Horse Racing Tips: Title-chasing Skelton to land a blow at Perth

The big meeting on Wednesday comes from Perth, which is backed up by British Jumps cards at Ludlow and Taunton. There are also Flat meetings from Catterick and Gowran Park on the turf, as well as Lingfield on the all-weather.

Among our horse racing tips for Wednesday is one that Dan Skelton hopes can land a blow for him in the race for the trainers' title, as he seeks to hold off Willie Mullins.

14:18 Perth - Denemethy @ 13/2

On breeding you would say that DENEMETHY would improve over fences and, following his recent second at Market Rasen, it seems he is ready to prove it.

This gelding by Flemensfirth, one of the leading National Hunt sires of his generation, and is out of a sister to top two-mile chaser Petit Robin. He beat Lowry's Bar, now a smart chaser, in a point-to-point in February 2023.

Denemethy was lightly raced in bumpers and over hurdles. He switched to fences in December and has fitted in plenty since. He won at Market Rasen, another sharp, right-handed track, on Boxing Day and got back on track there last time.

There is a case for saying that Denemethy threw away the race he was second in seven weeks ago. It could be put down to residual inexperience, although it turns out he lost little in defeat anyway. Both the winner and the third have won since.

Stepping up in trip ought to suit Denemethy, given that pedigree and point form. Trainer Fergal O'Brien has a strong record at Perth (24 per cent strike rate in the last five seasons), and he can enhance that record on Wednesday.

15:38 Ludlow - Tommy's Charm @ 2/1

Kerry Lee is known for bringing her charges along slowly and TOMMY'S CHARM is a classic case. He was second in his sole point to point in October 2023 and, after a promising start over hurdles, he went missing from late-March until December last year.

He moved to fences at the start of his campaign this season and showed the benefit of the initial experience when finishing second to Ideal Des Bordes at Wincanton in January. That horse has improved since, while the horse that finished third has also won in the meantime.

Tommy's Charm has had another break, but he remains unexposed and has his novice status preserved for the summer at least. It may be high time for him to kick on and these conditions give him a good chance to do so.

This is an Extra Place Race, meaning that Betfred will be paying 3 Places (1/5 Odds) instead of 2. T&Cs Apply

15:48 Perth - Etalon @ 3/1

The culmination of the trainers' championship will come on Saturday at Sandown. It is likely that Willie Mullins will get the better of it at Sandown itself, so Dan Skelton needs to build up a lead and ETALON is one of his best chances of a nice payout on Wednesday.

This horse is yet to kick on from a promising start over fences, but there have been plausible reasons. Mainly, they have been to do with him struggling to see out races. Decent ground and a fairly sharp track at Perth ought to help with that.

Furthermore, Etalon had wind surgery before his most recent run at Ayr. He again didn't get quite home that day, but wind surgery can often set horses back in their work and he might well tighten up for the run. A little more improvement and he can take advantage of the attractive mark he now races off.

This is an Extra Place Race, meaning that Betfred will be paying 3 Places (1/5 Odds) instead of 2. T&Cs Apply.

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