There’s something for everyone on Sky Sports Racing today, with all-weather action from Southwell following National Hunt fare from Hereford.
4.03 Hereford – Maxcel, Oh My Johnny and Maasai Mara headline
Mel Rowley’s Maxcel enjoyed a successful summer winning a couple of handicap hurdles before finishing down the field in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen. He returns from a 207-day break for this starsportsbet.co.uk Handicap Hurdle and remains unexposed for his age.
Oh My Johnny has only had the four starts over hurdles including when a disappointing favourite at Haydock last month. He has a bit to prove but is fancied to improve over this extra distance.
John O’Shea’s Maasai Mara finished a solid third behind Neman Lion over this course and distance on his last start and with the form of that looking very strong, he must be feared under Ben Poste.
2.40 Southwell – Red-hot Ash Wednesday faces Hierarchy
The Heather Main-trained Ash Wednesday rattled off a quick-fire hat-trick in January and this thriving sprinter will be popular to continue the winning thread as he heads up in class and down in trip in this Weekly £5 Free Bet With BetUK Handicap.
Jamie Osborne saddles top weight Hierarchy with Saffie Osborne in the plate. A consistent performer, the six-year-old arrives on the back of a pair of seconds and should be in the mix off this 1lb higher mark.
Cliffcake is without a win since March 2024 but showed he holds plenty of ability when chasing home Overnight Oats over 6f here last month. His trainer reaches for the cheekpieces in an attempt to break that losing run.
3.50 Southwell – In-form Easily Convinced & Standput clash
A fiercely competitive Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap sees nine runners clash over seven furlongs.
The Marco Botti-trained Easily Convinced built on his Kempton debut third to land a Chelmsford maiden impressively and a mark of 71 could prove lenient.
Richard Hannon and Sean Levey team up with Standput who broke his maiden when scoring on handicap debut at Wolverhampton. The third horse This Farh franked the form at Lingfield last week and he rates a live player.
George Boughey’s McKenna is up 7lbs for his Wolverhampton success last month and looks the pick of the remainder.
Others
Tommy The Tank looks well placed to go one better in the 1.10pm Star Sports We Believe In Bookmaking Maiden Hurdle at Hereford, having finished as the runner-up in his last two starts for the Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole combination.
Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm field Play It Again in the 1.43pm Call Star Sports On 08000 521 321 Fillies’ Juvenile Maiden Hurdle at the same track, with the two-year-old filly looking to go one better than her debut second on her first British start. Donning the Waley-Cohen silks, she goes to post alongside a plethora of hurdling debutants, including Nini Star and Graecia.
At Southwell, Zabeel Rain clashes with Orangesandlemons in the the 3.15pm Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes, with Billy Loughnane riding the latter for Ed Bethell.
Watch all the action from Hereford and Southwell, live on Sky Sports Racing…
