Wetherby Tips: Star Turn can be just that

Excellent National Hunt fare on Wednesday comes from Wetherby, which for me will always conjure up thoughts of the great Michael Dickinson, his Mum and Dad, and any number of brilliant, winter game, equine heroes.

I've been dozens of times, and it's fantastic. Iconic setting, hard by the A1M, a proper jumping test, and a long home straight to negotiate. Fabulous.

Racing takes place between 12.40 - 15.35, a six-contest card, and though we're not blessed with an abundance of runners we do still have some highly-competitive heats.

13.15 - Star Turn @ 7/2

An Alan King-trained juvenile hurdler - and here's a man who knows the time of day when it comes to such horses. Whether we're looking at another Katchit or Penzance will soon become apparent, but that's asking rather a lot!

Star Turn looks like being a far better timber-topper than he was a flat handicapper. Only rising to a mark of 46 on the level, on hurdling debut at Ludlow he finished off his race well, running on late to finish second to a horse with a Listed entry upcoming.

With that experience under his belt there's every likelihood of some improvement to come on Wednesday, and the excellent Gavin Sheehan takes the ride. Only half-a-dozen runners, but we've a likely Skelton favourite and a couple of Easterby entries among them. Lovely little heat.

14.25 - Toonagh Warrior @ 9/4

A novice hurdle, again at two miles as with our previous selection. Toonagh Warrior gets Charlie Hammond on top again, as with his last spin around Warwick three weeks ago.

He finished an excellent second of seventeen there, beaten under 2l, and funnily enough it was an Alan King horse that defeated him. Warwick is a proper, stiff test, often used by trainers for big-race preps, and it's a serious performance. The Skeltons field a debutant with point-to-point experience, but I wouldn't swop this 5-yr-old gelding and feel his turn is imminent.

Trainer Stuart Edmonds hasn't had the horse long after picking him up from Philip Fenton in County Tipperary, and he appears to be galvanised by his new surroundings. Another cracking little contest.

Betfred Insights - Horse racing tips, comment, opinion.