Thursday Racing Tips: Max Comley has A Great Excuse to keep up the winning form

It's a relatively quiet day on Wednesday with just three meetings scheduled to take place in Britain, one of which is an evening card under the lights at Kempton. The day's action gets underway at Lingfield at 12.35, closely followed by Catterick at 12.47 before Kempton's opener at 4.30. 

Amongst our Wednesday fancies is one for Jonjo and AJ O'Neill in the staying handicap chase at Catterick, the front-running gelding bidding to avenge a recent narrow defeat over course-and-distance.

12:28 Huntingdon - A Great Excuse @ 13/8

A GREAT EXCUSE has adapted well to his new stable since transferring from Barry Brennan to Max Comley, and has also successfully transitioned to racing over fences.

He ran freely on his debut at Ffos Las back in November but came along well for that experience and scored at the second time of asking over fences at Lingfield last time out.

That form has since been franked with the second horse going on to win, as did the third-placed horse, Touquet.

Comley's charge will face a rematch against Touquet this afternoon at Huntingdon, and while they should be close in the betting, the selection gets the nod with Tom Broughton claiming a handy 5lb.

13:30 Huntingdon - Annie Express @ 5/4

The Pertemps Novice's Handicap Chase at Huntingdon appears to be a competitive affair, with several decent candidates in with a chance.

A few of these bring good form into this contest, including serial winner Orange Diamond and the consistent Limetree Boy, but the selection goes to ANNIE EXPRESS.

She was a facile winner last time out at Ludlow when making her debut for Robbie Llewellyn's yard.

Although the mare faces a quick turnaround from her success seven days ago, she arrives here escaping a penalty for that win and will run off an unchanged mark.

She'll handle the soft conditions underfoot and is well-suited to the staying trip she'll have to face this afternoon.

There's also the additional bonus of Toby McCain-Mitchell renewing the partnership and claiming a useful 5lb.

15:15 Huntingdon - Onewaywest @ 7/2

The feature race on the card at Huntingdon this afternoon is the Pertemps Hurdle Series qualifier, and features a host of big-name trainers who will be looking to get their horses eligible for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.

While an argument can be made for most of the field, the selection goes to ONEWAYWEST, who was an unlucky faller at Kempton last time out.

Ben Pauling's seven-year-old arrived at Kempton in thriving form, having won at Warwick and Wetherby in the space of a week back in November.

His impressive start to the season was rewarded with him being sent off favourite at Kempton.

He put in a good round of jumping from the front, and was in contention before falling at the last.

Pauling's gelding is up 14lb since his back-to-back wins in November. However, he looks to be a progressive type and will have a great chance of winning this afternoon to ensure qualification to the Pertemps Final come March.

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