News

Raffle Ticket can be lucky at Exeter

Written by Press Association | Mar 18, 2024 6:19:19 PM

Raffle Ticket can defy a 4-point rise in rating and double up in the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans' Handicap Chase at Exeter on Tuesday.

Mel Rowley's charge now sits on a career-high perch of 137 at the age of 10 due to a consistent series of runs over the last couple of years, turning in just one disappointing effort in all of his completed starts.

That lacklustre effort came at the start of the current campaign, but Raffle Ticket has not looked back since, being beaten just a head the next time at Taunton before triumphing by a similarly narrow distance at Doncaster in January.

His Town Moor success has prompted another uplift but moved to veterans' level from open company, he could still have the required extra to prevail here.

Stratton Oakmont has been a model of consistency since joining Kayley Woollacott, posting a win at Southwell, three seconds and a third.

Ben Godfrey has been in the saddle for all bar one of those runs and the duo can again be there or thereabouts in the 'Three Miles' Handicap Hurdle.

Desert Fortune kept on well when runner-up to hot favourite Bobbi's Beauty at Leicester on her debut for Venetia Williams after a lengthy break and should now be spot on for the Join RacingTV Today Handicap Chase.

Carrigeen Castle can hit the Wetherby target in the Colin Hawkins (Jockey) Memorial Handicap Chase.

Winner of two of his five starts this season, he has placed on a further two occasions, including when chasing home Prairie Wolf at Catterick last time out.

He was running off a 10-point higher mark that day, having been hiked up for a previous 22-length victory, but he performed with real credit, having made a couple of jumping errors that would hardly have helped his cause.

Donny Boy has yet to get his head in front in five starts over fences, but his time could come in the Bella Coulson's 50th Birthday Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

He had made steady progress last time out at Doncaster before a mistake checked his momentum and saw him have to settle for fourth.

Previously beaten just a head at Newcastle before Christmas, he clearly has ability and hopefully things will finally fall his way here.

Operate made a pleasing debut in what looked a smart maiden last month and is worth following on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.

The winner and second, Native Approach and Calumet, are well-bred individuals, while third-placed Jolly Jack Tar has come out and won subsequently.

Operate was nearly six lengths adrift of the winner in fourth and a repeat of that could be good enough in the Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Novice Stakes.

Pittsburg travelled sweetly throughout when scoring at Kempton earlier this month and could be worth keeping on side in the concluding BetUK. It's Where The UK Bets Handicap.

Although a 14-1 chance on that occasion, the eight-year-old had previously shown promise when fourth at Chelmsford after switching back to the Flat following a successful stint over hurdles, so there seems nothing flukey about the winning performance. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings on Tuesday. Here are the tips.

EXETER: Race 1: 16.00 Stratton Oakmont, Race 2: 16.30 King Of The Lake, Race 3: 17.00 RAFFLE TICKET (NAP), Race 4: 17.30 High Game Royal, Race 5: 18.00 Desert Fortune, Race 6: 18.30 Yippee Ki Yay.

WETHERBY: Race 1: 16.15 Act Of Authority, Race 2: 16.45 Lone Soldier, Race 3: 17.15 Carrigeen Castle, Race 4: 17.45 Donny Boy, Race 5: 18.15 Fainche, Race 6: 18.45 Castle Ivers.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 19.30 Operate, Race 2: 20.00 Aces Wild, Race 3: 20.30 Shelbourne, Race 4: 21.00 Sub Thirteen, Race 5: 21.30 Bernie The Bear, Race 6: 22.00 Lough Leane, Race 7: 22.30 Pittsburg.

ALL TO COME: Raffle Ticket (Exeter, Race 3) and Carrigeen Castle (Wetherby, Race 3).