Jake Price picks out his best bet for Tuesday's racing at Warwick.
TIP 1: BERRY EDGE - 1pt Win
Best odds of 5/2 at bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power and a range of other bookmakers while publishing.
Not only was BERRY EDGE entered up for the Class 2 Lavazza Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, but he was also installed as a 6/1 shot for a race of that nature. A lot of that price will have the Dan Skelton influence factored in, but regardless he looks a play in this Class 5 Handicap Hurdle following an easy success at Uttoxeter.
This 8yo cost a decent chunk in £21,000 considering he was 3/21 for David Thompson peaking at a rating of 85, but since joining Dan Skelton in August he has shown marked improvement. That began on his first start for the yard at Worcester in September where he ran off that mark of 85 and finished second over 2m4f - but it was notable that he travelled very strongly that day before finding nothing after the last when asked for his effort.
That extended trip seemed to stretch him, but dropped back to 2m at Uttoxeter last month saw an entirely different result. Once again travelling with more zest than anything else in the race, he showed a lovely turn of foot between the final two flights to lead and then shoot off into a widening lead - and he stayed on powerfully to the line to record a very cosy 4.5 length success. The form of that race is working out nicely too, as the third Chico Magnifica won well himself at Uttoxeter on Friday for Olly Murphy.
Berry Edge was raised 9lbs for that victory but crucially his mark of 96 keeps him within 0-105 company for now, and I think there is loads more improvement to come from him considering just how much of a better horse he looked against his opposition last time. Warwick is team Skelton’s local track and they love having winners here, but the Good ground means they are limited with the type of horse they can run at the moment - so this lad looks the perfect type. Lucy The Wire is the obvious danger, but she runs under a 7lbs penalty having won just 8 days ago at Hereford.
