'Going north for just one ride looks a tip itself' - Robbie Wilders with three wagers on Tuesday

Members' Club tipping is our top-tier betting advice service, starring our biggest and best experts.

This and lots more exclusive insight is published every night on racingpost.com from 6pm.

Members' Club tipping is also available daily in the Racing Post newspaper.

Vicki Vale
3.40 Taunton
1pt win

Smooth Silesie
6.00 Newcastle
1pt win

Solray
6.30 Newcastle
1pt win

It's fair to say the jumping fare is weak today and the only bet I'd really contemplate having in that sphere is Vicki Vale in the 2m½f handicap hurdle at Taunton (3.40).

The Dan Skelton-trained seven-year-old definitely hasn't built on her earlier promise, but there is still time as she made her debut under rules only 15 months ago.

After getting done by half a length in her sole point-to-point (finished 15 lengths clear of recent Grade 2 winner Springtime Promise who had much more experience), Vicki Vale bolted up in a maiden hurdle at Hereford before attempting to make all in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury on soft ground.

That was a big statement by Skelton to run such an inexperienced mare against the boys, but she did too much too soon that day and paid for her early exertions. She hasn't made as much improvement as anticipated this season since entering handicaps, but she keeps being placed in decent contests and her formlines are reading well.

Anthony Honeyball's improving mare Good Look Charm proved too well handicapped for her at Wincanton in November before the selection was outstayed by the smart Sonigino over 2m4f on taxing ground at Aintree.

Stamina again proved her undoing in a 2m3f handicap hurdle at this track last month as she moved like the winner for much of the contest, but course specialist Inca De Lafayette proved too strong at the finish over that distance.

I reckon those places will be reversed over two and a half furlongs shorter with Vicki Vale reopposing off 2lb better terms. This would appear to be the trip Vicki Vale has been crying out for and, as a keen goer at times, the fact there are several prominent racers in the field to ensure a decent pace is a plus.

The surface at Taunton is sure to be hard work but she handles plenty of dig in the ground and a mark of 122 is there for the taking if everything clicks.

The remaining wagers are at Newcastle and, in fairness, the 6f handicap (6.30) looks an excellent race as early week, all-weather events go.

Introducing RP Recommends

Read the full series:

The Caltonian has been a handicapping revelation this winter but it seems the assessor has finally caught up with him, while the lightly raced Azure Angel is a massive player if fully revved up following 226 days off after a convincing success at Chelmsford when last seen.

However, I'm more intrigued by another of the unexposed youngsters and that is Solray, who comes off a 73-day break.

Solray has been here and done it before as he registered an impressive RPR of 95 for the grade when a smooth winner of a Class 4 off a mark of 78 in December, blowing away plenty of seasoned handicappers with a potent turn of foot.

Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam has enjoyed plenty of success with progeny of New Bay and this latest project looks well capable of defying a 7lb higher mark if maintaining his progression. Putting the icing on the cake is the fact Chapple-Hyam has convinced Doyle to make the long journey north for just the one ride on this four-year-old.

That looks a tip in itself and, although stall one is often far from ideal on the straight track at Newcastle, Solray doesn't mind being held up and Doyle will have plenty of options. I'd expect him to weave his way through fast and late.

The final wager is another low-mileage four-year-old in Smooth Silesie, who lines up in the 5f handicap (6.00) earlier on the Newcastle card.

Smooth Silesie showed enough in maidens to begin life in handicaps last summer off a mark of 66 for David Loughnane, but struggled before managing to defy some generosity from the handicapper to oblige on her third run for Lisa Williamson at Lingfield off 52 nine days ago, having demonstrated some spark for new connections beforehand.

A 6lb penalty leaves Smooth Silesie with a bit more to find, but good 5lb claimer Alex Jary has been getting a fine tune out of her, and the stiffer nature of Newcastle should suit her better than Lingfield as her final furlong has always been her strongest on sharper tracks in recent times.

With a nice high draw by the stands' side rail in stall seven, and a few likely pacesetters to give her a nice tow into the race, Smooth Silesie is surely going to be there or thereabouts granted normal luck in running.

Read these next:

The Punt Acca: Stuart Langley's three horse racing tips at Market Rasen, Newcastle and Taunton on Tuesday

Tuesday's free racing tips: six horses to consider putting in your multiples

Do you want £700+ of free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.

Published on 19 February 2024inExclusive tips

Last updated 08:51, 20 February 2024

Copy