Best bets for the day from Steve Ryder and Oddschecker Unlimited tipsters, as well as key races to follow.
15:45 Huntingdon
Steve Ryder runs through the key races on 20th February and names his best bets for the day.
There is jumps racing at Huntingdon, Lingfield and Punchestown on Thursday 20th February while Newcastle stages an all-weather meeting this evening.
Today’s Best Bets from Steve Ryder
This looks a weak 0-95 handicap hurdle and it looks worth taking a chance on bottom weight FAR AWAY WEST (best priced at 3/1) who failed to land a gamble on her stable debut last time. Sent off 4/5 favourite on her first start for Dan Skelton, she ran well to finish 2nd at Catterick off a mark of 83 where she pulled 3 ½ lengths clear of the third.
The winner that day Bathgate has finished a close 2nd since and is now rated 10lbs higher so Far Away West looks well handicapped off only 3lbs higher and she can reward punters who keep the faith.
19:00 Newcastle
Many of his rivals in this race arrive in poor form so this looks a good opportunity for CONCERT BOY (best priced at 11/4) to record a fourth course success. The Katie Scott trained five-year-old has been running consistently well at the track with form figures of 1212 this year including a victory over this trip of a mile.
Concert Boy finished a length second to Rebecca’s Girl last time over 7f and he won’t be inconvenienced by this step back up in trip. Warren Fentiman takes off his full 7lbs allowance in this race and he should prove hard to beat from Stall 9.
20:30 Newcastle
Conquest Of Power is 3lbs “wrong” at the weights under a 5lb penalty whereas REBECCA’S GIRL (best priced at 11/10) runs here unpenalised following two victories in apprentice handicaps. The Gary Rutherford trained mare won by 2 ¼ lengths on her penultimate start here over 6f before following up last time over 7f beating Concert Boy by a length off this mark of 64.
The handicapper has raised Rebecca’s Girl 4lbs for that success up to a mark of 68 but he gets to run here off his previous mark of 64 meaning he is 4lbs “well in” at the weights. Warren Fentiman takes over on board which is a huge positive and she is expected to follow up back down in trip.
