Horse Racing Tips, Saturday 27th February

14:20, Newcastle: Draytonian @ 3/1 – 2 point win 

The first of two selections from Newcastle today comes in the 14:20, where it is, Draytonian who gets the nod.

Phillip Hobbs’ runner comes into this race having only had three starts over hurdles, and looks a fair deal less exposed than some of these. There was plenty to like about a third place finish on hurdling debut, where – in a novice event at Wetherby – he finished closely behind two horses who’ve gone onto run in valuable races off ratings of 134 and 145. That promising debut effort was followed by an easy success over the same C&D a month later.

Last time out at Kempton, a blunder three flights from home saw his chance of further success diminish rapidly and it’s probably fair to draw a line through that piece of form and take him on his earlier efforts. And it is the form of those first two attempts over hurdles which suggest he could be a progressive sort, one who has plenty more to offer.

It is fairly unusual for Hobbs to send one to Newcastle, so it’s hard to imagine that this race would’ve been picked out it if wasn’t a realistic task for the six year old, who should come into this nice and fresh having not raced for the best part of two months.

In a race where plenty of the more exposed types look questionable for one reason or another, the unexposed, Draytonian is fancied to resume his earlier progress and run a big race.

15:55, Lingfield: Si Senor @ 7/2 – 2 point win 

Si Senor was tipped up when winning over C&D a month ago, and he returns to the scene of that victory today, where he appears to have been found another good looking opportunity.

Having returned a pleasing 11/4 winner at the end of January, the Ed Vaughan trained, Si Senor ran another cracking race over C&D two weeks ago, finishing 2^nd by just a neck. Clearly we’re looking at a horse who is thriving at present and his run of good performances may not have come to end yet; especially since today’s’ task looks no harder, and if anything, may actually be a tad easier than last time out.

In that last race (over C&D) the five year old stepped into class 2 company (Class 3 today) and ran a big race, finishing in close up in second place, beating a number of horses rated in the mid to high 90’s, which on paper is better than anything he’ll face today. Naturally these performances haven’t gone unnoticed by the handicapper and the selection will now race off 5lbs higher. However, the potentially shrewd booking of in-form apprentice, Paddy Pilley, negates this rise.

All in all, we’re talking about a very consistent all-weather performer (30.77% strike rate on the surface) in the kind of race that he’s already proven he can win, at odds of 7/2, Si Senor looks a worthwhile bet.

17:05, Newcastle: Boudry @ 7/4 – 2 point win

Boudry for Warren Greatrex looks the standout horse in the bumper at Newcastle, and the five year old ran with plenty of credit on his first two starts, both times shaping as though his turn in the winners enclosure shouldn’t be far away.

Having finished 2^nd of 14 on debut at Taunton, the horse followed up by staying on well to take a close 3^rd at Towcester last time out, and may well have gone closer if a clear run was available at a crucial stage of the race. The form of those two runs certainly looks good in relation to this race and on paper it is hard to find anything more appealing among the form of the other runners in this line up.

This yard are one that generally do well in bumpers and the trainer has been quoted saying: “I think this flat galloping track will suit him, he should go close in what doesn’t look the strongest of bumpers”. Overall it’s probably fair to say that this is Boudry’s best chance, to date, of getting off the mark.