Horse racing tips: Whispering Warrior set to fulfil promise

Whispering Warrior,left, is one to watch at Chelmsford today. Picture: Matthew Lewis/Getty

David Simcock’s gelding returned from just short of two years off the track at Chelmsford last month and, following an initial so-so effort, he has been making strides with every outing.

Following that debut sixth, he finished a creditable third behind Winter Derby hope Our Channel before chasing home the reopposing Winterlude at Lingfield just more than two weeks ago.

Beaten three-quarters of a length when in receipt of 1lb, Whispering Warrior is 4lb better off this time and has every chance of turning that form around and bagging a decent midweek prize.

Nuno Tristan changed hands for 45,000 guineas at the end of the last Flat campaign and he has already paid back a small slice of that with victory on his debut for Richard Fahey at Wolverhampton last month.

Twice victorious for William Jarvis, the four-year-old appeared to win with a fair bit in hand in what was a decent event at Dunstall Park. He looked capable of much more on that occasion, a fact which did not escape the attention of the handicapper and he lines up off 87 here, which represents a 6lb rise. However, Nuno Tristan is far from exposed and remains the one to be on in the totepool Betting On All UK Racing Handicap.

The Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle provides the Listed feature at Huntingdon and Minella Awards is taken to spearhead a fruitful day for Nicky Henderson.

Henderson’s Irish point-to-point recruit looked the real deal on his sole hurdling start for Seven Barrows in November, when he got to within three-quarters of a length of Champers On Ice. With that one having since won at Cheltenham, the form is obviously strong.

Minella Awards should have gained plenty for that promising blow-out and hails from a yard that won this race 12 months ago with Different Gravey. A big run here would almost certainly confirm his place in either the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

Henderson should also be among the winners at Doncaster, with Blue Fashion seeking redemption in the Larkshill Engineering Novices’ Chase.

The seven-year-old has been pulled up on his last two starts, but he looks equipped for fences if his good form over hurdles – the high point being when he chased home Faugheen in the Coral Hurdle – is taken into account.

CHELMSFORD

5:10 Celtic Artisan

5:40 Camdora

6:10 Nuno Tristan

6:40 Whispering Warrior (nap)

7:10 Cultured Knight

7:40 Gracious George

8:10 Faster Company

DONCASTER

1:15 Kings Apollo

1:45 Easy Street

2:20 Winter Escape

2:55 The Last Bar

3:30 Shadarpour

4:05 Blue Fashion

4:40 Qatea

HUNTINGDON

1:25 Market Option

1:55 Totalize

2:30 Castle Cheetah

3:05 Minella Awards

3:40 Trapper Peak

4:15 My Khaleesi

4:50 Miss Yeats:

DOUBLE

Whispering Warrior

6:40 Chelmsford

Minella Awards

3:05 Huntingdon