Today's Racing Tips: Mark Milligan's three to back at Wetherby on Wednesday include 9/1 fancy

Mark's Bet of the Day: Wetherby, 14:00 - Back Magnetude @ 8/131.61

6

Magnetude

• J: Jonathan Burke
• T: James Owen
• F:

• SBK 8/15
• EXC 1.64

James Owen is a dual-purpose trainer that I have bags of time for and he unleashes what could be a smart hurdler in the making at Wetherby on Wednesday.

Magnetude was twice a winner on the flat for the impressive Owen and he now switches to hurdling with the sort of pedigree to suggest he can be a force in the novice division. The son of Palace Pier is a half-brother to Liam Swagger, who won his first two starts over hurdles and, interestingly, also took the listed Wensleydale Hurdle over this C&D.

Being by Palace Pier, Magnetude isn't short of speed, but he had the stamina to win over an extended 1m 4f on the flat, while he was also just touched off over 1m 6f, suggesting he'll have no trouble with 2m in this sphere and may even stay further as time goes on.

Magnetude's main threat could well be the in-form Royal Sapphire, but that one faces no easy task conceding 12lb to the selection, while it's also worth noting he's rated 25lb inferior on flat form.

While Magnetude is not a fancy price, I'll be very disappointed should he be beaten.

Notable winners from Mark in recent weeks

Blue Brother @ 9/1
Ugo Bingo @ 6/1
Star Of Mali @ 11/2
Treble Bass @ 7/2
Brilliant Star @ 9/4
Silver Lake @ 2/1
Rock Montreal @ 11/8

Wetherby, 14:35 - Back Evaluation @ 4/15.00

4

Evaluation

• J: Ryan Mania
• T: Adam Nicol
• F: 1652/324-2

• SBK 10/3
• EXC 4.9

With quick ground the order of the day, Wednesday's field sizes at Wetherby aren't the biggest - including in this handicap hurdle - but it's an interesting contest nonetheless.

Des Donovan's Virtual Rock comes here on a hat-trick after handicap wins at Uttoxeter and Fontwell for his new trainer last month having joined the yard from John Butler. He's only another 2lb higher and the useful Flat form he showed earlier in his career suggests he may not have reached his limit in this sphere.

However, another one who hasn't been with his current yard very long is Evaluation and he returned from a couple of pipe-openers on the flat to post a highly encouraging second back over hurdles at Kelso over 2m 4f last time.

That was Evaluation's first attempt beyond 2m over timber and he appeared to relish the increased test for a younger trainer who has the potential to take high rank in his field.

His current mark looks more than workable and I'm taking Evaluation to go one better than last time.

Wetherby, 16:20 - Back Gustoso @ 9/110.00

3

Gustoso

• J: David Bass
• T: Henry Daly
• F: 861P2/6-

• SBK 9/1
• EXC 8

A bit more has to be taken on trust with Gustoso in this handicap hurdle, but he drops into the lowest grade of race he's competed in for quite some time and could well take advantage if ready to go as he returns from the best part of a year away.

Henry Daly's seven-year-old clearly hasn't been the easiest to train in recent times and we saw him only once lasts season where he finished down the field at Worcester. However, the form he showed the previous season when a winner at Hereford and also runner-up at Huntingdon would make him extremely tough to beat in this company.

Daly sends just this one runner up to West Yorkshire from his Shropshire base and I'm happy to take the chance that Gustoso is fit and ready to fire his best shot after a year away.

Now read more horse racing columns here