Racing tips: Yeah Man can be another big Saturday winner in the UK for Gavin Cromwell

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

Well it was a wasted journey for both of Brian Ellison's horses at Fakenham, with both being pulled up after half the circuits. Strange decision sending them there at a track he does well at considering he has been in decent form the last couple of months.

Haydock 1:02 – Windtothelightning 10/3 (1pt, PaddyPower)

I’m going to start off with the form with my fancy, Windtothelightning. She was recently 4th in a hot Cheltenham mares Class 2 handicap. The 3rd, Good Luck Charm, has subsequently finished 4th in the Lanzarote hurdle at Kempton and 3rd in a Grade 3. The fav at the Cheltenham race was deemed to be a handicap ‘good thing’, fancied by most tipsters on the day and she has won again since. The 5th has hosed up on her first start over 3m since and has listed winning form from the season before.

This likeable mare is 4/7 over hurdles and has shown signs of true progression this year. She hosed up at Wetherby on her first attempt on testing ground and she ran a creditable race last time out when conceding weight to some smart mares.

Coquelicot won’t get an easy lead/maybe not lead at all with Stainsby’s Girl in the race. With the likely strong pace set from the two just mentioned, that is going to put emphasis on stamina which makes me want to take on the odds-on fav whose stamina is questionable. She stayed 3m on good ground at Doncaster last time out, but they didn’t go overly quick. She didn’t seem to stay the 2m 4f at Aintree in the Grade 1, granted it was at the top level, but you cannot be 100% certain that she’ll relish this trip at a good pace on heavy ground.

Haydock 2:40 – Sounds Russian 5/1 (1pt, Bet365)

I think this race is worth risking Sounds Russian as I think this might be a race which could determine what route they go for the rest of the season. If he wins or does well, the Stayer’s Hurdle route might be the plan, as that division is so weak that surely he has a great chance of running a big race considering he was running a mighty race in the Gold Cup last year before being brought down.

This race is hardly spectacular, and though Botox Has has decent form from this season, the penalty he is carrying means that he has to be taken on. I think Red Risk is the one to beat based on his run behind Botox Has at Wetherby. The Nicholls runner was travelling all over them in that race, but his jumping at the final 2/3 hurdles ruined his chances. He is best when fresh and will get the beating over the Gary Moore horse, and I think I will have a bet on Red Risk in a match with Botox Has.

However, I am sticking with Sounds Russian to win this. He is 0/3 over hurdles, but they were his first three runs over obstacles as a racehorse and over an inadequate trip, and he has since proven himself to be a borderline top-class chaser, which has seen him winning/going close off big weights in handicaps, and was 2nd to Ahoy Senor last year in a Grade 2.

Ruth Jefferson doesn’t have too many horses in the training and this lad is the apple of her eye, despite him not running since the last Gold Cup I think he will be fit and ready to win this and as we recently saw with Noble Yeats who reverted back to hurdles, the classy chase angle could prove to be profitable again.

Haydock 3:15 – Yeah Man 11/2 (1.5pt WilliamHill)

I really wanted to back Famous Bridge in this race as he has course form, handles the heavy ground and grinds out his races over shorter, looking like a horse who will enjoy a step up in trip, but I can’t look past the Gavin Cromwell trained, Yeah Man.

Yeah Man should have two 2nds next to his name from his last two runs at Ascot, but he fell late into the race the time before last when he was hitting top gear before falling. Last time out probably proved to me that he needs a marathon trip as he is simply outpaced over 3m, he was struggling to keep up with the others in the two races at Ascot, but when he gets a couple of whips and starts to go past a few horses he starts to really motor and I think this trip over 3m 4f and the testing ground could really unlock some serious stayer potential with this horse who is winless over fences, but given the recent records of Gavin Cromwell with his UK runners, it’s only a matter of time before he gets a win and Sean Flanagan makes the trip over from Ireland, which gives even more confidence about his chances.

If Silver Lining doesn’t turn up for this race, I’m advising a 1pt win Antepost on her to win the Eider Chase at Newcastle on 24th February 10/1 with WilliamHill. If she does run here today then I don’t advise backing her as a week in between the Eider and now will either result in her only running in one, or if she does both, I wouldn’t be expecting a great performance.

Ascot 2:25 – Bad 13/2 (0.5pt EW, WilliamHill 5pl)

It's no secret that Ben Pauling has really hit his stride with his horses over the last couple of months and I thought Bad towards the bottom of the weights in this contest was of interest.

This horse was gambled off the boards on his first start for Ben and his first start in the UK at the Cheltenham Festival last year in the Boodles Juvenile handicap (ex-Fred Winter). He didn't run particularly well, probably blowing his chance of a win by being too keen, but showed enough intent that he is going to win races for Ben Pauling, with Rachael Blackmore catching the eye as the jockey booking on that day. His runs this year have been much better, he was 3rd on seasonal reappearance at Ascot in a hot Class 2 contest, before finishing 2nd to Hansard in a Grade 3 and then finishing 3rd/14 behind a recent winning selection, Titan Discovery. He has had a wind-op since that run in December and if that unlocks some improvement in him, as does the step up in trip I think he can be a big player in this contest.

Horse Racing Tips

🔗 Share Your Horse Racing Tips on Social Media