Horse Racing Tips: Wednesday 10th August

16:20 Salisbury – So Celebre @ 4/1 

The 16:20 at Salisbury is an interesting little handicap. It’s certainly a race lacking depth and, as such, probably won’t take much winning.

Master Gunner is chalked up as the red-hot favourite (as short as even money in places) but this seems excessive. Without saying too much, the favourite has to be far too short here. Granted, a step up on last time out’s second would definitely put him in the mix, but that piece of form isn’t exactly anything special and there’s no guarantee of a repeat, let alone improvement.

At the much better price of 4/1, the horse to be on is So Celebre. The Ian Williams trained three year old encountered the fastest ground of his short career last time out and seemed to relish it. In fact, it is fancied that even faster ground, which today’s should be, will bring about an improved performance. A galloping track, such as Salisbury, might also aid his chances.

The gelding hasn’t done much in five handicap appearances, but an initial mark of 75 has soon come down to 68, a mark which he ran particularly well off last time out – staying on strongly to be denied by a neck in a better looking race at Windsor. As mentioned above the good ground that day certainly seemed to aid his cause and that run has left the impression that today’s good-to-firm will suit even more.

In what is the weakest looking handicap that he will have contested, on ground/and at a track that is expected to suit, So Celebre should be capable of running a big race and, at odds of 4/1, is well worth a bet.

16:50 Salisbury – Wahaab @ 4/1

Richard Hughes’s Wahaab has been a bit disappointing so far, and, despite being well-backed on a number of occasions is yet to win for the ex champion jockey.

Eight is the number of runs Wahaab has had for Richard Hughes, however, most of that form looks to be irrelevant for one reason or another. Having said this, there are two runs that catch the eye. The two pieces of form in question are the only times this horse has encountered fast ground since moving yards.

Back in early June, around this course (6f), Wahaab ran a respectable race to finish third. He may have gone closer but was perhaps too far behind and all of his best work was done late in the race. Next time out he ran a close second, again running on late in the day, before disappointing at Chepstow on his penultimate start. Although that run can be forgiven on the basis of soft ground.

Last time out, this time at Windsor, again he ran with plenty of credit. The five year-old came with a strong run in the closing stages, but was unable to seriously challenge the front pair for the simple fact that he just had too much to do.

Given the manner in which he has stayed on in these races, today’s step up to 7f looks a good move. it is also fancied that this might just be a shrewd bit of placement from his handler. Compared to the races discussed above, today’s race isn’t as strong, certainly not in terms of strength in depth anyway.

To cut a long story short, or at least shorter, this is a runner who looks to have plenty in favour today. Both ground an trip should suit and this definitely a race that’s their for the taking.

17:35 Beverley – Mappin Time @ 8/1 (each-way)

I’ll get straight to the point on this one. At odds of 8/1, Mappin Time looks an absolute steal here. It’s hard to come up with any logical reason as to why this horse should be chalked up at such a price.

Not only is this eight year-old dropping in grade, but he returns to the track where, in two runs, he is yet to finish out of the money (including a win). On top of having a decent record at this track, Tim Easterby’s gelding also has a good record at Class 5 level. In fact, such is the horse’s quality, he’s only ever run in three Class 5 races before and is yet to finish out of the money at this level. Winning twice and placing on the other occasion.

OK, granted this horse hasn’t won for quite a while, but he has turned in a number of good efforts in the time since he last entered the winners circle and, considering he last won off a mark of 90, he looks well placed here off what is potentially a very lenient mark of 73.

We’re talking about a hold-up horse who’s done it at a much better level than this and, whether he’s been in good form recently or not, in an event such as this, Mapping Time could so easily run a big race.

18:20 Bath – Belledesert @ 10/1 (each-way) & Racquet @ 12/1 (each-way)

Lot’s of people tend to either frown upon, or are wary of, backing two horses in the same race. But, if you’ve identified two horses in the same race who both look overpriced and are thus backable each-way, then the logical thing to do is back both. After all, having two chances of collecting is better than one, right?

Of the two, let’s look at Belledesert first. Having already won two races here at bath, both of which came on good-to-firm ground, Steph Hollinshead’s filly looks to have a much better chance than her 10/1 odds suggest.

This lightly raced three-year old has only had six races in handicaps, three of which came at this track, two of which saw her come home in front.

Having comfortably won a Class 5 handicap over C&D back in May, she stepped into Class 4 company, where, considering circumstances weren’t ideal, she ran with a reasonable amount of credit. Particularly last time out at Doncaster, where she finished fourth in a competitive eight runner event.

Today’s contest looks nowhere near as competitive as her last assignment and, having dropped back down into Class 5 company, this three year-old could easily get involved at the business end of this race.

As for Racquet, well, in all honesty, it’s very surprising to see this one chalked up as big as he is.

Richard Hannon’s colt may not have won yet at handicap level, but he has contested some fairly hot races, all of which looked a good deal harder than today’s.

The drop in grade is the first eye-catching thing about this horse, but couple this with the slight drop in trip and he really does start to look a decent bet.

The best piece of form this horse has to his name is an 8th placed finish Newbury’s Weatherbys Super Sprint (A race worth more than £120,000). In relation to today’s race this looks seriously good form. OK, he hasn’t done much since then, but we’re talking about performances at level higher than this.

Based on what we’ve seen from this horse in much harder races, having initially been given a mark of 85, a Class five race of a mark of 75 should be well within his reach.

It is fancied that Racquet can outrun his odds in this race and it would be no surprise to see him go close.