Wetherby Tips: Primoz primed for Wednesday’s chasing bow

Wetherby hosts the opening meeting of their 2024/25 National Hunt season on Wednesday, as the West Yorkshire venue begins another stellar campaign of jumps action.

They race from 14:00-17:03 on Wednesday afternoon, with seven races on ground forecast to be 'good to soft-good in places' and we've got a trio of Wetherby tips to look out for. They include Primoz for trainer Lucinda Russell as he sets out on the next phase of his career.

14:00 – A Moments Madness e/w @ 12/1

Olly Murphy saddles the hat-trick seeker Bowling Buddy in this opening novices' hurdle and while he's got a double penalty to carry, there is some temptation to stick with him as Lewis Saunders gets on board armed with his 10lb claim. The extra distance here will help, but even so, it's a tough ask to complete the treble on these terms.

Rules debutant A MOMENTS MADNESS for Warren Greatrex is preferred. The five-year-old finished second in his only start in Irish point-to-points.

He was denied there by Jacob's Ladder, who was then picked up by Gigginstown House Stud and finished second in a Punchestown Festival bumper on his stable bow for Gordon Elliott.

This gelding changed hands for £30,000 and should be able to make his mark in this company with James Bowen on board for his yard debut.

14:30 – Primoz @ 5/4

Five runners are engaged in the Mary Lofthouse Supporting Spinal Research Handicap Chase over two miles. Escapeandevade looks sure to be popular having signed off last season, his second over fences, with a hat-trick of wins at Sedgefield and Kelso over 2m1f.

He could defy his rating soon, despite 133 being a career high, but it's worth recalling he finished last of four runners over a similar trip here on his comeback run last term.

Today's Horse Races

The Lucinda Russell-trained PRIMOZ is preferred. The Westerner gelding showed promise in two Irish points before joining this team ahead of last season.

He won on hurdles bow at Ayr (2m, good to soft) first time up and while he came up short in graded/novice races at Haydock and Kelso either side of Christmas, he signed off with a handicap debut win back at Ayr in April.

His experience between the flags points to him doing well over fences and, given he has won off a break, Derek Fox's partner can be expected to hit the ground running in receipt of weight from his four rivals.

17:03 – Go Go Chicago e/w @ 14/1

The finale is a handicap hurdle over three miles in which Ruth Jefferson's GO GO CHICAGO might be able to outrun his odds.

The Shirocco gelding won a bumper at Stratford over 2m2½f (good) in June on what proved his only start for the David Killahena & Graeme McPherson team before he linked up with this handler.

After a summer off, he started out for Jefferson in a good novice event last month at Kelso and ran well enough in third considering he was a 25/1 chance in a race where the market-leading duo dominated.

He should be sharper for that outing and stamina should be no problem upped in trip now off what might be a lenient opening mark of 109.

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