Wednesday’s Wetherby tips
13:45 – Madame Luna
14:15 – Ira Hayes
14:45 – Support Act
15:18 – Heads Or Harps
15:53 – Bowling Buddy
16:28 – Shady B
17:00 – Rockola Vogue
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:45 – Madame Luna
MADAME LUNA should have more to come after her Fakenham debut success in November when she was sent off as the well-supported 6/5 favourite.
Clearly well-thought-of, she has been given a three-month break since and can make it 2-2 here under a penalty. However, market confidence behind Dan Skelton newcomer La Belle Argentee, who is from a successful French family, would make her a likely threat.
Livingonaprayer’s dam won on her own hurdling debut, so she looks a newcomer to note, too.
Rose’s Dart showed enough on the first of her two outings in bumpers to think she could also make her presence felt in a race like this now hurdling.
Ninna Collina backed up her third behind Madame Luna when chasing home Blue Moon Lady at Ludlow and holds Highbury Hill on that effort.
14:15 – Ira Hayes
John McConnell does well with his raiders on these shores. The progressive IRA HAYES contributed to the yard’s healthy 23% strike rate in races over hurdles in the UK when running away with a Carlisle maiden in November.
He is open to improvement and can make it 2-2 in this sphere.
Wade Out completely misfired in Grade 2 company last time at Cheltenham but remains of interest in view of his earlier promise, most notably his second—one place ahead of Joyeuse—to the now-133-rated Celtic Dino.
Rule Me In has to enter calculations, too, with this longer trip likely to suit.
Top Guy will be qualified for handicaps after this run, so looks one to look out for after this, most likely when stepped up further in distance.
14:45 – Support Act
There were plenty of positives to take from SUPPORT ACT‘s chase debut fourth at Newbury, after which he was awarded the Timeform ‘Horse In Focus’ flag.
Despite losing a shoe, he showed plenty of promise when 7¼ lengths fourth that day, getting back involved even after a bad mistake five out.
He is likely to stay beyond three miles, so he should enjoy the uphill finish here and looks sure to progress as a chaser.
Top on weight-adjusted ratings – with a small ‘p’, too – he looks well worth another chance.
Micks Jet arrives here in good order (form franked from last run) and is feared most ahead of Broomfield Present, who has dipped to an attractive mark.
There were signs that he’s veering back onto the right track at Lingfield recently.
15:18 – Heads Or Harps
Timeform ‘Horse In Focus’ HEADS OR HARPS made a promising start over fences for Lucinda Russell after an absence when a strong-finishing fourth at Newcastle, so he gets the vote here with improvement very much on the cards; he can defy a 2 lb rise in the weights.
High Moon, who represents a yard in good form, appeals as the pick of the rest now he reverts to a shorter trip in a first-time visor, with Doncaster fourth Scene One (also back down in trip) and the consistent Golden De Coeur (trying cheekpieces for the first time) looking best equipped in the battle for minor honours.
Sedgefield regular Tom Creen also enters calculations.
15:53 – Bowling Buddy
Former Olly Murphy inmate BOWLING BUDDY, who has a win and a runner-up finish from two starts at the track, continues on the up.
With this first go over 3m likely to suit, he is taken to build on an excellent recent second here and quickly resume winning ways.
Off The Jury is feared most on the back of a very good Wincanton third, after which he has had wind surgery, although Forged Well is weighted to go well if he is back on his A-game.
Grand Geste, who represents a yard in good form, makes it onto the shortlist in this competitive handicap, along with Curley Finger, who has often done well in these qualifying races; he should appreciate the return to more positive tactics after running poorly when dropped out when last seen.
16:28 – Shady B
The market has tended to get this handicap about right over the years, with no winning favourite but no winner priced at bigger than 8/1 since it was first run in 2017.
SHADY B made his second start over fences, a winning one at Ffos Las, leaving the impression that there is more to come from him in this sphere.
He can defy an 8 lb rise in the weights and gets the nod ahead of Timeform ‘Horses For Courses’ flag horse Ladronne, who has slipped to a very tempting mark and will benefit from this step back up in trip.
Gibberwell, the recent Carlisle runner-up and Time Was, who filled the same position over a shorter trip here last time out, can do battle for minor honours.
17:00 – Rockola Vogue
ROCKOLA VOGUE is the one in this line-up who should have more to offer and can make a successful start to her handicap career.
She needs to brush up on her jumping somewhat, but she comes from a family that stays well and should appreciate the step back up in trip today, having chased home a very promising mare over shorter when last seen.
Our Bill’s Aunt has struck up a decent partnership with Toby McCain-Mitchell in recent weeks and is second choice ahead of Fergal O’Brien’s Hard As Nails, a very likeable front-runner.
However, she has plenty of competition for the lead – most notably Could Be Trouble and Wednesday Addams – and may find the petrol tank emptying late
Wednesday’s Wetherby tips
13:45 – Madame Luna
14:15 – Ira Hayes
14:45 – Support Act
15:18 – Heads Or Harps
15:53 – Bowling Buddy
16:28 – Shady B
17:00 – Rockola Vogue
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