Best bets for the day from Steve Ryder and Oddschecker+ Premium tipsters, as well as key races to follow.
15:35 Wetherby
Steve Ryder runs through the key races on 18th March and names his best bets for the day.
There is jumps racing at Exeter and Wetherby on Tuesday 18th March while Wolverhampton stages an all-weather meeting this evening.
Today’s Best Bets from Steve Ryder
It was disappointing to see KELCE (best priced at 5/2) get beaten at a short price last time at Ludlow but he was badly hampered by a loose horse during that contest. Prior to that he had been an impressive winner at Market Rasen before falling when booked for 2nd behind O’Connell who went on to win again before finishing 2nd in the Eider Chase. That rival is now rated 17lbs higher than when they met so it was slightly disappointing to see Kelce beaten off only a 5lb higher mark.
Kelce was ridden by Gina Andrews that day in an Amateur Jockeys’ race but regular rider Conor O’Farrell is now back on board which is a positive. Off the same mark I expect him to prove hard to beat.
15:52 Exeter
This looks a poor 0-120 handicap and I am willing to take a chance on the outsider of the field DANS LE VENT (best priced at 4/1) who has dropped to a career low mark of 122. This is therefore the worst race he has ever run in but the twelve-year-old had previously finished 3rd beaten only a length in December off a mark of 123 at Chepstow in a 0-145 Class 2 handicap hurdle.
Dropping into a Class 4 handicap for the first time against other horses who are struggling for form may be the perfect chance for Dans Le Vant to record the sixth victory of his career.
16:10 Wetherby
The Dan Skelton trained SKIFFLE MAN (best priced at 3/1) had shown very little in his three qualifying runs but nearly won on his handicap debut at Southwell in December when sent off 3/1 favourite. The six-year-old was fitted with a first-time tongue tie and cheekpieces that day over 2m4f off a mark of 90 and he races here off a 7lb higher mark.
This further step up in trip to 3 miles should suit Skiffle Man well and connections will hopefully be rewarded for their patience not to run him on soft ground during the winter. After 105 days off the track, he should be able to get off the mark at the fifth attempt.
