Wednesday Racing Tips: Coko can collect

There are four meetings set to take place across Britain on Wednesday, a pair of afternoon jump cards accompanied by two AW Flat fixtures, one of which will conclude under the lights in the evening.  

A bumper nine-race AW card from Lingfield gets proceedings under way at 13:52, closely followed by Hexham (14:11) and Hereford (14:30). The first race of Kempton’s AW evening meeting is due off at 17:00. Among our Wednesday fancies is one for Nicky Richards, who won with a good amount in hand on just his second start over fences last time. 

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

14:41 Hexham - Didntgotwenty @ 3/1

Martin Todhunter has enjoyed a good season with his chasers, including with DIDNTGOTWENTY, who looks capable of following up last month’s Musselburgh win, despite a 9lb hike.

The seven-year-old showed only modest levels of ability over hurdles, but as is generally the case with horses from this yard, chasing was always going to be his game.

Indeed, he has shown rapid improvement since switching to fences with cheekpieces applied, his second behind Sandy Thompson’s Marty McFly at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day now reading especially well with that rival having gone on to win his next three outings.

The selection got off the mark with a lot more in hand than the official margin of six lengths suggested at the Edinburgh track last month and, while this looks stronger, he’s open to plenty of improvement, particularly now reverting to 3m.

15:41 Hexham - Jo Coko @ 3/1

The Nicky Richards-trained JO COKO created a good impression when winning on just his second chase start at Uttoxeter in January and he has the potential for significant further improvement.

An Irish point winner on heavy ground in February 2024, he showed plenty in three starts over hurdles for James Ewart last season, most notably when splitting Alan King’s Ski Lodge and the Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith-trained Grand Geste when second at Haydock on his debut, the latter now rated 134 over fences.

He was beaten at a short price on his chasing and stable debut at Newcastle in December, but showed the benefit of that experience when accounting for the formerly smart Hillcrest at Uttoxeter, aided by first-time cheekpieces.

He’s gone up 4lb for that to a mark of 114, but he ran to a Racing Post Rating of 122 on that occasion, so should more than prove up to the task.

19:00 Kempton - Thestral @ 7/2

Fitness has to be taken on trust for Hugo Palmer’s THESTRAL after a 96-day absence, but it’s a chance worth taking with the three-year-old potentially on a lenient mark for his handicap debut.

The son of Dream Ahead weakened late on when fifth on his debut over 7f at Newcastle in November, but saw out his race much better over the same course and distance the next month when scoring at odds of 8/1, albeit not looking entirely straightforward under pressure.

He has since been gelded and, with blinkers applied, looks a big player here off 68, having already run to a Racing Post Rating of 71 last time.

Click the link for the latest Horse Racing Odds