awful lot of them and as you might have expected, the betting is quite tight as a result. Preference on this occasion is going to Sacre Coeur for Jonjo O’Neill. This gray mare has shaped with considerable promise on her three starts for this yard, when finishing fourth at Ludlow before a near miss at Bangor in October. She took a crushing fall last time out at Plumpton, when looking like she would play a big hand – and I suppose it has to be taken on trust whether that fall will have left its mark or not on this horse. She is well handicapped to make her presence felt in this time of race and the demands that this course provides should be right up her street. At a price of 17/2 with William Hill, who are offering 3 places – she is an each way bet. 

The 2.50 at Wincanton is a 2m4f handicap chase on this occasion, and despite just a small field of five going to post for this contest – it doesn’t look any easier to solve the winner. However, conditions and timings look right for a big run from Flagrant Delitiep – who has very good course form and will be in love with these conditions. This big gray horse has been disappointing so far this year, with three fairly labored runs. However, he has now dropped back down to 125 – which he is now handicapped to strike and doesn’t surprise me that he is returning to this venue to try and get his winning form back on track. There has been dribs and drabs of money around for him already this morning, and the booking of Harry Cobden, who partnered him to his last course and distance win – looks like a very good move. At a price of 10/3 with Bet365, he should be backed. 

And moving to Catterick for just the one selection – I am focusing on the 3.40 race, which is a 2m4f handicap chase for horses rated 0-105. It will require more than a leap of faith to back this horse but there is one chance to be given to Zolfo, with the hope that this gelding has a bit of ability still left in the tin despite some pretty desperate form figures to look at in recent times. That being said, he rattled off a four timer this time 2 years ago and he has always been able to compete off this type of mark in the past, so a revival is not completely out of bounds. This horse has dropped no more than 2 stone since running around this time last year and although that has been through some lifeless efforts, he is now back in a 0-105 for the first time in ages, and in theory, these are his ideal conditions. Taking all of that into consideration – a price of 18/1 with SkyBet, who are offering 4 places, is worth a small each way bet.