As Hove's Opens shift to Saturday to accommodate the Coral Olympic and George Curtis Ballyregan Bob Memorial, this evening’s action is centred on Swindon and Newcastle, offering nine Opens between them.
21:20 SWINDON: Chelms Wild (Trap 6)
Chelms Wild (Trap 6) impressed with a commanding performance at Towcester recently and is well-positioned to claim a division of the Blunsdon Standard at Swindon (21:20). Barry Johnson’s runner stumbled at the start over this course and distance last month, losing all chance, but has since shown significant improvement. With two wins from four starts, Chelms Wild is ready to turn the tables on Coppice Warrior (Trap 5), who poses a clear threat. Kevin Hutton’s consistent performer is a strong contender but might find it hard to match Chelms Wild’s upward trajectory. A forecast bet involving both runners is worth considering.
21:36 SWINDON: Chelms Skint (Trap 1)
Chelms Skint (Trap 1), another promising charge from Barry Johnson, takes on a tougher field in Division A of the Blunsdon Standard (21:36). Although he underperformed at Towcester, his early speed and three consecutive OR wins over this course and distance last month make him a solid contender. The main challenge is expected from Southfield Duke (Trap 5), a consistent scorer at this track, while Eze (Trap 6) could also be in contention if he regains form after a recent break.
16:59 PERRY BARR: Brave Knight (Trap 5)
Brave Knight (Trap 5), a semi-finalist in last month’s Scurry Stakes, enters a D1 contest at Perry Barr (16:59) as the standout runner. While his last outing saw him finish behind top-class sprinter Rioja Oisin, the Ross Williams-trained contender has delivered strong performances at Oxford over both two and four bends. Facing less formidable competition this time, Brave Knight is expected to dominate and justify his top billing.
Best Bets
- 16:59 PERRY BARR: Brave Knight (Trap 5)
- 21:20 SWINDON: Chelms Wild (Trap 6)
- 21:36 SWINDON: Chelms Skint (Trap 1)
Don’t miss these exciting contests as Chelms Wild and Brave Knight look to cement their places as the stars of the evening!