A trio of meetings have survived the cold snap on Wednesday though, as has become the norm in recent days, the big freeze could yet have a say.
Cards at Lingfield, Dundalk and Kempton are set to carry the torch, with the turf fixture at Newbury lost to the wintery weather as the jumps hiatus in Britain carries on.
Our Wednesday fancies include a Charlie & Mark Johnston inmate on the improve headed for Lingfield Park and a date with champion jockey William Buick.
Selections
- Lingfield 14.55 – Capital Theory @ 2/1
- Kempton 18.00 – Granary Queen @ 9/2
- Dundalk 16.15 – Tynamite @ 8/1
Tip 1
Horses from the Mark Johnston string have long established the pattern of sustained improvement once they find their groove and so last time out Chelmsford scorer CAPITAL THEORY (2/1) is taken to come forward now back in a handicap after that maiden success at the Essex layout 13 days ago.
A gelded son of Muhaarar, Capital Theory improved on his turf form when finishing third at Southwell (1m3f) on his all-weather bow in October and wad duly sent off odds-on back in maiden company at Chelmsford with Buick taking over in the saddle for the first time.
They were entitled to land that prize and did so by a commanding distance of nearly five-lengths without being highly tried. That should have boosted confidence for this three-year-old and he’s got plenty scope to build on it now back in a handicap from an unchanged mark of 77.
Tip 2
Eve Johnson-Houghton’s filly GRANARY QUEEN (9/2) went in the notebook at Lingfield seven days ago as an unlucky loser and can earn herself some compensation now.
The daughter of Dragon Pulse was given a typical hold-up ride by George Downing in that Lingfield contest over 7f and had the majority of her ten rivals in front as they rounded the final bend.
Just ahead of her turning in was Starshiba, who quickly pinched a couple of lengths in the straight and had gotten enough of a jump to hold off the fast-finishing filly as Granary Queen got up for second.
Her all-weather form since winning at Lingfield in September reads 2322 and it’s a positive see Charles Bishop back in the saddle, with four of five career wins coming under this pilot.
The presence of the unbeaten Hickory for James Fanshawe sees him dominating the betting, but he’s raced just once since his debut in August 2020 and moves into handicaps off a mark of 80 with more on his plate after October’s easy novice win over C&D.
Granary Queen can mow down her rivals late in the day.
Tip 3
The David Marnane-trained TYNAMITE (8/1) is already a five-time winner around this venue, this most recent of those a year ago over 7f and he arrives back for a pre-Christmas Dundalk effort of the back of a positive showing last month.
On that occasion, he was caught further back than ideal in the early part of the race and came home well for 5lb claiming rider Siobhan Rutledge to be beaten a head into second spot on the line.
Rutledge is on board again this afternoon in what is possibly not as strong a race on paper and if they can get a handy position from their wide draw and sit midfield, this eight-year-old has sound enough claims.
