Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Speed can help course winner land the Tolworth

Constitution Hill proved that he had the talent to compete at the top level by landing the Tolworth Hurdle by 12 lengths under Nico de Boinville in January last year. Three subsequent starts have resulted in three facile victories, and he’s now largely considered the best jumps horse in training.

He’s not the only star to have plundered the Tolworth in the last decade. L’Ami Serge (2015), Yorkhill (2016), Finian’s Oscar (2017) and Summerville Boy (2018) all recorded further Grade 1 glory after crossing the line in front at Sandown, while Kalashnikov (runner-up to Summerville Boy) went on to strike at the top level over fences.

As a result, there are high expectations that this year’s edition of the two-mile novice hurdle will produce another leading performer. All eight runners possess an attractive profile, but there is a strong possibility that the majority will prefer longer distances in the immediate future.

The likes of Tahmuras, Colonel Harry and Nemean Lion have all either shaped as though they need a stamina test or have prior point-to-point form over three miles. The former is clearly a player for Paul Nicholls, who won the Challow last week with Hermes Allen, but he was briefly outpaced by Sizing Pottsie last time out and that’s a worry for me.

Recent Cork maiden hurdle winner Arctic Bresil is perhaps the most interesting runner given he’s coming over from his Irish base. By Blue Bresil - the sire of the aforementioned Constitution Hill - this six-year-old possesses the ‘could be anything’ tag and appears to have the required speed for a race of this nature. But he beat a raw individual last time who will be far better over fences, while his figures suggest that he needs to take a marked step forward to win.

As a result, I’m strongly of the belief that Gary Moore’s Authorised Speed is the horse to beat. Much like Arctic Bresil, this hurdler possesses plenty of natural speed and has a want for testing conditions (likely to be heavy ground at Sandown). His recent course success was extremely impressive - he didn’t beat much, but the way he picked up after a horrific mistake at the last hurdle was noteworthy. 

Authorised Speed contested some of the best bumpers in Britain last season, and he ran with great credit on each occasion. Not only did he finish second and fourth in Listed events at Ascot and Newbury respectively, but he also took fifth in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival - a race that was run in attritional conditions.

He has improved this year and now faces his first proper test over hurdles. Although his jumping isn’t A+, Authorised Speed has a tick in every other box and has to be considered the most logical winner.

Kempton double?

As I’ll be in attendance at Kempton on Saturday night (I was tempted by the Sandown/Kempton double-header!), it would be rude if I didn’t add in a couple of horses who caught my eye.

The first is Nails Murphy, who will look to retain his unbeaten record for trainer Richard Hughes in the 7f restricted novice event (7.00). Although this race is for horses in bands B, C and D, there are plenty of likeable types in the field.

Newcomers Sundazed and Floating Spirit shouldn’t be overlooked, while plenty of punters will latch onto Chorlton Lane after his bloodless success at Newcastle last time. Jamie Spencer didn’t have to push the button on Charlie Fellowes’ runner and it drew lots of attention on social media - as a glorious Spencer ride usually does! 

However, Chorlton Lane beat horses rated just 67 and 61 and a subsequent 103-day layoff is a slight concern. I much prefer the claims of Nails Murphy, who was sent off at 16-1 on debut at Chelmsford and put aside a previous winner (Ottoman Prince) to win decisively. He travelled and quickened like a seasoned pro and clearly relished the long straight, so, with that experience under his belt, further improvement is likely. He should be good enough to follow up.

My other fancy on the Kempton card is Sun King, who makes his debut for George Boughey in the London Mile Series Qualifier (8.00). He’s returning off a 203-day layoff, so fitness will need to be taken on trust, but this horse was steadily improving for Aidan O’Brien last season before being sold to Opulence Thoroughbreds for a cool £120,000 at the horses-in-training sale in July.

That auction came just a month after Sun King flew home for third in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot. His mark was interestingly left untouched and, given how shrewd his trainer and new ownership are, they will most likely be looking to secure some of that price tag back by winning this series. 

He doesn’t necessarily have to win this contest to take the final, but I’m sure that he will develop into a 100+ performer and looking elsewhere on Saturday could prove folly given he’s running off just 89.

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips

Authorised Speed (2.25 Sandown) @ 3.05
Nails Murphy (7.00 Kempton) @ 2.9
Sun King (8.00 Kempton) @ 6.8