Today's Racing Tips: Strike the right Tune at Chepstow with this 13/2 fancy

Chepstow, 14:02 - Back Ugo Bingo @ 6/17.00

7

Ugo Bingo (Fr)

• J: Brendan Powell
• T: Joe Tizzard
• F: 4647-7453

• SBK 7/2
• EXC 1.05

The Joe Tizzard team did well at this meeting last year with a winner and a second from just three runners and they look primed to strike with Ugo Bingo in this handicap hurdle.

The seven-year-old doesn't always have the most likeable way of going about things nowadays, but there's little doubt he's well handicapped on his best form having slipped to a mark 6lb below his last winning one.

That came when trained by Anthony Charlton in the 24/25 season and, though Ugo Bingo hasn't got his head in front since joining his current yard, he's run well on enough occasions to suggest he still has the ability to land a gold medal finish when things drop right.

The selection was also given a breathing operation prior to his latest start when third at Newton Abbott and there are plenty of examples of horses taking a good step forward on their second starts after a wind op.

Of the opposition, the Sam Allwood-trained Little Pi may emerge as one of the biggest threats.

She was in decent form when last seen back in the spring and isn't handicapped out of things provided she's straight enough following a 195-day break.

Notable winners from Mark in recent weeks

Blue Brother @ 9/1
Asia Force @ 6/1
Star Of Mali @ 11/2
Treble Bass @ 7/2
Brilliant Star @ 9/4
Devil's Peak @ 2/1
Silver Lake @ 2/1

Mark's Bet of the Day: Chepstow, 15:47 - Back Tune In A Box @ 13/27.50

9

Tune In A Box (Ire)

• J: Stan Sheppard
• T: Tom Lacey
• F: 50/255732-

• SBK 13/2
• EXC 5

Another stable that had a decent time of things at this meeting last year is that of Tom Lacey and he can land the feature handicap hurdle with Tune In A Box, who has dropped to an attractive mark back in this sphere having made his last five starts over fences.

The seven-year-old hasn't won since spring 2024, but that did come in a really competitive Punchestown handicap and it's fair to say he absolutely bolted up that day from a mark of 108.

The handicapper didn't take that lying down however and Tune In A Box was given a hefty rise, though he proved that he could still be a threat from marks in the mid-120s when a subsequent second in another strong handicap over today's C&D.

The selection also finished second on his final start over the smaller obstacles at Uttoxeter in the spring of 2025 before having his attention switched to chasing.

Tune In A Box hasn't made quite the same impact over fences, though, for all he's run well enough on his last few starts, but a switch back to hurdles could well be the catalyst for a full-scale revival, his current mark of 122 now 4lb lower than the one he ran off when posting that good Uttoxeter effort.

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