Horse Racing Tips: Honeyball hurdler can prove a winning handicap debutant

Wincanton, 14:50 - Back Matthias @ 4/15.00

The Wincanton maiden hurdle won by Aguellid back in February has already started to work out well and fifth-home Matthias could be one to side with on his handicap bow back at the west country venue.

The fitting of the tongue tie appeared to produce an improved display from the selection who finished ahead of subsequent winners Loustic Du Chatel and Independent Lady and on the coattails of Aj's Diamond who landed a punt at Warwick last week when winning decisively.

Matthias has clearly been a little difficult to train as that qualifying run five weeks ago was just the fifth of his career, but there was an early glimpse of his ability when he chased home the talented Quebecois in an Exeter bumper on just his second start.

There was also plenty of promise on his latest outing when his speedier rivals left him behind late on and, as a close relation of the once 160-rated Master Tommytucker, he could find this test his optimum going forward from a mark of just 105.

Sedgefield, 16:40 - Back Deauville Lady each-way @ 25/126.00

By a strange quirk of fate, I have been present on track for all three of Deauville Lady's racecourse appearances this term.

Sent off at 300/1301.00, 200/1201.00 and 150/1151.00, it is fair to say the daughter of six-time winner Deauville Crystal hasn't exactly set the west country tracks alight with her performances in novice and maiden hurdles since her debut over obstacles back in early December.

Although she has been beaten sizeable distances on her three starts to date, there have been moments in those outings where Nigel Hawke's mare has been in contention for a podium finish, only to find either the level or the ground too demanding.

The selection makes her handicap debut nearly 350 miles from home in this 0-100 handicap and her handler may not have been anticipating meeting the well-handicapped and hat-trick seeking Cosmic Soul in such a lowly affair, not to mention Laddie Cooper Mia from a stable enjoying an excellent season.

The presence of the 1-2 (and fifth in Mr Globalist) from a similar course and distance handicap run here a fortnight ago ensures this is a tidy affair for the money, while support for the top-weight Achnamara, now dangerously handicapped, could prove iluminating.

However, Deauville Lady begins handicap life on a basement mark of just 76 and, while she may not be 300/1301.00 like her stablemate Blowers was when breaking all sorts of records at Exeter earlier this season, she is worth a small each-way wager to make an impact at this level.

Mother Deauville Crystal, also trained by Hawke, posted four of her best five career performances over today's trip on a sounder surface and beyond so the step up in distance on better ground could be the catalyst to a better showing and Hawke recently sent a similar type in King Sacre to Sedgefield for his handicap bow and he finished a respectable runner-up after attracting support at big prices.

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