By Nick Robson
Wise Eagle can continue his impressive form over hurdles by winning the Racing TV Club Day Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on Friday.
Adam Nicol’s stable star is a very useful Flat performer, as he showed last time out when second in a valuable race at Newcastle off a mark of 102.
That was quite a shrewd bit of placing by the former jockey, as he had been entered to run over hurdles at Doncaster but the meeting was lost to the weather, so to maintain fitness he had a run and picked up over £10,000 in doing so. You cannot get that on the gallops.
It seems strange to say for an eight-year-old but Wise Eagle still has so much untapped potential over hurdles.
He ran over obstacles back in the 2020-21 season, finishing second at Catterick before winning a Newcastle jumpers’ bumper on the all-weather.
However, jumping ambitions were put on the back burner as he rose up the handicap on the Flat, winning the £100,00 Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh in April 2023.
Second in the Sagaro Stakes afterwards, he was then just struggling up in class, so Nicol sent him back hurdling and he has won at Musselburgh and Catterick by an aggregate of 37 lengths.
This is the acid test against a good yardstick like Givemefive, but his superior Flat speed can come to the fore.
Givemefive’s trainer Harry Derham can still get on the scoresheet with Maitre En Science in the Johnston Smillie Novices’ Hurdle.
He was sent off favourite at Musselburgh on his debut for the yard in the Listed Scottish Triumph Hurdle but finished only fourth.
That run can be excused, though, as Derham had suffered badly at the hands of Storm Eowyn, which washed away his gallop.
Now back on an even keel and more attuned to racing UK style, this French import can show what he is made of in a first-time tongue tie.
Lucinda Russell’s Myretown seemed to be really enjoying himself last time out at Windsor, when he was still in front before falling heavily three out.
Given that was only four weeks ago, he must have suffered no ill effects and can make amends in the Every Horse, Every Race, At timeform.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Russell also holds strong claims in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap Chase with Primoz.
It is slightly disappointing he is not competing at a higher level at this stage of the season, as connections held high hopes for him when he won at the Scottish National meeting.
He looked good on his chasing debut at Wetherby, beating Pay The Piper in receipt of 8lb and the pair meet again on very similar terms.
Primoz was slightly disappointing last time out when third but the second has come out and won since, while the winner Hombre De Guerra is clearly on the up.
There was a fair bit of confidence behind James Owen’s Naval Tribute ahead of his debut in a Catterick bumper and it was not misplaced as he was only narrowly beaten.
The four-year-old son of Sea The Stars looks a good bet to go one better in the Racing TV Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race at Fakenham.
Ed Bethell’s Noble Testimony was a beaten odds-on favourite on his debut at Newcastle just under a fortnight ago but has been found a great opportunity to go one better in the Weekly Free Bets With BetMGM Extra Restricted Novice Stakes back at Gosforth Park.
He was slowly away on that occasion and when the penny did drop, the winner was away and gone. He should be wiser now.
Roger Varian’s The New Bay Pearl should go close in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Southwell.
Very green on debut at Kempton, she was much sharper last time out at Newcastle when beaten just a neck.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.00 Onslow Gardens, Race 2: 15.30 Northbound, Race 3: 16.00 Crocus
Time, Race 4: 16.30 The New Bay Pearl, Race 5: 17.00 Doctor Khan Junior, Race 6: 17.30 Miami
Hills, Race 7: 18.00 Sophosc, Race 8: 18.30 Master Of My Fate.
FAKENHAM: Race 1: 15.38 Aviation, Race 2: 16.08 Inspiratrice, Race 3: 16.38 Caldwell, Race 4:
17.08 Fame And Fun, Race 5: 17.40 River Tyne, Race 6: 18.10 Naval Tribute, Race 7: 18.40
Presentandcounting.
KELSO: Race 1: 15.50 Lunar Chief, Race 2: 16.20 Maitre En Science, Race 3: 16.50 WISE EAGLE
(NAP), Race 4: 17.20 Ned Tanner, Race 5: 17.50 Myretown, Race 6: 18.20 Primoz, Race 7: 18.50
Japetus.
NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 18.57 Susiesparkle, Race 2: 19.30 Manton Road, Race 3: 20.00
Cooperation, Race 4: 20.30 Noble Testimony, Race 5: 21.00 Jems Bond, Race 6: 21.30 Barnaby,
Race 7: 22.00 Birkenhead.
ALL TO COME: Wise Eagle and Primoz (Kelso, Races 3 and 6).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com