HELTENHAM CAN HELP SKELTON TITLE BID

By Tony Kelshaw, PA

Heltenham bounced back to form last week and can give Dan Skelton's title bid a helping hand by landing the Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase at Perth.

The eight-year-old has been a fine servant for the Alcester handler, winning six times since joining him from France, with five victories over fences featuring a trio of lucrative triumphs at Newbury.

Having risen to a career-high mark of 142, this season has been more of a struggle but after the handicapper offered some assistance, he showed encouraging signs at Newton Abbot on Saturday.

With Tristan Durrell in the saddle, Heltenham travelled strongly towards the rear before forcing his way to the front at the seventh fence and establishing a sizeable lead.

Unfortunately, they were picked off by Scarface late on but still finished 14 lengths clear of third-placed favourite Royal Jewel and it was pleasing to see Heltenham apparently enjoying himself so much again.

With only four runs on his card this term, the hope is that he will retain enough freshness for this quick reappearance and regular pilot Harry Skelton can time the challenge just right.

Hidden History provides the Skeltons with another opportunity to pick up some much-needed money for the championship coffers in the Royal Caledonian Hunt Handicap Hurdle.

Formerly with Chris Gordon, the seven-year-old secured a smooth success at Uttoxeter on his debut for the yard last month and looks to have scope for further improvement before being sent novice chasing next term.

Irish raiders are expected to dominate the opening Nairns Oatcakes Mares' ``National Hunt'' Novices' Hurdle, with the Willie Mullins-trained Magic McColgan taking on Stuart Crawford's Mongibello.

Preference is for the latter, who was a course and distance winner last June and has been a good runner-up to odds-on hotpots in two of her three subsequent starts.

Ikarak can add to this season's great record at Warwick by taking the John Sillett Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Olly Murphy's charge claimed victory over the same course and distance in November and January, just doing enough on each occasion, so his mark has not suffered too much.

February's Chepstow fifth showed that he can be competitive at a higher grade and a subsequent two-month break should have freshened him up nicely.

Konfusion has been a revelation of late for Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith and could be worth keeping on side in the Good Luck Wrexham A.F.C Handicap Chase at Bangor, despite receiving a big uplift following his latest win.

Stepping up to three miles for the first time, he bolted up by 17 lengths at Uttoxeter on good ground and even a 12lb hike up the ratings may not stop him from going in again.

Buenos Dias was a beaten favourite on his racecourse debut at Brighton but Raphael Freire's juvenile ran well enough in third to suggest he can recoup those losses in the IRE Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Restricted Novice Stakes at Beverley.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

WARWICK: Race 1: 14.35 Jack To Bat, Race 2: 15.05 Moonlight Artist, Race 3: 15.35 Ballybegg,
Race 4: 16.05 Gwennie May Jem, Race 5: 16.37 Ikarak, Race 6: 17.12 Davidoc, Race 7: 17.47
Pioneer Pete.

BEVERLEY: Race 1: 14.45 Buenos Dias, Race 2: 15.15 Fierce, Race 3: 15.45 Cloth Of Gold, Race 4:
16.15 Bowen Island, Race 5: 16.47 Panama City, Race 6: 17.20 Light Up Our Stars, Race 7: 17.55
Kaaress, Race 8: 18.25 Staffordshire.

PERTH: Race 1: 14.55 Mongibello, Race 2: 15.25 Kapal Layar, Race 3: 15.55 Hara Kiri, Race 4:
16.25 Uptown Harry, Race 5: 16.59 Hidden History, Race 6: 17.33 HELTENHAM (NAP), Race 7:
18.05 Klitschko, Race 8: 18.36 Heart Above.

BANGOR: Race 1: 18.10 I'm A Lumberjack, Race 2: 18.40 Malton Groove, Race 3: 19.10
Champetre, Race 4: 19.40 Konfusion, Race 5: 20.10 Crystal Glance, Race 6: 20.40 Chesh, Race 7:
21.10 Proper Twelve.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 19.25 Inns Of Fear, Race 2: 19.55 Nammos, Race 3: 20.25 Overlooked.
Race 4: 20.55 Yakhabar, Race 5: 21.25 Woodhay Whisper, Race 6: 21.55 Cavalry Call.

DOUBLE: Hidden History and Heltenham (Perth, Races 5 and 6).

For fields, race betting and more information, go to www.tab.co.za