Today’s Horse Racing Tip – 4:15 Hereford

Today’s free horse racing tip runs in the Henry Westons Vintage Cider Handicap Chase over an extended two mile and a half miles at Hereford. Five runners are due to jump off at 4.15 when we’re confident of following up yesterday’s success with our horse racing predictions for today.

Cloudy Bob returns from a short break looking to bounce back from a disappointing effort when favourite in a Class 2 handicap at Exeter in February. It followed a very impressive win at Taunton on his debut for new connections. So much so, the gelding was raised 7lbs for his two-length victory over Private Malone. The handicapper has re-evaluated the 11-year-old and he gets into this Hereford contest off the same mark as his Exeter win.

Cloudy Bob has winning form at this rating and above. He shouldn’t have any problems handling the ground and is a confident nap to see off today’s rivals.  

Contrary to today’s racing tip, there are concerns whether market rival Huff And Puff will act in the expected testing conditions. A multiple winner on the flat, the 11-year-old won a hurdle race in 2014 and won a chase on the fourth attempt but both those victories came on much easier ground than he’ll encounter at Hereford today. Additionally, Venetia Williams’ charge is having his first outing in over a year and may well be in the need of the run.

Stablemate Vivaccio may pose a bigger threat. The nine-year-old returned from a long lay off to run a very respectable third in a Class 2 handicap at Ludlow which puts him in with a chance here. The gelding has failed to build on that in two subsequent outings at Warwick and Huntingdon, however he wasn’t disgraced when finishing behind two in-form rivals on the latest run.

Gun Shy produced his best effort since moving to Deborah Faulkner’s yard when fifth of six in a Class 4 handicap at Chepstow three weeks ago. He’s still a long way short of his novice form and looks destined for the minor placings here.

Pembroke House is 3lbs out of the weights and the 11-year-old’s form this season is best described as ‘in and out’. The gelding will be fitted with headgear as usual but it’s difficult to make a case for this horse who hasn’t troubled the judge in his last 21 efforts.

Today’s going at Hereford is soft and heavy in places on the hurdle course. The weather forecast is for drizzle with light north-easterly winds.

This looks a relatively uncompetitive handicap for the grade. Cloudy Bob will benefit from his break after two runs in a week and looks a good bet to get back to winning ways thanks to leniency from the handicapper.