Lucky 15 Tips: Mullins, Skelton, and it’s ‘only’ Ludlow on Wednesday!

For Wednesday's Lucky 15 tips let's visit Ludlow, proper grass roots jumping country, and their seven-race card that kicks in at 13:13.

Harry Skelton's here, Gavin Sheehan, and a gentleman called Patrick Mullins, riding a 'shortie' for Dad Willie. Should be fun.

Horse Racing Odds

Two winners and two seconds yesterday, so we're in reasonable nick. Fingers crossed for some midweek magic ...

13:13 - King Al @ 2/1

A 2m juvenile hurdle to open proceedings, and I'm siding with a four-year-old Al Kazeem gelding, trained by Alan King in Wiltshire.

King Al is a recruit from the flat - same connections, but after six runs on the level (2 wins) he's had two runs over hurdles in the last couple of months, showing some promise in finishing a fair fifth and then second 25 days ago, at Kempton, beaten just 4.25l.

'Kingy' is a terrific, evergreen trainer, endless really good horses down the years, and the selection's conqueror last time is a Skelton-trained conveyance now rated 135. Bright chance.

14:23 - First Candidate @ 7/2

Talking of the Warwickshire winner factory - how about one for the brothers Skelton in this, a novices' hurdle again at the minimum 2m trip, and their First Candidate.

She's a six-year-old mare by the mighty Jack Hobbs, who I saw run second to the brilliant Golden Horn in York's Dante Stakes over a decade ago. Two respectable runs so far over timber for her, following a point win just over a year ago.

She last appeared 44 days ago at Huntingdon, an 8.25l fifth of 15 behind one of Emma Lavelle's, with Nicky Henderson, Alan King and Harry Derham providing the others to have edged her on the day.

She was unconsidered at 25s in the market, but ran on nicely after being held up. It's surely only a matter of time before this well-bred recruit (dam by Breeders' Cup hero Shirocco too) builds upon that point success and scores - with the trainer operating at a 30% strike-rate over the last fortnight, and the jockey even warmer at a mere 38%!

Nice 7lb fairer sex allowance brings her weight down to a delicious 10st 7lb.

14:58 - Toothless @ 4/1

2m 4f chasers now, and I understand the mighty Paul Nicholls' only runner entered up anywhere today.

Team Ditcheat field Toothless, an eight-year-old gelded son of another flat racing legend in Dante, Derby and Juddmonte winner Authorized. Toothless stands at four-from-16 all told, and arrives fresh from a resounding New Year's Day success at Windsor in this grade, in a contest worth £16k.

He's up 5lb for that which looks eminently fair, and will be ridden once again by claimer Jay Tidball. Nice race this - 'only' £8k or so to the winner, but some good yards are in opposition and it looks competitive.

15:33 - Sallyville Lady @ 3/1

We're with the Skeltons again in this mares' handicap hurdle, and a six-year-old who is by a son of Sea The Stars.

Sallyville Lady is a point winner, in December 2024, and she's subsequently had two fairly recent runs in novice hurdles. Debut spin was at Warwick, their local track, and she came a fine third beaten less than 2l.

Seemed not to do much better at Uttoxeter 47 days ago, 8l adrift of the winner; but the scorer that day has since gone on to follow-up at Wincanton and it was 16l back to the third in Staffordshire, so the run was probably better than it first looked.

We've mentioned the superb form of both rider and trainer, and here's hoping it's another little contribution towards the Trainers' Championship on a day when huge rival Willie Mullins nips in to very probably take the second race here on the card with his Diamond Du Berlais.

Sallyville Lady makes her handicap debut off a mark of 111, which doesn't look too onerous.

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £329 for a £7.50 total stake. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can) - then go for it!

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Lucky 15 tips with Betfred Insights.