Horse Racing Tips: Big Boy Barney to step forward

There is a busy Wednesday of racing action ahead, with five meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland.

Jumps fare comes from Taunton, while they race on the level at Catterick, Nottingham, Leopardstown and Kempton (all-weather) on a busy day with 37 scheduled races. Below are my three racing fancies for Wednesday's action, including one for Fergal O'Brien that may open his account at the second of asking under Rules.

15:25 Taunton - Dirty Den @ 7/2

Anthony Charlton can strike with DIRTY DEN in the Lucia Stevens Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles at Taunton.

The five-year-old was second over course and distance last month, chasing home Sunninghill, and returns here after a lacklustre chasing debut at Hereford since.

He didn't take to jumping the larger obstacles and was too keen at times in that Hereford start, so it's a wise move to come back to hurdling for now.

A first-time visor is also added here in an effort to get him to settle a bit better. He had a next-time-out winner behind in fourth in that run here last time, while re-opposing Phoenix Risen was in third.

He runs off the same mark now back over timber and after three successive seconds in this sphere, he can break his duck.

17:30 Taunton - Big Boy Barney @ 4/7

Trainer Fergal O'Brien should anticipate some improvement from BIG BOY BARNEY on this second start for the yard.

The Doyen gelding won an Irish point-to-point 12 months ago at Loughanmore with a subsequent Grade 3 novice hurdle winner behind in second and is one of three runners to emerge from that contest and score since under Rules.

Big Boy Barney was absent 323 days and had undergone a wind operation before making his own debut on the racecourse at Warwick (2m, good) in a bumper last month.

He was fourth in that contest, with the winner Destination Dubai advertising that form since by chasing home Green Splendour in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree on Grand National Day.

Big Boy Barney should improve for the run and the extra half a furlong won't do him any harm here.

18:40 Kempton - Yorkshire @ 4/1

A slight ease in grade could work nicely for YORKSHIRE here as Ed Bethell's gelded son of Harry Angel seeks a fourth all-weather win in seven attempts.

He signed off last year with wins at Wolverhampton over 7f in October and November and went up 9lb in the ratings for those scores.

He tackled a Class 2 contest at Southwell in mid-February on his return and ran well enough, beaten just over three lengths into fifth spot.

The winner ran well in the Lincoln at Doncaster next time, while the second won a Listed prize at Wolverhampton and the overall form reads well.

Running from an unchanged mark, Yorkshire can go well on his first Polytrack start.

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