2.25pm Hereford Tips & Betting Preview 04/01/2017

8 handicap chasers go to post for the 7th race of the day at Hereford, see our betting tips and full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: 15 year old Working Title notched up his first win under rules in over 6 years when making most at Sedgefield last time out after a spell of pointing and despite a penalty should have a say in the outcome, but preference is for LAKE CHAPALA. His latest second at Ffos Las has been boosted with the winner and third place coming out and winning, and given that he was carrying a 7lb penalty that day it makes the performance even better, and he should take some beating today.

1 WORKING TITLE – 15 year old who won his first race under rules for six years when making most at Sedgefield on Boxing Day (2m, Good to Soft) and has a penalty to contend with today as a consequence. He has a 7lb claimer which will help but its hard to trust he’ll follow up on that effort, as a horse of his age may need longer between races but has to be considered a main danger nonetheless.

2 ALL BUT GREY – Back from nearly a year off in November and tailed off at Exeter (2m 2f, Good), and did no better when pulling up at Wincanton latest (2m 4f, Good). Those efforts were both over hurdles and switches back to fences where he had been performing well enough in 2015, including one win. He doesn’t however make any appeal in his current vein of form.

3 LAKE CHAPALA – Won at Musselburgh on his penultimate start (1m 7f, Good) despite jumping poorly at the start and was second when bidding to go back to back four days later at Ffos Las (2m, Good). The 1st and 3rd place horses have subsequently come out and won since and considering he was shouldering a 7lb penalty in the race, it was a fine effort. He should be hard to beat today after a small break for Tom O’Brien and Tim Vaughan.

4 FIELDSOFSILK – Wasn’t disgraced when 3rd at Carlisle on his chase debut last month (1m 7f, Soft), and now has foundations to build upon. He was lightly raced over hurdles, not showing a great deal but this switch of obstacles has clearly done the trick and should be competitive if building upon his latest effort, but does need to as he has a bit to find with a few of these. Respected.

5 FREE WORLD – 13 year old who has been inconsistent in recent times, only beating one rival in his last five runs. He doesn’t make much appeal today and probably best watched on his first start since May.

6 NO NO CARDINAL – 1-30 over fences but has been in decent form in recent times, finishing 4th at Wincanton in December, not beaten all that far (1m 7f, Good to Soft). Doesn’t strike as the likely type for win purposes but he could have place claims.

7 BALLYEGAN – Form has been incredibly patchy lately, finishing a good 3rd here in November (2m 2f, Soft) before finishing a long 5th of 11 over the same C&D last month. The good form does bring him into the equation off a decent looking weight and needs a second look today.

8 YOURHOLIDAYISOVER – Has a record of 1-47 but wasn’t disgraced when 2nd of 5 over C&D in November and a repeat of that run would make him a contender, however he isn’t one to usually back up previous promise shown. Place claims if reproducing that form again today.