Wednesday’s Racing Tips – Dropping to a Class 4 for the first time in three years will revive Silky Wilkie

Baker Blue was pested on a couple of occasions when trying to run from the front, resulting in him getting tired from going too quickly.

Echalar managed to give us a winner in the race after staying on strongly.

The gelding operation did the trick. He got back to the form of his Kempton form after being keen on his last two starts.

Silky Wilkie 9/2 (1pt) – Lingfield 1.05

The safer options for this race are the ones in good form. The likes of Tiger Crusade, Accrual, Hierarchy and Charlie Mason all have good chances if they continue to be consistent. The problem for them is that if Silky Wilkie can return to form, he could make mincemeat of them.

I've avoided tipping horses like this, but this is the weakest race Silky Wilkie has run in for many years. He has contested some of the best handicap sprints in recent years, and even in the last couple of runs, he has been in Class 2 company. His handicap mark has dropped to 81, and he has been running in a Class 4 for over three years.

Jack Nicholls is on board, removing a further 5lbs. That makes him a very attractive bet, but it all comes down to whether he is fit after a layoff of 95 days.

He is more prolific on the turf, but he has had six runner-up finishes on the all-weather as well as one win.

Doctor Khan Junior 11/1 (1pt) – Kempton 6.30

We've had some shoddy races in recent days, but this race is brilliant.

Mount Athos brings in some very solid form from Listed races in France, and is still a very capable horse at the age of seven. He will always have a solid chance in this, but back in handicaps makes it slightly tougher by carrying 9st 10lbs.

Heathcliff has always been a horse I've liked, but he always struggles to get clear runs, and for that reason, I have to leave him alone. Doctor Khan Junior was the one who stood out the most for Geoff Oldroyd, who hit some very good numbers last year.

Geoff has kept 95% of his runners, if not more, on the Northern-based tracks. He hasn't had a runner at this venue for over five years, so having him make the journey suggests they are confident of a big run.

Like the top weight, he is also a seven-year-old. If he can repeat a performance of February 2024 at Wolverhampton, where he won a Class 2 off a 1lb lower mark, it will make him very competitive.

Since that win, he was under par in a Listed race in March 2024, and has only raced twice since that race. He made a return to the track after 302 days in December, which was an okay effort despite finishing in last place. That would have blown away the cobwebs, and with that run and the willingness to travel, I think he could have a nice chance in this.

He is 11/1, but I'm taking my chance on a straight win.

🔗 Share Your Horse Racing Tips on Social Media