Racing Tips – Top Tipster Steven Mullen’s best horse racing selections for Saturday, February 4
Sandown, Musselburgh, Lingfield, Newcastle and Wetherby all come under the spotlight as Steven Mullen tries to find a host of winners on a busy Saturday
IT’S a case of Hobbs’ choice at Sandown today.
Trainer Philip Hobbs has a cracking record in the Grade 3 Heroes Handicap Hurdle (3.00).
He’s sent out three winners and two places from his past five runners in the contest — and he can keep up the good work with ROLLING DYLAN.
This has been a race for young hurdlers on the up and that’s what this six-year-old certainly is.
He has steadily improved over the past year or so, starting with some good novice form at Exeter before breaking his duck at Uttoxeter in November.
That was over a shorter trip but he took another leap forward when stepped up in distance for a hot handicap at Chepstow last time out.
He was well backed that day before going down in a driving finish with Shantou Bob, who has come out since and run well in a good race at Cheltenham.
Rolling Dylan relished every yard of the near three-mile trip that day and wasn’t beaten for any lack of stamina. He was headed only in the final few yards and lost nothing in defeat.
The handicapper was impressed and has hiked him 8lb for that which, at first glance, seems a bit harsh.
But there’s plenty of potential there and it will be disappointing if he doesn’t rate a lot higher than this in the future.
Behind Time has plenty in common with the selection and he’s another progressive hurdler who should run well.
He didn’t show a lot in novice company but has really blossomed since stepping into this handicap sphere. He caught the eye when winning a good contest at Cheltenham in November.
There was plenty left in the tank crossing the line over 2m5f so this longer distance shouldn’t be a worry.
The concern is that he threw in a modest run at Newbury last time out and has been off the track since. It was a muddling pace in Berkshire that day which didn’t help and he should get more of a gallop here.
OTAGO TRAIL should love the soft ground at Sandown and has a big chance in the 3.35.
He was last seen in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock where he was running a cracker until slipping on landing after the second-last.
That knocked the stuffing out of him but he kept going to fill the runner-up spot.
He was beaten by the handy Bristol De Mai there but had earlier come out on top when they clashed at Newcastle. It might have been the same story again but for that clumsy late leap.
Venetia Williams is a master at taking these staying contests and her runners all seem to love the mud, with Otago Trail being no exception.
There are plenty of dangers in a tight race, with Rock The Casbah another who won’t mind if there’s a bit more rain.
He has been in cracking form this winter, winning at Chepstow before holding his own in an Ascot Grade 2 last time out. He is interesting stepped up in distance under Richard Johnson.
LE PREZIEN had only two rivals to beat at Exeter last time but he did it well and can underline his class in the Scilly Isles at 2.25.
He got the better of the useful L’Ami Serge in Devon on the back of a smooth victory at Cheltenham in November.
This soft ground will be right up his street and jockey Barry Geraghty is keen on him – and he’s sat on enough top novices to know what he’s talking about.
Today’s is a small but select field with both Clan Des Obeaux and Top Notch capable of booking their place at the Cheltenham Festival with a good run.
The former disappointed at Prestbury Park on New Year’s Day when an iffy jump at the second-last took its toll.
He’s capable of better, while Top Notch landed a hat-trick when scoring at Ascot last time and is worthy of this step up in class.
READ MORE
OTHER SELECTIONS
SANDOWN
12:40 Accord
1:15 Grey Gold
1:50 Rayvin Black
2:25 Le Prezien
3:00 Rolling Dylan
3:35 Otago Trail
4:05 Druid´s Folly
LINGFIELD TIPS
12:50 Saleh
1:25 Byron Flyer
2:00 Pretend
2:30 Fly True
3:05 Arab Spring
3:40 Aragon Knight
4:15 Remember The Man
MUSSELBURGH
12:25 Dear Sire
12:55 Shine A Diamond
1:30 Project Bluebook
2:05 Five In A Row
2:40 Shantou Tiger
3:15 Deepsand
3:45 Top Cat Henry
4:20 Superior Command
NEWCASTLE
5:45 Mystique Moon
6:15 Things Happen
6:45 Daleelak
7:15 Crindle Carr
7:45 Young John
8:15 Sugar Town
8:45 Spirit Of Wedza
WETHERBY
1:05 Tearsofclewbay
1:40 Doctor Phoenix
2:15 Rock My Style
2:45 Calett Mad
3:20 Point The Way
3:55 One Conemara
4:25 Oscar Mor