Horse Racing Tips – Monday 20 February – Carlisle and Wolverhampton

After a positive and very profitable weekend, the racing this afternoon is a little more mundane, so why don’t we start with the latest news from the United Arab Emirates? Top jockey Richard Hills, son of retired trainer Barry Hills, brother of current trainer Charlie Hills and twin brother of jockey Michael Hills, will hang up his boots at the end of Dubai World Cup night after many years riding as number one retained jockey for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum for the last fifteen years.  Although not always popular with punters he was, in my opinion, best when dictating the pace from the front and deserves a long and happy retirement – though I gather he will still remain with the Sheikh in some capacity.

On to the racing today, and it’s poorer than a church mouse with just the two meetings to work on so small stakes if any are recommended as we look to build on our profits ahead of Cheltenham, not give it back.

Big Occasion was better than average on the flat reaching a rating of 95 when trained in Ireland by Aiden O’Brien and looked like he was going to be even better over hurdles when winning at the first attempt over hurdles at Chepstow and with a three mile trip to bring his stamina in to play. Next time out he was pushed up to an amazing three and a quarter miles at Huntingdon where it was all too much for the son of Sadler’s Wells who faded in to fourth, beaten thirty-nine lengths but giving weight away all round.  David Pipe is a chip off the old block and ahs sensibly given the five year old plenty of time to get over those excursions and back fresh he could be good enough to take the 2.00pm at Carlisle dropped back to am ore realistic two and a half miles on soft ground, and with Tom Scudamore back in the saddle.

A second bet was not easy to find but I may be tempted in to a little (and I mean a little) on Flying Applause who is very well weighted in the 2.45pm at Wolverhampton. For reasons I will not bore you with (because I am not totally sure I fully understand!), he has gone up two pounds for his recent course and distance win BUT jockey Charles Eddery was only allowed to claim three pounds that day – and can claim five this afternoon, so effectively we have a winner running at the same handicap mark? As he still won despite a terrible run we can also say he is value for more tan the winning margin which sort of makes him well in here – and anther worthy of a point until the racing gets more exciting.

Monday Suggestions:

Sensible bet for Punters

1pt Win BIG OCCASION 2.00pm Carlisle @ 4.7 with Betfair 20£ in Free bets!

Silly bet for dreamers:

1pt Win FLYING APPLAUSE 2.45pm Wolverhampton @ 6.00 with Paddy Power 50£ in Free bets!