3.30pm Wetherby Tips & Betting Preview 24/01/2017

Eight go to post for the penultimate start of the day at Wetherby, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This can go to CAPTAIN REDBEARD, who is slowly progressing over fences and posted his best effort yet over C&D in December and is entitled to run well again with Sam Coltherd taking off a useful 5lb. Conditions are to suit and its very easy to make a case for him as he’s likely to improve again, with his main danger possibly Dartford Warbler who returns to chasing on a good mark after a string of decent efforts over hurdles.

1 WELLS DE LUNE – Twice a winner over fences, including over C&D on his penultimate start in November. Did far too much to early at Doncaster on his latest start when pulling much to hard, but its not hard to see him atoning for that and bouncing back today. Still early days over fences and if settling better under Brian Hughes he’s likely to be very competitive and has to be respected, with conditions to suit today.

2 MONBEG RIVER – Has posted some good form over fences including two wins, though those came back in late 2015. Has hit the cross bar on multiple occasions since, finishing second four times and was brought down when going well at Aintree in December. He comes here looking for compensation with conditions to suit today and he’s bound to stay the trip if his point to point form is correct. He is likely to run a good race under Henry Brooke though is still 7lb above his last winning mark and possibly place claims only today.

3 EASY STREET – Initially took well to chasing with two wins from his first two runs, but has been a mixed bag since and was disappointing on his latest run at Exeter (3m, Good), although hampered but still beaten nearly forty lengths. Now has questions to answer with his patchy profile and its hard to trust he’ll put his best foot forward today, though if bouncing back off a mark of 126 he’d have a good chance of placing. Softer ground raises another question mark though and likely best left alone today.

4 CAPTAIN REDBEARD – Steadily progressive over fences and posted a career best on his latest start over C&D on his latest start, not beaten far. Conditions are perfect today for him once again and a mark of 124 looks one that he can easily exploit for the Coltherd team, with Sam taking off a useful 5lb to aide his cause. Likely to run well again if improving further and has to be respected as a lightly raced eight year old.

5 FUTURE GILDED – Very game performance when winning on his latest start at Catterick (2m 3f, Good to Soft), and as such has been raised 8lb for that run. That makes things tougher but he still has scope for progress as he’s only raced seven times under rules at the age of eight and is likely to improve further. Conditions are to suit and if continuing to show his promise he certainly should be in the shake up under Conor O’Farrell, so has to be respected.

6 THE COBBLER SWAYNE – Won twice last season but wasn’t at his best when last seen, finishing a well beaten third at Perth in April (2m 4f, Good). Returns after a 277 day absence which immediately raises question marks and will have to return at his peak form if he’s to challenge off a mark of 121 (which is still above his last winning mark). Tom Scudamore takes the ride which is an eyecatching jockey booking and the forecast conditions are suitable, but he’s likely best watched today as he’s entitled to need the run.

7 POLARENIX – Showed a useful level of form in 2015 when in France but hasn’t hit those heights since coming over to Britain, beaten all all three starts for Brendan Powell at big odds each time. Down to a mark of 124 which is 13lb lower than his British debut but it is still hard to fancy him with how poorly he’s performed thus far, and he’s likely best left until proving he’s effective on this side of the channel.

8 DARTFORD WARBLER – Likeable ten year old whose performed admirably the last thrice over hurdles, finishing midfield on all three runs but not beaten a long way. Returns to chasing off a mark of 116 which doesn’t look excessive as he’s placed off marks as high as 122 in early 2016 so does look well handicapped at this stage. Will need a soft lead if he’s to show his best form but that may well be the case and with how well the pairing of Sue Smith and Danny Cook are going at present, he’s impossible to discount and has lively Each Way claims today.