PENTLAND PRIMED FOR RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

By Tony Kelshaw

Pentland Hills went into the notebook as one to stick with after last month’s seasonal return and he can build on that promising run in the Betting.Bet Cheltenham Ante Post Racing Tips Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow.

Nicky Henderson’s charge has had all sorts of problems since winning the Triumph and another Grade One contest at Aintree as a juvenile back in 2019, but connections have been eager to persevere with him.

He managed to scramble home in a Haydock Flat race last year when thrown in at the weights and was handed a walkover at Huntingdon, but things fell apart after that.

The Seven Barrows maestro admitted Pentland Hills had simply never looked well in himself, though, so a line can be put through three consecutive poor efforts.

At Doncaster last month, he reappeared in much better condition and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the outing, jumping well and travelling strongly throughout before just being run out of it by Serious Operator.

That pair pulled well clear of the rest and James Bowen appeared keen to ensure Pentland Hills did not have a hard time of it, which can pay off this time with Freddie Gordon taking a handy 5lb off.

A 2lb uplift is slightly frustrating, but the nine-year-old remains dangerously well handicapped at fully 15lb below his highest ever mark.

Denemethy beat three-time scorer Lowry’s Bar between the flags in Ireland and appeals in division one of the Betting.Bet Free Members Club Maiden Hurdle.

Now with Fergal O’Brien, the six-year-old was well backed when second in what appeared to be an above-average Carlisle bumper back in early November and will have been well schooled for this debut over timber.

James Jet has benefitted from a wind operation this term, securing narrow victories at Uttoxeter over hurdles and then Ffos Las, when tackling fences for the first time.

He has been reassessed accordingly each time but the manner in which he is progressing suggests he may have the scope to cope in the Betting.Bet Horse Racing Tips Aggregator Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Warren Greatrex has another hat-trick-seeking charge up at Catterick with Herakles Westwood in the Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old has come through strongly to lead at the last and then win going away at Lingfield and Fontwell, proving very versatile in terms of ground conditions.

Island Native got off the mark at the 15th attempt last week and looks the type to now grow in confidence as a result, so he can follow up in the BetMGM: It’s Showtime Handicap at Lingfield.

Glen Heste can get punters off to a good start at Kempton in the Racing TV Handicap, having gone down by just a neck when second to Mamalouka over the same course and distance in a race that is working out well.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

LINGFIELD: Race 1: 14.40 Luna Magic, Race 2: 15.10 Night On Earth, Race 3: 15.45 Island
Native, Race 4: 16.15 Loaded Gun, Race 5: 16.50 Sassy Redhead, Race 6: 17.25 Sovereign
Knight, Race 7: 18.00 Tawtheef.

CATTERICK: Race 1: 14.50 Shanty Alley, Race 2: 15.20 Yes Day, Race 3: 15.50 Auditoria, Race
4: 16.25 Herakles Westwood, Race 5: 17.00 King Of The Hill, Race 6: 17.35 Misty Mani, Race
7: 18.10 Diva B.

CHEPSTOW: Race 1: 14.55 Denemethy, Race 2: 15.30 Marvellous Mick, Race 3: 16.00 James
Jet, Race 4: 16.35 Steel Ally, Race 5: 17.10 PENTLAND HILLS (NAP), Race 6: 17.45
Moonlighter, Race 7: 18.20 Montregard.

KEMPTON: Race 1: 19.30 Glen Heste, Race 2: 20.00 Cephalus, Race 3: 20.30 Native
Approach, Race 4: 21.00 Stella Hogan, Race 5: 21.30 Hail The Flag, Race 6: 22.00 The Bay
Warrior, Race 7: 22.30 Barrel Aged.

ALL TO COME: Herakles Westwood (Catterick, Race 4) and Pentland Hills (Chepstow, Race
5).

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com