Racing Tips – Top Tipster Steve Mullen’s best racing selections for Saturday, March 11
Sandown, Wolverhampton, Hereford, Ayr and Chelmsford all come under the spotlight as Steven Mullen tries to find a host of winners on a busy Saturday
HAVE a Bonney bet in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (3.00).
WILLIAM H BONNEY is named after notorious Wild West gunslinger Billy The Kid and he can shoot down his rivals here.
Despite the small field, this is a rich prize and his best form would put him right in the picture.
That came at Cheltenham at the end of January when he won one of the track’s difficult handicaps. He was always travelling strongly through the race and there was plenty left when Wayne Hutchinson asked for his final effort.
He quickly went into the lead but started idling, which gave his rivals a little hope. Then he ran away from them again to score with a bit more in hand than the official margin of a length.
That was good enough to earn a crack at the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury just over a week later. It’s likely that race came too soon as he was flat throughout and didn’t show anything like the sparkle of Cheltenham.
Mullen's Treble
- Sandown 3.00: Willian H Bonney
- Wolverhampton 3.15: Yuften
- Wolverhampton 2.05: Nimr
He’s had a nice rest since then and should be full of beans. You cop a £50,000 bonus if you win this and go on to score at the Festival next week — and he’s got a County Hurdle entry.
But given how he seems to need a rest between races, connections know today’s the day and he’ll be primed to give his all.
Fixe Le Kap is an interesting rival coming here a year after his last run — eighth in the Fred Winter Hurdle at the Festival.
He was probably found out by the faster ground there having shown real promise in testing conditions. It’s soft going today and any more rain would help his chances.
Another to keep an eye on is Kayf Blanco. There was a lot to like about his solid fifth in the red-hot Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time — where he finished ahead of William H Bonney.
He has been knocking on the door this season without getting his head in front. The handicapper has given him a little help here and that could fire him into the frame at least.
With all eyes on next week’s top-class jumps racing at Cheltenham, it’s strange to see Flat action on the telly today.
But there are some good contests from Wolverhampton and YUFTEN can carry off the Listed Wulfruna Stakes at 3.15.
He was thought good enough to run at Group 1 level in his early days and showed some of that zip when winning a prestigious handicap at Ascot in October.
That was on fast turf ground but he’s got winning form on the all-weather from his time trained by Johnny Murtagh in Ireland.
He clocked a fast time at Ascot and picked up really strongly to leave a big field behind. That was over a mile but he’s had no problem with this shorter distance in the past.
There are plenty of all-weather specialists to take on and My Target won’t be a pushover going for his fifth success on the bounce.
He has done most of his winning over a mile but has no shortage of pace and looks the main danger.
We’re only three weeks away from the Lincoln and NIMR has every chance in Wolverhampton’s trial at 2.05.
He has been in good form here all winter and landed his second win of the campaign in good style last time out.
That was over an extended 7f and he gave the impression that this longer distance wouldn’t be a problem. A 4lb rise in the weights for his last win looks more than fair.
He has few miles on the clock for a four-year-old and there should be more improvement to come.
The name Michael Easterby appearing next to a handicap runner always warms the cockles and the wily old fox has big claims with Holiday Magic. He won well on his last visit here and was beaten in a photo at Newcastle last time.
He’s up 2lb for that and should be in the shake-up again.
OTHER SELECTIONS
SANDOWN TIPS
1:20 Gregarious
1:50 Tintern Theatre
2:25 Willoughby Hedge
3:00 William H Bonney
3:35 Whatzdjazz
4:10 Vicenzo Mio
4:45 Aerlite Supreme
WOLVERHAMPTON TIPS
1:30 Summerinthecity
2:05 Nimr
2:40 Boost
3:15 Yuften
3:50 Heartstone
4:25 Bowson Fred
5:00 Midtech Star
HEREFORD TIPS
1:40 Golden Investment
2:15 Super Sam
2:50 Freddies Portrait
3:25 Aintree My Dream
4:00 Sirabad
4:35 Tarrona
5:10 Lovenormoney
AYR TIPS
2:10 King Of Fashion
2:45 Imjoeking
3:20 No No Mac
3:55 Sakhee's City
4:30 Spring Over
5:05 The Bishop
5:35 Calix Delafayette
CHELMSFORD TIPS
5:45 Tavener
6:15 Higher Court
6:45 Badenscoth
7:15 Mutawatheb
7:45 Dalavida
8:15 Hairdryer
8:45 Lutine Charlie
9.15 Sublimation