BALKO BACKED TO PREVAIL AT PLUMPTON

By Ashley Iveson, PA

The David Pipe-trained Lady Balko can make it back-to-back course wins in the G.E.White & Sons Agricultural Buildings Handicap Chase at Plumpton.

A three-time winner over hurdles earlier in the year, the five-year-old was well beaten on her chasing bow at Bangor in late October, but that has turned out to be a pretty good race, with both the winner and the runner-up scoring since.

Lady Balko had a little less on her plate when upped in trip over this course and distance a fortnight ago and duly got the job done without too much fuss, making every yard of the running and passing the post with six and a half lengths in hand.

She is up 9lb, which makes life tougher, but she should nevertheless prove hard to peg back.

Epic West is expected to double his tally under rules in the Dawson Hart Gallop Novices’ Hurdle.

A €60,000 purchase after winning an Irish point-to-point in the spring, the five-year-old made a near foot-perfect debut for Jamie Snowden in a novice hurdle at Carlisle last month, pulling seven and a half lengths clear of the opposition without being fully extended.

While his future surely lies over longer trips, he showed plenty of speed to win over this two-mile trip that day and can follow up under a penalty before having his sights raised.

Ben Pauling’s Bad will not be winning out of turn if he can finally get his head in front in the Southwell Golf Club Handicap Chase.

The five-year-old arrived from France with a lofty reputation last year, going to post as a leading fancy for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival under Rachael Blackmore.

Bad disappointed in the Cotswolds, but has run a number of good races since, albeit in defeat.

Last season the grey was placed in competitive handicap hurdles at Newbury and Ascot, while this season he has picked up minor honours in a couple of novice handicap chases at the latter venue, most recently coming home third behind Bucksy Des Epeires.

There is a bit of a theme to his performances as he often travels strongly before failing to find much for pressure in a finish, but there is no doubt he is riddled with ability.

A switch to a less demanding track like Southwell looks a wise move and having been eased slightly in the weights, this looks a good opportunity for Bad to secure an overdue to victory.

Dan Skelton’s string continues to fire on all cylinders and he unleashes an interesting prospect in the form of In The Age in the Play At The Races StableDuel Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The Alcester handler went to six figures to secure this Saint Des Saints gelding’s services at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival sale in March.

The four-year-old looked a smart operator when winning his sole start in the point-to-point field for Pat Doyle and connections will be hoping for an immediate return on their investment in the Midlands.

The Hugo Palmer-trained Soldiers Star is rated the best bet on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.

The two-year-old sets a lofty standard in the first division of the Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM EBF “Confined” Restricted Maiden Stakes, having been beaten a short head by Shiplake on his Newcastle debut a month ago. He will not need to improve much to go one better.

Monday racing tips

NAAS: 12.30 Blizzard Of Oz, 1.00 Chosen Shant, 1.30 Eastern Legend, 2.00 Colonel Nelson, 2.30 Baby Kate, 3.00 Backfromtheraces, 3.30 Scope To Improve.

PLUMPTON: 12.40 Epic West, 1.10 Alien Storm, 1.40 Jail No Bail, 2.10 LADY BALKO (NAP), 2.40 Tara Iti, 3.10 Hidalgo Des Bordes, 3.40 Easy Love.

SOUTHWELL: 11.52 Safe Destination, 12.22 Bad, 12.52 In The Age, 1.22 French Symphony, 1.52 Bond Broker, 2.22 Jakana, 2.52 Ballydangan, 3.22 Magical Arthur.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 4.30 Kyber Crystal, 5.00 Soldiers Star, 5.30 Lovesick, 6.00 Misty Sky, 6.30 Khangai, 7.00 Java Raja, 7.30 Plumette, 8.00 Strategic Fortune, 8.30 Yoshimi.

DOUBLE: Lady Balko and Bad