Steve Ryder highlights his three top selections from Sunday’s horse racing cards.
3:45 Bath
Tip 1: Dandy Dinmont - 1pt
Best odds of 9/2 at Unibet while publishing.
This looks a weak 0-65 handicap and preference goes to DANDY DINMONT (best priced at 9/2) who drops into Class 6 company for the first time since a victory in August. The Nigel Tinkler trained seven-year-old won that day off a mark of 65 and has since placed on four occasions off higher marks.
Dandy Dinmont has now dropped down to a mark of 64 following a below par effort on the AW last time and he looks the one to beat.
4:05 Plumpton
Tip 2: Helnwein - 0.5pt EW
Best odds of 13/2 at Betfred at the time of publishing.
It was disappointing to see HELNWEIN (best priced at 7/1) beaten last time when sent off an odds-on favourite but he should be better suited by this bigger field. The form of his handicap runs from this season was boosted at the Cheltenham Festival as he finished 2nd in the Greatwood Hurdle behind Alexei who won the Kingwell Hurdle before finishing 4th in the Champion Hurdle and is now rated 28lbs higher. Helnwein then finished 5th at Ascot when Alexei was in 3rd. The winner that day Wilful won the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and is now rated 18lbs higher, the 2nd Hot Fuss finished 2nd in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and is now rated 9lbs higher and the fourth Mondo Man, who reopposes him here, won the Imperial Cup and is now rated 10lbs higher.
Helnwein runs here off a 1lb lower mark and is interestingly now fitted with first-time cheekpieces. That looks a good move as he has finished runner-up five times since his last win and they can hopefully make Tom Bellamy’s job in delivering him late easier.
BresBet
4:50 Southwell
Tip 3: Desert Belle - 1pt
Best odds of 7/4 at SpreadEx while publishing.
This looks to be a match between Pure Moon and DESERT BELLE (best priced at 7/4) with preference going to the latter who looks sure to be suited by this step up in trip. The Sir Mark Prescott trained filly was sent off a well supported 10/11 favourite for her debut at Lingfield a fortnight ago when 2nd over a mile at Lingfield. She was inconvenienced by a slow start that day but in truth didn’t have the speed over that distance to make up ground on the winner.
The daughter of Masar is a half sister to the 106 rated Dubai Icon so she is bred to be smart and can get off the mark at the second attempt.
