Before the ITV Racing cameras get rolling in the West Country, ARTEMIS KIMBO looks the best bet among Wincanton tips for the 6 January card there this Saturday in the extended 1m 7f handicap chase (1:30). Trained by Dan Skelton, the Saint Des Saints mare sluiced through heavy ground at Leicester the last day.
Artemis Kimbo made all and won eased down by just over four lengths in a small field. The handicapper hasn’t overreacted to that success either, raising her rating by just 3lb. Fergus Gillard is again and, although he has since ridden out his claim, has enjoyed four other winners when linking up with the yard this season.
In conditions that she’ll relish, Artemis Kimbo is the one horse racing betting sites are most worried about here. There’s no opposition in any sort of form with rest of the field either pulling up or finishing fifth last time out. Skelton thus looks to have found a great opportunity for Artemis Kimbo to follow-up.
The bookies agree with that view. Artemis Kimbo is a 9/4 chance with bet365 to land the spoils in what looks a weak race on paper.
Feach Amach Another Fancy in Wincanton Tips
Nigel Hawke has a knack for pitching juvenile hurdlers in against their elders, so Sedgefield scorer FEACH AMACH appeals to follow-up on her handicap debut in the first broadcast from the track on ITV Racing (2:05). This four-year-old Fracas filly drops back in trip to this 1m 7f race after scoring over 2m 1f at Sedgefield against horses of her own age.
Late drama at @SedgefieldRace! I’m Too Tired jinks and nearly unseats Lilly Pinchin as Feach Amach comes past for @ThorneFarm and @lmurtagh10… pic.twitter.com/7hE3agqIql
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 16, 2023
The well-beaten fourth in County Durham, Mandega, has chased home Teorie at Catterick since and earned an official rating of 102. It makes Feach Amach’s opening hurdles mark of 93 looks very lenient indeed. There is also the pick of her Flat form when trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger to consider.
Feach Amach was a fine fourth behind Royal Ascot hero and dual Group 1 winner Warm Heart at Leopardstown. Just home in front of her was subsequent two-time Group 3 victor Shamida, so it’s a useful piece of form. With Lorcan Murtagh again aboard, Feach Amach looks the value at 9/2 with 888port and a potential handicap blot getting 13lb weight for age.
Georges Saint an Obvious Selection if Not Running at Sandown
Venetia Williams has enjoyed another fine winter with her runners. The yard’s doubly declared GEORGES SAINT is hard to get away from for those giving Wincanton tips, if showing up here for the 2m 4f handicap chase and not going to Sandown instead (2:40). This grey Lord Du Sud gelding is up 7lb for scoring by a dozen lengths at Fakenham on testing ground.
Georges Saint seeks his hat-trick, wherever he turns up on 6 January. He’s also four from seven over fences, and all the best betting sites in the UK respect this stable. Ned Fox is again down for the ride at Wincanton and takes 5lb off with his claim. The conditional jockey will still be on a high after his Haydock double last Saturday.
Georges Saint stays on strongly and is well on top at the line in our £20,000 highlight, the @SkyBet Request A Bet Female Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, for Lucy Turner and @VenetiaWRacing 🥇 pic.twitter.com/BHnow0ui2z
— Fakenham Racecourse (@FakenhamRC) December 19, 2023
Williams boasts a highly profitable 30 per cent strike rate with inmates of the stable over fences this season. That stat commands George Saint tons of respect here. He’s the form horse and William Hill offer odds of 5/2 about him going in again for a yard that can do little wrong at present.
Percy Veering the Punt in the Lucky Last
In the concluding 3m 1f handicap chase (3:50), PERCY VEERING can land the four-timer off topweight and completes Wincanton tips for 6 January. Trained by Kim Bailey, this son of Epsom Derby hero Sir Percy has improved 19lb in the opinion of the assessor for completing a hat-trick of wins at Warwick, Ffos Las and Exeter.
Percy Veering is 5lb worse off at the weights here with re-opposing runner-up Caeruleum, but beat Robert Walford’s runner by almost five lengths the last day. That one will have to improve some and take a step forward from his chase bow. Haston Clermont, meanwhile, has a 5lb claimer booked for the ride, which suggest connections don’t think he can win off his revised mark.
Bailey boasts a profitable 29 per cent strike rate with his chasers this season, so Percy Veering is in the right hands to continue his sequence. He stays this trip, as evidenced by the Warwick win, and those lower down in the weights make little appeal. At 2/1 with bet365, Percy Veering is worth a wager for more success.
Wincanton Tips for 6 January
- Artemis Kimbo (NAP) in the 1m 7f handicap chase (1:30) @ 9/4 with bet365
- Feach Amach in the 1m 7f handicap hurdle (2:05) @ 9/2 with William Hill
- Georges Saint (NB) in the 2m 5f handicap chase (2:40) @ 5/2 with 888sport
- Percy Veering in the 3m 1f handicap chase (3:50) @ 2/1 with bet365
