2.40pm Hereford Tips & Betting Preview 07/02/2017

An intriguing nine runner handicap chase is race number two on the card at Hereford, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: With Gardiners Hill up 14lb for his latest win and Matrow’s Lady needing to prove she can run just as well as she did on her latest start at this distance, Sam Thomas’ JAMRHAM should be the one to take home the prize. He’s been in good form this season, winning on seasonal reappearance at Fontwell before shrugging off a 7lb rise to finish a close second at Towcester in December. Only raised a pound for that run he also acquires the services of Harrison Beswick, a winner on both of his two rides in the past two weeks, who takes off a very useful 7lb. With his point to point win proving he can handle heavy ground he’s likely to run another big race has to be respected.

1 GARDINERS HILL – Has been in blistering form the last twice, winning with something in hand on both his latest two starts over fences.  His latest run at Chepstow (2m 3f, Soft) was another ready success and as a consequence he’s been raised 14lb, which is a massive weight hike. Obviously needs another jolt of progress if he’s to make it three from three but conditions are to suit and the ease of his latest victory may indicate that this rise might not be enough to stop another big run. Likely to run another solid race under 5lb claimer Ciaran Gethings and is respected as such.

2 KNIGHT OFTHE REALM – Has now pulled up on his last three runs at various trips and his latest Chepstow outing (2m 7f, Heavy) was another dismal display on his second chasing start. Very hard to make a viable case for him in this form despite him being a relatively lightly raced eight year old who has won off a mark of 105 in the past over hurdles. Others make much more appeal and impossible to recommend even though he starts off on a mark of 94 over fences.

3 MATROW’S LADY – Has been a mixed bag over fences but the step up in trip certainly suited her when readily winning at Lingfield seven days ago (2m 7f, Heavy). Won by twenty lengths that day despite some wayward jumps and she can race off the same mark today. If in the same form again today she is likely to be a very tricky one to stop despite going back in trip with the Mulholland yard in cracking form at present. Sean Bowen takes the ride and may take a big amount of pegging back off a mark she’s won off twice before.

4 JAMRHAM – Ten year old who has been in good form the last twice, running out a comprehensive winner at Fontwell in December (2m 3f, Good). Despite the 7lb rise, he wasn’t deterred and was only just denied when running on strongly to finish a neck second at Towcester a few weeks later (2m 4f, Good to Soft). Only up another pound with 7lb claimer Harrison Beswick taking the ride, who has ridden his last two rides to success which is a major positive. Likely to run another big race as his point to point win proves he can handle heavy ground and has to be respected.

5 EDEIFF’S LAD – Consistent ten year old who has seven lengths to find with Gardiners Hill on their latest encounter at Chepstow in January (2m 3f, Soft). Obviously is now much better off with that rival at the weights, but doesn’t have the progressive profile that he does. Likely to run another solid race like he usually does for Polly Gundry, especially if this turns into a true test as you can guarantee he’ll be staying on towards the finish, but it’ll be for minor honours only most likely.

6 COMICAL RED – Form figures of PP3FF7 over fences don’t make for impressive reading for Mark Gillard’s nine year old, with his latest effort when well beaten at Taunton being a particularly poor one (2m 7f, Good). He was in the rear throughout after jumping slowly and on that evidence alone it’s impossible to recommend him, especially with an overall record of two wins from thirty-five under rules. Won off a mark of 87 over hurdles in 2015 which makes his current mark of 66 over fences incredibly low, but that still doesn’t make him appeal.

7 RADIUS BLEU – Two from thirty-six under rules and has been well beaten on all his starts for Lady Susan Brooke over fences, with his seasonal reappearance at Hereford over hurdles possibly showing that this twelve year old is very much out of love with the game (3m 1f, Good to Soft). Makes no appeal back over fences and even if improving for that run, he’s impossible to recommend.

8 SUSSEX ROAD – Has been incredibly inconsistent over fences with good efforts very few and far between, and he was never going to be a match for Romain De Senam and Agreement on his latest run at Leicester in January (1m 7f, Good). Goes back up in trip which should suit but he’s now taken his record to zero from ten over fences with no places to show either. No reason to believe this seven year old will spring to life and likely best watched.