3 minute read
Sam King returns with two selections from Wolverhampton on Tuesday…
The weather continues to play havoc with National Hunt racing across Britain and Ireland. Hereford and Leicester both succumbed to waterlogging, leaving Wolverhampton's evening meeting on Tuesday as the sole offering in the UK.
Tiger Crusade hasn't won for some time, but he looks like the best bet on the seven-race card in the £30 In Free Bets With BetUK Handicap at 7.00.
David Simcock's eight-year-old was rated 100 at his peak and although he's clearly nowhere near that level anymore, he's been indicating a current mark of 82 is certainly still manageable.
A lack of pace in this contest has to be of some concern for a habitual hold-up performer, but the positives surely outweigh the negatives when you take into account his recent staying-on third in a valuable all-weather Class 2 sprint at Kempton is the standout piece of form here.
He gets the compete off an unchanged mark of 82 and with the drop back to Class 4 level another major positive, he's selected to land the spoils.
WIN – Tiger Crusade
Odds – 15/8
Later on the card, it could pay to take a chance on Artificer in the Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap at 8.00.
An unexposed four-year-old, she showed little in her first two starts before hinting at ability when third in a Lingfield novice event on her stable debut for Matt Crawley.
Two moderate efforts in handicap company followed before an 8lb drop in the weights saw her produce a much better performance when fifth at Chelmsford in December.
Matt Crawley's filly was arguably travelling best of all turning for home that day and although she stuck to the task well enough once headed, it's easy to see why connections are opting to drop back to seven furlongs here.
The likes of Pessoa, Bungle Bay and Heavenly Fire all hold fair claims towards the top of the market, but with a further 2lb ease in the ratings on her side, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Artificer outrun her current price.
EACH-WAY – Artificer
Odds – 12/1
