Racing tips: Boardman can bounce back now he’s back on his last winning mark

This tip has expired. Please check our free horse racing tips section of the website to find the most up to date.

It's been a fairly frustrating period for me with so many horses running below par. Unfortunately it happens, and you don't know when it's going to turn, but I enter each day confident of big runs, and that's the same for today's selections. 

Ripon 1:45

Like I've mentioned before, 2yo races at this time of year isn't my cup of tea but at the odds of JAXTA I think he is worth a punt. He was well backed on debut at Pontefract where he went off 3/1F. He was disappointing that day, and it's hard to say what went wrong, but it couldn't have been anything major as it's only taken 12 days for David O'Meara to send him out again, and in a race that he has won the last two renewals of, which is interesting. Another interesting take on that stat is that his 2019 winner, Manolith finished last in the same race Jaxta finished in at Pontefract before coming to this race and winning. With that happening, it could have been a prep run for Jaxta, and he might've needed that run for experience and fitness. At his current prices I think he is worth a small EW play.

Ripon 2:55

I thought HALIPHON ran a belter at Musselburgh last weekend, and it looked like a further step up in trip would be ideal, and that is what Ian Williams has decided to do. He finished 6th in a race which appears to be stronger than this, and when you consider he comes into this contest with two recent runs, he is going to be primed for this where others will more than likely not be ready first time out. He was dropped 2lbs for that run, which is generous as I thought it didn't warrant an change on his handicap mark, and a further 3lb is taken away from the claim that Ben Sanderson has, so in my opinion I think he is well handicapped. This is his first run over this trip, so there are going to be questions, but based on his last run where he was staying on strongly, I think this could bring out some improvement.

Haydock 2:05

When I tipped up Lightening Company to win at Redcar earlier this month, I saw a cracking run in behind by BOARDMAN, and when I saw it I said to myself I'm backing him wherever he turns up next, so here we are at Haydock. This horse has ability, we saw it in the early stages of last season where he racked up a quick hat-trick in a May. His handicap mark went up a fair amount and he couldn't quite land a blow off marks in the mid 90s, despite running well in defeat. He has returned to a winning mark of 90, which was his last winning mark when he won at Chester, producing an RPR of 102 at that time. He is generally held up and does often take a pull, so the fact there is quite a bit of projected pace in this race will be advantageous to him. Haydock is often known as a front runners track, so hopefully the fast horses who set the pace take each other on so it sets it up for a closer like Boardman. Tim Easterby's horses have looked in severe need of their first runs of the season, so with under his belt I think he is primed for a big run.

Haydock 3:45

There is a strong possibility that DELGREY BOY will be outclassed in this Class 2 race, but there is a niggling thought in the back of my head thinking he is dangerous to underestimate off a featherweight of 8st 1lbs (with the 5lb claim into consideration). He ran in the same race as Boardman did at Redcar, and to say that he finished 11th/16 would look like he ran a horrible race, but he didn't. If you watch it back, he was arguably travelling one of the best in the race, but had a wall of horses in front of him, and he had no where to go. He had an inexperienced 7lb claimer riding him that day, he didn't exactly try and find the gaps, but instead left his horse to get relegated to last before this lad picked off the horses and finished 11th. He had a productive season last year, racking up 3 wins, and off a mark of 84 I think there is a little bit more to come. A lot of horses in this race are lacking a run this year, Delgrey Boy will be spot of for this as he had a fitness run 19 days ago. It's a slight concern that David Allan (stable jock) rides Cruyff Turn, but Amie Waugh is a decent little 5lb claimer who has much more experience than this horses previous jockey. In my opinion he is great EW value and shouldn't be the price as the rank outsider of the field.

Sandown 3:32

It will pain me if Kitty's Light goes on to win this after he finished 2nd in the Scottish National behind his stablemate after jumping like a bus. He is short enough in the market, as expected and I think I'll swerve him as he has had a long season and though his chances are there for all to see, I'd take a chance on a couple of others.

MUSICAL SLAVE is arguably my main bet in the race. He is starting to look progressive, and has taken well to the headgear which has resulted in him winning well last time out at Haydock, virtually on the bridle. He gets on well at this track, shown by his win the time before last, where the hill looked to have benefited him. He is untried over this distance, but based on his last couple of wins, I think he is worth a chance, especially off a low weight of 10st 2lbs. He has more to come off a mark of 130, which is 7lb lower than what it should be, and he is a lightly raced 9yo, with just the 21 runs in his career. I think he could run a very big race.

The other one in this which I like and is at decent odds is DOMAINE DE L'ISLE. I thought he had a chance of running a decent race in the Grand National a few weeks ago at a huge price of 125/1, but it wasn't meant to be as he unseat at the Chair. He's clearly been fine since that race, and since he blundered in the early parts of the race, it wouldn't have taken all that much out of him. This trip is what he wants in my opinion. The ride he was given in the Eider was fairly shocking, but that under the steering of a very inexperienced 7lb claimer, so you couldn't have expected too much of him. He has won off 4lbs higher this time last year at Cheltenham off a mark of 144 under Brian Hughes. He cruised into contention that day, and looked like a horse who would appreciate further. Brian Hughes is 2/3 on this horse and he partners up with his old friend again. Good ground looks perfect for him, and I expect him to be ridden at the back very coldly by a jockey who has ice in his veins. I think he is massive odds and could definitely outrun his odds.

Sandown 4:40

2m 4f might be on the short side these days for UP THE STRAIGHT but if he's going to get away with it on any track, Sandown is arguably the track. I think he ran a cracking race at Kempton last time out 35 days ago. He was rushed off his feet in that race, as you'd expect for a horse who stays further than 2m 4f, and at a speed track like Kempton, but the manner in which he stayed on was very encouraging that he is a horse who is still capable of winning races off his current handicap mark.

Sandown is a track which will test your jumping, so the fact this lad is mostly a fluent jumper is a big help. The stiff uphill finish is what will bring his chances right into this race, as well as a good pace which will hopefully be set by Presentandcounting and Nelson River, who both like to run from the front. There are a few horses in this race who make a few too many mistakes, and those mistakes will punish you at Sandown, especially at the railway fences where three fences come in quick succession. This lad's price has shortened quite a bit, which is a shame as I thought I was one of the outsiders, but it seems punters have latched onto the same idea as me. He is undoubtedly well handicapped off a mark of 127, as he has won off 138 earlier in the season, and 135 over hurdles beating another rival of today in, Flic Ou Voyou.

Horse Racing Tips

🔗 Share Your Horse Racing Tips on Social Media