3.50pm Warwick Tips & Betting Preview 11/02/2017

Three and a quarter miles here is going to take a bit of getting on the ground with a field of eight facing the starter. Read on for our runner by runner preview and our expert tip.

IN SUMMARY: This should be a decent test of stamina on soft ground with THE WALLACE LINE getting the vote over Super Sam. The latter has to confirm his stamina while the selection looks like the extra trip should suit him well. He is one who has been on the radar for a race at this sort of level since Christmas and can get his head back in front. Both Predict A Riot and Twist Of Ginge are worth watching on their handicap debuts with likely better coming now that they are running at this level.

1 THE WALLACE LINE – Made our ‘Inside The Notebook’ feature over the Festive period when staying on late in a better contest than this at Chepstow. ” He may well be dropped the 3 pounds needed to get into a 0-120 on the back of that and if given heavy ground we expect a far more prominent showing” was the comment on that occasion. As predicted he has indeed dropped those three pounds, slipping down into a more suitable grade on soft ground. The way he kept on all the way to the line on that occasion suggests that this step up in trip will suit and he is very much the one to beat.

2 SUPER SAM – Returned from a long break better than ever when winning at Hereford and Ffos Las in quick succession in November. Sent off favourite in a better race in December, in hindsight it was no surprise that he was beaten by the rapidly improving Clyne who is prominent in the betting for today’s feature ‘Betfair Hurdle’ at Newbury. That third run within four weeks may have come too soon with conections giving him a break since. He does however has his staimina to prove here with his wins coming at 6f shorter.

3 CATCHING ON – Winless for almost two years but that was a 3m6f chase at Exeter. He was sent off favourite for the Midlands National off the back of that but was an early casualty. Will have no problem with the trip or the ground while a first time tongue tie could improve his finishing effort but despite his lowest handicap mark since May 2014, he would have plenty to prove unless there is significant market support.

4 PREDICT A RIOT – A winner of a point to point when trained in Ireland, he has done little in this country to justify a 50,000 price tag. His debut over C&D was a dismal effort but he was better on his third run for a mark at Bangor on ground closer to today’s. Likely to prove better now that he is handicapped but this mark is stiff enough, appearing to be rated more on the Skelton name next to the horse in the racecard rather than the form that he has shown. Likely to be short enough in the betting and is probably best watched.

5 BEAUBOREEN – Better known as a staying chaser, he has failed to reproduce his solid seasonal return when runner up at Uttoxeter. He has even struggled at his favourite track at Bangor twice this season which has not been a promising sign. A mark of 114 would have looked fair if this were a chase as it is his most recent winning mark but having been beaten off 106 when last trying the smaller obstacles, he is likely to struggle.

6 TWIST ON GINGE – Has caught the eye on a couple of occasions in novice hurdles, plugging on at one pace from the back. Handicaps are likely to help but he has looked too much of a raw baby so far to be able to do himself justice. As Nigel Twiston-Davies told us on Friday morning “When (or if) the penny finally drops he could be very nice, but who knows when that might occur” so he is one to watch for the future in mind.

7 OBISTAR – Only made it as far as the second fence on his recent chasing debut, connections quickly bring him back to hurdles here. His sole career win came over a furlong short of this on heavy ground at Plumpton off two pounds lower. He stayed on all the way to the line that day so the extra yardage could be a benefit while he is well enough handicapped if putting his best foot forward back in the blinkers.

8 YOUNG LOU – Has got her head in front just once from thirty three starts so is not one to rely on from a win point of view. She ran well over this C&D last February when second but that was from a mark a full stone below this. She is rather one paced and inconsistent but there would be an each way squeak if they were to go hard from the front and make this a real dour struggle.