Lucky 15 Tips: Finn Lough ready to strike at Doncaster

There's plenty more top racing action to come over the remaining festive days and into the New Year, with five Sunday meetings across the UK and Ireland. They come over jumps at Doncaster, Kelso, Leopardstown and Limerick, as well as on the Tapeta at Southwell.

I've put together my Lucky 15 Tips for Sunday's action, drawn from across the cards and including a chaser seeking to break his duck at Doncaster after some near misses.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

11:35 Southwell - Ardennes @ 4/1

ARDENNES only had a handful of starts for Ed Walker, including winning a Salisbury novice (6f, good to firm) in June, before departing for Mick Appleby.

His final two starts for Walker came on heavy/soft going in October and, typically for one joining this trainer, he was turned out with a much-improved showing when second at Kempton over 6f at the start of this month in a Class 4 handicap on stable now.

He perhaps did a bit too much in the lead early on and, if he settles better, he shouldn't be waiting too long to nail his first win for this trainer, with Frederick Larson taking a handy 3lb off again in the saddle.

13:28 Kelso - Chichester @ 4/1

A field of 14 for this maiden hurdle at the Borders venue and none more intriguing than CHICHESTER on first start for Lucinda Russell.

A veteran of 44 races on the Flat, he won six times and made the frame on nine more occasions. His best day came in the Listed Ganton Stakes at York last summer when he won over a mile and he achieved a peak Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 112 in that code.

If he can transfer his ability to this sphere, he can surely be a useful recruit for the Grand National-winning trainer over timber.

14:12 Doncaster - Finn Lough @ 3/1

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero will be hopeful that FINN LOUGH can shed his maiden tag over fences after three runner-up finishes from four attempts.

His stamina was gradually teased out with rises in trip as he took silver medals at Warwick (2m4f, good), Huntingdon (2m7½f, good) and then here (3m2f, good) in October and November.

He hasn't done a lot wrong and he drew right away with Stan The Man here last time, form that looks good as the winner went close from a higher mark at Wincanton on Boxing Day.

He's got a bang in-form rival to face here in Chemical Warfare, but David Pipe's runner is climbing the ratings and the first-time cheekpieces may help Finn Lough get a deserved win.

15:05 Leopardstown - Comfort Zone @ 11/1

What a week for Joseph O'Brien already with Grade 1 wins both here and via Banbridge in the King George.

The Piltown trainer saddles COMFORT ZONE in this Listed Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle, with a hefty pot of €60k (£49,700) to the winner.

He's closely matched with So Scottish in the same JP McManus silks for Emmet Mullins based on their Galway runs behind the hugely progressive winner The Wallpark in August.

Comfort Zone gets 1lb from that rival here and was last sighted winning a Naas handicap over 2m on the Flat in October off a mark of 86.

With the stable in scintillating form - 32 per cent strike rate entering the weekend - he looks primed for a big effort under Simon Torrens.

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Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.