2.50pm Warwick Tips & Betting Preview 24/04/2017

A field of seven go to post for the third race of the day at Warwick on Monday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Bursting back into life on his latest two starts, ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY was about to to win with plenty of in hand at Haydock on his latest start before falling two out. He’s been raised 8lb as a result but he seems well ahead of the handicapper at present and this step up in trip should eek out further improvement from the in form seven year old. Better ground should also help and with Sean Bowen taking the ride, all signs point to a big run where he can see off the challenge of The Tourard Man, who can snatch second ahead of Thumb Stone Blues.

1 GOLDEN DOYEN – Four time winner over hurdles who will be much happier back down in class after being pitched into two very tough races the last twice by Philip Hobbs. Winning three starts ago in a very competitive Pertemps Qualifier at Cheltenham in October, he was raised 3lb and pitched straight into the Pertemps Final at the Festival, where he struggled to land a blow and plugged on for a poor twelfth. Off the same mark, he was again well beaten in the Grade 3 handicap at Aintree last month, so the fact he’s now dropped into a Class 3 handicap makes him very interesting. Conditions are to suit and he’s only 3lb above his last winning mark, which came in a tougher race than this, so he should go close under 7lb claimer Sean Houlihan.

2 THE TOURARD MAN – Third in the Pertemps Final back in 2015 and he almost filled that position again when returning to form in a big way to finish forth in the Pertemps Final at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. He remained on the same mark after that run and did himself justice again when eight in the Grade 3 handicap at Aintree last month, way ahead of Golden Doyen who has work to do to turn the tables on him. This is much easier than the last two runs he’s faced and with conditions to suit and Kevin Dowling taking off 10lb from his back, he can go very close and is respected.

3 ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY – Seven year old who is going from strength to strength at present since going back up in trip, winning here over a shorter trip with ease and he was about to make it two from two at Haydock when falling two out, still on the bridle at the time. He’s been raised another 8lb as a result but he was seemingly about to win with authority and this extra distance should help to eek out further improvement. Better ground should also see him better light and Sean Bowen can steer him to success again for Caroline Bailey.

4 THUMB STONE BLUES – Has only run four times over timber and is looking to be progressive, winning two of his four runs as he continues to climb up the handicap for the very much in form Kim Bailey yard. He took his second victory in a novice event at Doncaster, running out a clear cut winning despite hanging and making some mistakes. On his latest start t at Wincanton he was far from disgraced when second to San Satiro, who has given that form a big boost when running out a very comfortable winner on his handicap debut yesterday. He should be very competitive off a mark of 130 and with this step up in trip looking likely to eek out more, he has to be respected.

5 ANOTHER FRONTIER – Nigel Twiston-Davies six year old who has been very much a mixed bag this season for the trainer and although he was a good winner at Taunton in February, he has been a shade disappointing the last twice, last seen well beaten at over slightly further here in March. The handicapper has only relented 2lb and better ground has to be a question mark as he’s seemingly avoided it most of his career, so his chances aren’t exactly bulletproof.

6 DOITFORJOE – Lightly raced over hurdles at the age  of seven but he will need to find something extra to get competitive in a field such as this after flopping on his latest start. Granted, he has won once in novice company over the three mile trip at Southwell, but he hasn’t been improving since going into handicap company with his best effort since remaining a second at Wincanton on his penultimate start. He should be happier up in trip and conditions are to suit, but this looks tough and it’s hard to just draw a line over his poor latest run at Hereford.

7 DRAGON’S DEN – Last win over hurdles came way back in February 2015 and he’s not exactly gone with much zest this season for Jackie Du Plessis, finishing a well beaten tenth at Cheltenham when last seen in December after making some headway before backing out of things very tamely. That has to put a question mark next to his stamina for this and his form is far below the standard required for this, so others make far more appeal.