Today's Horse Racing Tips: World Title bids for Lingfield domination

It was a hopeless start to 2021 with yet another well-fancied beaten favourite followed by an outsider that failed to outrun his odds. I am hoping that today will be the day that I get off the mark for the year. Good luck if you have a bet.

Lingfield Tip

13:10 – 1m Bombardier “March To Your Own Drum” Handicap (Class 5)

WORLD TITLE (NAP – 1 point win bet at 15/2) is a three-time winner on turf and has shaped as though a first victory on the All Weather is very close. Having won a nursery off a mark of 85, he should be more than capable of winning a race like this now dropped to a career low rating of 70. 

After being headed close home at Wolverhampton as a 50/1 outsider three starts back, he again ran well at Kempton next time out to prove it was no fluke. He must now bounce back from a disappointing run on a slow surface there 19 days ago but is fancied to go well on this first run at Lingfield. The form of his last three races has worked out well with several subsequent winners finishing ahead of him (including two that have scored in a higher grade).  

Archie Watson, who is one of the leading trainers at Lingfield, has opted to fit blinkers for the first time, and there is every chance that this four-year-old gelding can get the run of the race and dictate matters from the front.

The consistent Kodiac Harbour is next best ahead of Ed Walker’s representative Jack D’Or.

Sandown Tip

15:35 – 2m Unibet Casino Deposit £10 Get £40 Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

GUARD YOUR DREAMS (1 point win bet at 4/1) made an impressive hurdling debut at Bangor in September before disappointing there next time out. He then bounced back to form with an authoritative 10-length victory back at the Welsh course when last seen to justify strong market support and take his record to 2-3. Sam Twiston-Davies had to work hard off the home turn that day but his mount responded very well for pressure and went clear approaching the last.  

The step into handicap company will undoubtedly demand more, but this will be just his fourth start over hurdles and he remains open to plenty of improvement. With plenty of stamina in his pedigree, there is every chance that the switch from Bangor (sharp in nature) to Sandown (with its stiff uphill finish) will really suit this son of Fame And Glory. I suspect it won’t be long before he is stepped up in trip, so two miles here on testing ground could be ideal at this stage.

Despite needing to overcome a long absence, I can’t resist a cover bet on ZAMPERINI (0.5 point win bet at 22/1) given his huge price. Gary Moore’s runners tend to do well at Sandown and the trainer has reported that he is as fit as he can get him (although he is sure to come on for the run). He was doing well when last seen, winning two races in good style at Plumpton either side of a second-place finish behind a 1/4 favourite at Fontwell.  He was a regular at Sandown on the Flat and won here off a mark of 84. This nine-year-old receives weight from all but one of these rivals and should have the race run to suit.