Timeform Radio Tips: Space to Head them home

Chester is the feature meeting on Wednesday.

Timeform's Stephen Molxneux has several bets lined up for Wednesday's racing...

The sprint handicap at 15:15 is, as to be expected, fiercely competitive. There is loads of pace on with Noble Storm, Captain Dunne, Silvanus, Fitz Flyer, Forest Edge, Decision By One and Foxy Music all horses that have blasted out to make the running on recent outings. Whilst the pace can last out around Chester regardless of how quick they go surely this is going to suit something coming from mid-field or worse and I am prepared to risk Head Space at his current odds of 15.014/1. He is something of a loveable rogue, having bags of natural ability though sometimes needing motivating to channel it in the right direction. He has the aids of an idiosyncratic track and eyeshields today and whilst he was slightly disappointing at Pontefract last time having made a pleasing reappearance at Beverley, that race didn't play to his strengths whilst this seems sure to.

The minor event at 16:25 isn't going to take a massive amount of winning with draw, ground, tactics and a penalty likely to play against most of the field which leaves the way clear for Masamah to make a winning start for Marco Botti. He was winless in 2012 when in the care of Kevin Ryan, but still ran some fine races in defeat, most noticeably when third to Ortensia in the King George Stakes at Goodwood and when second to Borderlescott in a listed contest at Beverley. He already has two wins to his name at this track, a good draw in stall 2 and whilst he has the very speedy Ballista on his outside in stall 3, he should be able to get out and make most in the hands of Jamie Spencer.

There are plenty of in-form stables around at present but Ralph Beckett is right up there amongst them and his Mombasa must have sound claims of landing the concluding handicap at 17:00. Trained by John Dunlop last year, Mombasa got off the mark in heavy ground at Newbury on his final start as a 2-y-o before finishing a highly encouraging second to High Troja at Leicester on his reappearance. He made most of the running that day before lacking a turn of foot at the business end and he should relish the extra distance he tackles today. Firmish ground is the one unknown but rain is forecast and we know how quickly a bit of rain on watered ground can change things so hopefully it won't be too quick come the final race of the day. 

Best bet of the day at Southwell looks to be Punching in the 14:25. A spell on polytrack (nowhere near as effective on that surface) has led to a reduced mark and it was at about this time last year where he won a couple, albeit a seller and claimer. His last run here can easily be forgiven (lost all chance at the start) and he is worth a bet at 6.6.

Timeform Radio Tips:
Back Head Space @ 15.014/1 in the 15:15 at Chester
Back Masamah @ 3.39/4 in the 16:25 at Chester
Back Mombasa @ 4.84/1 in the 17:00 at Chester
Back Punching @ 5.95/1 in the 14:25 at Southwell

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