Horse racing tips: Kempton, Uttoxeter, Fontwell, Newcastle and Wolverhampton – Steve Mullen’s betting preview for the racing this Saturday, March 17
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's racing at Kempton, Uttoxeter, Fontwell, Newcastle and Wolverhampton.
IT would be a struggle to get 4m2f around Uttoxeter in the back of a taxi today.
But THE ARTFUL COBBLER is blessed with bottomless stamina and that will be a major asset in the Midlands Grand National (3.35).
Any horse that can plough through the mud to win at Lingfield over 3m5f deserves a medal and that’s what Henry Daly’s seven-year-old did last time out in the Surrey National.
He’s been given the best part of a month to get over those exertions and rightly so because it was a really gutsy effort. Landing a hat-trick of wins, he relished the ground and jumped really well despite having a tendency to go to the left.
That’s not an issue at Uttoxeter and another plus was the way he kept pulling out more when challenged up the run-in.
This is just his fifth outing over fences so there should be more to come and he looks potentially a long way away of the handicapper.
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Back To The Thatch fell in the marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle last time out. He was going well at the time before that tumble on the back of a good win in the mud at Chepstow in January.
He is one of the few certain stayers and should be there at the final fence — provided his jumping holds up.
Krackatoa King has an each-way shout at massive odds. He’s one of those horses who goes at his own speed but he keeps it up forever, likes the track, and handles this ground.
DJANGO DJANGO for it in the Silver Plate Handicap Hurdle at Kempton (2.40).
Steve Mullen's top tips for Saturday
3.35 Uttoxeter - Artful Cobbler: 'Will be able to plough through conditions - and he'll need to'
2.40 Kempton - Django Django: 'Caught the eye on his handicap debut last time'
3.15 Kempton - Thomas Crapper: 'This trip suits and he's come right down the weights'
3.00 Uttoxeter - Sakhee's City: 'Far from disgraced at Newcastle last time out'
He did well in novice ranks with a convincing win at Huntingdon before Christmas.
He caught the eye on his handicap debut here last time where he was bang in contention until being run out of it in the closing stages.
Jonjo O’Neill junior takes a valuable 5lb off and that could make all the difference in such a tight race.
Stick To The Plan is another to consider after a solid second at Market Rasen last time out. He goes off the same mark and will be a fresh horse after three months off.
We’ve flushed a few quid away following THOMAS CRAPPER since his excellent fourth in the Festival Plate at Cheltenham last year.
But he has an excellent chance of repaying our patience in Kempton’s 3.15.
He was so rusty he was squeaking on his comeback run at Warwick last time when his usual headgear was left off.
He was coming back from almost a year away that day so was entitled to need it. This trip suits well, he won’t mind the bit of give in the ground and has come right down the weights.
Robin Dickin’s 11-year-old is now lower than his excellent Cheltenham effort and just above the mark that saw him win the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.
Brandon Hill has been knocking on the door around here with a second and third from his past two visits. He stays further than this so is likely to go from the front and make this a test of stamina.
SAKHEE’S CITY can be hit and miss but he has a good chance in Uttoxeter’s 3.00.
His best form has come on bottomless ground over this trip and he showed enough spirit to win easily at Catterick three runs ago. He has not matched that effort since but was far from disgraced when fourth at Newcastle last time out.
The trip was too short that day and he has had a little nudge down the weights.
Fleminport looks the most progressive horse in the race. He relished deep ground and this distance when winning with plenty up his sleeve at Lingfield latest.
That was just his fourth spin over timber and you would expect a lot more to come.
KEMPTON
1.30 Distingo
2.05 Copain De Classe
2.40 Django Django
3.15 Thomas Crapper
3.50 Champagne Champ
4.25 Allee Bleue
5.00 Rhythm Is A Dancer
UTTOXETER
1.50 Sahara Haze
2.25 Big River
3.00 Sakhee’s City
3.35 The Artful Cobbler
4.10 Piri Massini
4.45 Maguires Glen
5.20 Whiskey In The Jar
5.55 Champagnediamonds
FONTWELL
1.40 Big Robin
2.15 Bredon Hill Lad
2.50 Banjo Girl
3.25 King Uther
4.00 Itoldyou
4.35 Burst Ya Bubble
5.10 Fizzlestix