Horse Racing Tips: Tuesday 24th January 2017

14:00 Wetherby – Captain Mowbray @ 4/1

The Rebecca Menzies trained Captain Mowbray looks as though he’s been found a good opening on Tuesday afternoon and is the one to be with in the 14:00 at Wetherby.

This six-year-old is yet to win over timber, but remains unexposed and turned in a pleasing performance over C&D on Boxing Day. In a 17-runner Class 4 affair (today’s race is a Class 5), the gelding was held up off the pace by today’s pilot Tony Kelly before making smooth headway to run on and take 2nd place. If he wasn’t hampered at the last he may have gone even closer, but this was a solid effort nonetheless.

It’s particularly encouraging that his three attempts at a distance such as this one have yielded his two best performances. Track and ground seemed to be relished last time out and under what should be virtually identical conditions, in a lesser event, Captain Mowbray should be capable of running a big race.

There are a couple in this contest who remain with potential, but it’s hard not to think that a repeat of the run last time would see him go very close indeed.

At 4/1, Captain Mowbray is well worth backing to go one better, especially since it would be no surprise at all to see him go off good bit shorter come post time.

15:00 Wetherby – Song Of The Night @ 4/1

Much like the selection above, Song Of The Night looks as though he’s been found the right sort of race here. Charlie Longsdon’s six-year-old may have been a tad frustrating in hitting the places on each of his last three starts, but he continues to run well and remains unexposed.

Given his performances of late, it would be very surprising if this gelding wasn’t capable of winning a race of this nature and this could well be the best opportunity he’s had to strike.

Even though he’s yet to get his head in front, the step up to the longer trip of three miles has definitely allowed Song Of The Night to run to a better level. The gelding has gone close on each of his three starts over this trip and doesn’t look as though he’s one to give up on just yet.

This isn’t exactly the strongest of contest and there are definite question marks over a number of the runners. With this in mind, a repeat of any of his last three runs, would surely see Song Of The Night go close and, at a price of 4/1, he’s worth supporting to get off the mark for a trainer who’s saddled more winners at this venue than anyone else who has a runner in this contest.

15:50 Leicester – Orthodox Lad @ 8/1 (each-way) 

The 15:50 Leicester looks like a somewhat typical Class 4 hurdle affair – a race packed with irregular winners who’re largely inconsistent. However, Orthodox Lad is one who’s been knocking on the door of late and appears to have a big shout here at a decent price.

Grace Harris’s nine-year-old has performed with plenty of promise lately – promise that suggests he’s capable of winning from his current mark of 84. A mark that, in all fairness, looks somewhat lenient, especially since he’s previously won off a rating of 111 (albeit three seasons ago).

Since getting his favoured softer ground, Orthodox Lad has run very well on each of his last three starts, including when finishing 3rd over C&D last time out. Under a patient ride, the gelding made smooth headway, but was probably just given too much to do. That was a pleasing effort nonetheless, while he had a few of these in behind at the same time.

Although it has been some time since this one got his head in front, off this sort of mark, in this sort of race, he’s certainly been given every chance to revisit the winners enclosure. James Banks has a decent relationship with the gelding having hit the places on no less than three occasions when aboard, while the horse has also finished inside the top three on both of his previous visits to this venue.

Under conditions that should suit, for a jockey who goes particularly well at Leicester, Orthodox lad is fancied to go well once again and, at 8/1, is well worth an each-way punt in a race that pays 1/4 odds with all major firms.

Click here to see all of Tuesday’s tips.