Today's Horse Racing Tips: Six selections from Kempton and Uttoxeter

That was a nightmare Cheltenham week for me with SIX seconds, a couple of thirds, another placed runner at 25/1 and several fancied non-runners. The crossbar was well and truly hit!

There are six bets for today’s racing at Uttoxeter and Kempton (4.5 points staked). Hopefully I’ll have a bit more luck!

Uttoxeter Tips

15:00 – 2m4f Burton Union Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 

GUSTAVIAN (1 point win bet at 6/1) has made a fine start to his hurdling career, winning his last two races by a combined distance of 7-lengths. This represents another step up in class but his latest run seemed effortless and it came over this course and distance. He is yet to finish out of the first two places in his eight career starts to date and is 2-2 for jockey Ben Godfrey, who continues to claim 5lbs.

Another that has caught my eye at a bigger price is WINNINGSEVERYTHING (0.5 point win bet at 10/1), who returns to hurdling after falling over fences back in October. He comes in to this unbeaten in two starts over timber, could get an uncontested lead and will be suited by the ground conditions at Uttoxeter.

The presence of Rockadenn and Wilde About Oscar make this a really strong-looking contest and the winner will be a smart horse going forward.

15:35 – 4m2f Marston’s 61 Deep Midlands Grand National (Listed)

MIGHTY THUNDER (1 point win bet at 16/1) was a 25/1 winner for me at Musselburgh 42 days ago, a result I celebrated to the extent that my neighbours felt the need to check everything was ok! Lucinda Russell’s progressive chaser was a 20-length winner of the gruelling staying contest that day and won it in the style of a very smart prospect over extreme trips. Although this will undoubtedly be tougher, this is an obvious next step and he can follow up with conditions to suit. A sound jumper and proven stayer over this trip, his overall record now reads 3-4 over fences and he remains open to plenty more improvement.

If things don’t go to plan for the main selection, there are two more that could run well at decent prices. TOMMY RAPPER (0.5 point win bet at 18/1) returned from a long break and ran well over hurdles at Exeter last month. Dan Skelton has an excellent record with his runners at Uttoxeter and this horse is completely unexposed over the larger obstacles. 

One that isn’t unexposed is TRUCKERS LODGE (0.5 point win bet at 25/1), who won this race by 18-lengths last year. His new mark will make it much tougher, but he will have been aimed at this race and will be suited by the return to this course and distance.

Kempton Tip

15:15 – 2m4½f Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (Class 3)

SMARTY WILD (NAP - 1 point win bet at 4/1) made a pleasing chase debut/seasonal reappearance at Ascot in October, running on to finish third of the eight runners. He then found things happening too quickly when dropped to 1m7f at Wetherby next time out. That appeared to put his jumping under pressure and he was outpaced throughout. A deserved first victory over fences soon followed and that came over today’s course and distance. The step up to an extended 2m4f seemed to be key that day as he is considered to be a three-mile chaser in the making. He is taken to bounce back from his defeat at Warwick 33 days ago, when he was sent off as joint favourite for a strong contest. A non-runner in Thursday’s Paddy Power Plate at the Cheltenham Festival, Philip Hobbs appears to have chosen this easier target for his improving chaser. Falco Blitz, one of two representatives for Nicky Henderson, can chase home the selection.