Owen’s Outsiders! 33/1 And 28/1 Selections! – 13th February 2020

With the country still reeling from Storm Ciara, meetings (and horse racing tips as a result) have been few and far between this week. That’s still the case on Thursday, but we have the happy addition of Meydan, who continue their Carnival Meeting.

In this country, we have both Chelmsford and Leicester to get stuck into. I’ve gone through the cards looking for some bigger-priced fancies, which can hopefully cheer up a miserable looking week!

Heavy Metal (28/1)

Race: 5.25 Meydan (Firebreak Stakes)

Now a ten-year-old, HEAVY METAL has been a Meydan stalwart and a multiple graded winner at this venue, including this race back in 2018. In last year’s Meydan campaign, he went close at this level when beaten less than a length in the Godolphin Mile over course and distance. He beat the likes of Muntazah and Kimbear that day, horses who he reopposes today.

His price is perhaps unsurprising, as both his starts in Meydan this winter have resulted in heavy defeats, latterly in the Grade 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1. Although many have now written him off due to his age, it’s very difficult to believe that Salem bin Ghadayer’s charge has lost all his ability in the break.

He took three runs to get to his best last term and given how much he loves this venue, it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to near his peak on the big stage.

Cool Echo (22/1)

Race: 6.00 Chelmsford (Good Friday Spring Country Fair Handicap)

Having her first run since May 2019, there were plenty of glistening positives from COOL ECHO‘s performance at Kempton last month. She was settled out the back of the field, making some progress in the home straight before being hampered at the furlong pole, where her lack of fitness told and she weakened into seventh.

Her record fresh speaks for itself, and she will have desperately needed that outing. She drops into Class 7 company for the first time since January 2019, where she was a winner at Kempton off two pounds higher. This certainly isn’t the strongest of contests and dropped to this level, with race fitness of her side, a far better effort can be expected from John Jenkin’s charge.

Kilbaha Lady (33/1)

Race: Chelmsford 8.30 (Book Tickets Online At chelmsfordcityracecourse.com Handicap)

Running consistently well in the autumn, the reliable KILBAHA LADY was beaten half a length at Newcastle in a Class 5 event two starts ago. She rarely puts a foot wrong and is generally extremely reliable, with her 2019 form seeing her finish outside the top four on just two occasions out of a total fifteen starts.

Her price today is due to a recent return at Wolverhampton, where she ran below her best to finish eleventh of twelve at Wolverhampton. That effort was certainly disappointing, but even the most consistent horses are entitled to have their off days. She drops into Class 6 company for today’s start, with her last run in this grade resulting in a neck second at Newcastle.

At present, she’s just a pound above her last winning rating. If bouncing back from her latest return, which seems highly likely, she should be right in amongst the placings if her prior form is any indicator.