Sport

Mid-week Betting: Nancy Astor primed for Lingfield

Our tipster Karl Hedley provides the odds for the week's races

WEDNESDAY

LINGFIELD

2-25 32RED.COM MAIDEN FILLIES STAKES – 1 M 1 YD

Nancy Astor has been unfortunate not to get her head in front before but this step up to a mile could well prove the making of her. She seemed to get done for pace in both of her most recent runs over this course and distance and now that John Gosden has returned to winning form with his runners, she looks to be the one to beat here. Robert Havlin is reunited with the three year old filly and the combination are entitled to plenty of respect against lesser experienced rivals.

Skip And Jump has proved somewhat disappointing thus far for Roger Varian. Her best effort to date came over this trip at Wolverhampton last October and it looks as though she may stay further in time. She looks the biggest threat on all known form and may be able to pick up the pieces if the selection fails to fire.

Charlie Appleby has his operation in excellent order and they have been plundering similar prizes all winter. Legerity is entitled to improve on what we saw last summer at Doncaster and should well be capable of better on this synthetic surface. Nancy Astor has lots in her favour including her previous experience of this track. With her yard returning to form she ought to go very close here.

KEMPTON

5-10 32RED.COM HANDICAP – 1 MILE

Ian’s Memory showed absolutely nothing on his turf debut at Newmarket last August. He was beaten some twenty lengths on the quick ground and it could well prove that an artificial surface is much more to his liking. He had run fairly well in maiden company on the polytrack at Lingfield and over this course and distance previously. Jeremy Noseda has made the frame with his last three runners and Ian’s Memory remains completely unexposed. There should be further improvement to come from a yard that does well at this track.

Bosstime is a dual course and distance winner and comes in search of a fourth consecutive victory. He can confirm recent form with What A Dandy on identical terms and now that he is reacquainted with Rob Havlin. The duo teamed up to win well here back in December and they could well be the ones to beat in this race too.

Presumido has got better with each start during his winter campaign. Seb Sanders partnered him to success around here last time and they too have to enter calculations despite trying to defy a career high mark. Ian’s Memory has the visor on for the first time tonight and he ought to be better than what we have seen so far. He looks sure to improve upon whatever he does here but he has to be considered a live each way candidate.

THURSDAY

LUDLOW

1-20 LUDLOW FOR FUNCTIONS NOVICES HURDLE – 2 MILES

Days Of Heaven won his maiden by no fewer than eight lengths over this course and distance last month. He came with a well-timed challenge at the second last and then bounded away from the opposition on the flat. The selection has made the frame in all of his four career starts to date and with Barry Geraghty set to partner the Michael Buckley owned five year old yet again, the duo command utmost respect.

Zip Top is an intriguing entry given that he was considered good enough to make his hurdling debut in a much higher grade at Kempton on Boxing Day. He was ultimately no match for the well regarded Jollyallan, but he is expected to come on for that experience. If allowed to take his chance he looks the biggest threat to the selection.

Baths Well has run fairly well here in the recent past and showed improved form when making the frame at Fakenham a couple of weeks ago. It is not impossible to envisage further improvement and he too could fill the frame. Nicky Henderson has a near thirty percent strike rate at this track and he will be of the opinion that there will be far better to come from Days Of Heaven and he could well be correct.

FRIDAY

MUSSELBURGH

1-10 WILLIAM HILL – DOWNLOAD THE APP HANDICAP HURDLE – 2 M 4 F

Brave Spartacus returned to form with a vengeance at Sedgefield back in October having made all over two miles and a furlong. This step up in trip should not prove too much of an inconvenience on a track that is well known to lend itself well to frontrunners. Keith Reveley has his string in decent form and his son James is once again set to ride the gelding. He has partnered the nine-year-old to all five of his previous career wins and they have to be high on the shortlist this afternoon.

Steel Summit comes here bidding for a four timer and he looks the biggest danger. He is proven over distances of up to three miles and if the ground conditions deteriorate his stamina will certainly come into play. He did only run a few days ago though so his participation hangs in the balance. Lochnell was a shade disappointing at Ayr in December when he could only manage fourth behind A Shade Of Bay. Ryan Day is set to ride for the fourth time in succession today as Jim Goldie bids to offset the burden of top weight. Brave Spartacus may just get a soft enough lead here in a race in which many rivals are out of form. He could prove very difficult to pass if that is the case and he is likely to make another bold effort.