Sunday Racing Tips: Latch on to a Wilful type at Huntingdon

Jump racing holds sway across Britain and Ireland on Sunday March 3rd with four meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening. First off is Leopardstown before they go at Huntingdon, Doncaster and Newcastle.

Among our Sunday fancies is one for trainer Jonjo O’Neill who should prove too strong for his rivals on his hurdling debut.

2.30 Huntingdon - Wilful @ 8/11

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill won this 2m maiden hurdle two years ago with the heavily-supported Head Law and the handler has another big opportunity this year with WILFUL, who is a well-bred five-year-old son of Westerner.

Well-beaten when fourth in a Stratford bumper on debut, he looked a totally different proposition when winning a bumper at Catterick in December, a win that can be marked up as he made the running and was very keen throughout.

Wilful was beaten half a length at the same venue when last seen, carried left across the track in the closing stages by the winner Wendigo. It was a good effort and he looks like a type who will relish this switch to hurdling now.

3.05 Huntingdon - Damarta @ 9/4

Wind surgery has worked the oracle for Olly Murphy’s DAMARTA, who built on the promise of his handicap debut third at Uttoxeter when bolting up at Southwell over two miles in January.

Given a patient ride on the day, he made very smooth headway wide on the track before the second last flight and forged to the front in the manner of a very well handicapped horse.

The handicapper has responded with a 9lb rise in the weights, but the manner in which Damarta won would suggest he could still be ahead of the assessor.

He has run well in testing conditions too, so the forecast soft ground shouldn’t be an inconvenience and he is taken to land this 2m handicap hurdle.

3.40 Huntingdon - General Medrano @ 4/1 

Trainer Emma Lavelle is having a very decent season to date, saddling 31 winners, only one below her final tally last season, and GENERAL MEDRANO can make his presence felt in the competitive 2m4f handicap chase in the hands of Tom Bellamy.

The seven-year-old son of Ocovango was given a very forceful ride at Sandown when last seen and succumbed to his keenness on a stiff track when crumbling from the third-last and having to settle for fourth.

Dropped 2lb in the weights as a result, he arrives back to the track where he carried 12 stone to victory in a handicap back in October. If Bellamy can get him to settle in behind the leaders, he should have every chance of bouncing right back to form.

General Medrano wouldn’t want the ground to get too sticky, but conditions as it stands should be fine and he looks a bit of value at current prices.

Horse racing tips from Betfred Insights.