Racing on Wednesday comprises a triple-bill of National Hunt action from Ffos Las (1.30-5.00pm), Warwick (1.40-5.10) and Haydock (1.50-5.20).
Our nap runs at Haydock and is a staying chaser from Lucinda Russell’s yard looking to prevail in the feature contest at the Lancashire racecourse at 4.10.
Enda McElhinney’s picks for Wednesday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them.
Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.
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YOUR OWN STORY got off the mark over fences at the sixth time of asking at Wetherby this month. Lucinda Russell’s seven-year-old appreciated the step up 3m 7f and won going away by five lengths.
Before that, he had been running consistently well without getting the rewards he merited, finishing second three times. On his penultimate outing at Sandown he was seven lengths behind Stumptown, who went on to finish second in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival – very solid form indeed.
Russell has opted to drop her chaser back down to 3m 4½f but this is still going to be a real stamina test. And he should relish a course that is renowned for being stiff, even with a 7lb higher rating now.
Selection: Your Own Story @ SP with Paddy Power
Hurdles winner FAWSLEY SPIRIT is still looking for his first success over fences but based on what he has shown so far as a chaser, that opening win is unlikely to be far away. He was second of seven over 3m 1½f last time out at Plumpton, where first-time cheekpieces appeared to help him.
Ben Pauling’s runner came within a short head of scoring on his seasonal reappearance at Market Rasen back in November. That was from a 1lb higher mark than he is off today, so the handicapper has given him a good chance of breaking his maiden.
The 10-year-old is down in class here and he looks like the one they have to beat in this three-mile contest.
Selection: Fawsley Spirit @ SP with Paddy Power
BRAVEHEART scored in impressive fashion at Exeter in October over an extended 2m 1f trip. That was just his second outing over fences and it looked as though it was going to be the start of a successful run, but unfortunately for his connections, he has not followed it up in two runs since.
The seven-year-old was a long way behind the winner over two miles at Ludlow in November when fancied to add to his account. A month later, he finished last of four over the same trip at Leicester.
Jamie Snowden opted to give the seven-year-old wind surgery, which may explain those below-par tuns. In his first outing since that procedure there is a good chance he will bounce back and none of his six rivals here stand out as being horses to fear too much.
Selection: Braveheart @ SP with Paddy Power
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