Alan Kelly Horse Racing Tips: Windsor, Redcar & Kelso (Monday 4th April)

The Best Horse Racing Tips for Windsor, Redcar & Kelso on Monday

Randox Grand National week kicks off with a couple of moderate flat meetings at Windsor and Redcar together with the Borders jumps card at Kelso.

On a day consisting mainly of Class 5 and Class 6 contests we will provide Horse Racing tips, previews and predictions for one race from each racecourse.

“Tip of the Day” – Bavington Bob (3.35pm Kelso) – 6/4 with bet365

Despite running off a mark 14lb higher than when opening his account over fences at Newcastle in December, Ann Hamiltons’ improving chaser can continue his winning run with a victory in this Class 3 handicap.

3.15pm Redcar. 1m

Our Tip: Broken Spear (e.w.) (Longshot) – 8/1 with William Hill

The fitness of many of the  17 runners for this Class 3 one mile handicap will have to be taken on trust. That will not be the case for the Tony Coyle-trained Broken Spear however who ran over an inadequate 6f on Southwell’s all-weather surface in February prior to contesting Doncaster’s historic Lincoln Handicap as an unconsidered 66/1 chance last month.

They just couldn't get near him! ?

Johan powers away to win the SBK Lincoln at 28-1 ?#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/E6ghQp1vJM

The six-year-old gelding outran those odds by finishing fifth of the 22 runners, beaten less than three lengths behind the winner Johan. The son of Pastoral Pursuits only lost third place close home and with the same pilot, 7lb claimer Jonny Peate in the saddle, should improve upon that position off the same mark in what looks to be an easier race.

If straight enough on his reappearance, Delgrey Boy looks the pick of the Tim Easterby trio of runners, while Lightening Company, fourth over hurdles at Kelso four weeks ago, is another to consider with fitness assured.

3.35pm Kelso. 2m 7 1/2f

Our Tip: Bavington Bob (Nap) – 6/4 with bet365

The small stable of Ann Hamilton is having an unbelievable season with Tommy’s Oscar and Nuts Well winning races at Graded/Listed level. As well as the two stable stars, Hamilton has an improving young chaser in the shape of Bavington Bob who will be attempting to make it four wins from five starts since going over fences, by taking this Class 3 handicap.

Cracking race!

Three in with a chance jumping the last but it is Bavington Bob who stays on best of all and lands the hat-trick in the process for Ann Hamilton ?

It's also a double on the @CarlisleRaces card for the relentless Brian Hughes ? pic.twitter.com/WM9IYKI2TT

Since opening his account as a chaser (won 3 of his 8 runs over hurdles) with a comfortable victory over subsequent winner Houston Texas at Newcastle in December, the mount of leading jockey Brian Hughes has gone up a full stone following further wins, at the north-east venue again, and Carlisle.

The Court Cave gelding, despite being badly off at the weights with Newcastle runner-up Crixus’s Escape, is expected to confirm that form, with bottom weight Broadway Joe likely to approve a bigger danger to the selection.

5.00pm Windsor. 1m

Our Tip: Mark Of Respect (Nb) – 7/2 with bet365

Although several of his rivals have had the advantage of at least one recent run on the all-weather, joint top weight Mark Of Respect looks the one to beat in this one mile Class 5 handicap.

The mount of Rob Hornby was beaten only a neck on his first run of last season following a break of 192 days so the fact that this will be the gelding’s first start since finishing a three quarters of a length third at Chelmsford last October should not prove to be a major issue.

Jonathan Portman’s four-year-old proved a model of consistency in 2021, finishing outside of the first four only once in eight starts. Along with a victory at Newmarket over today’s trip in July, the son of Markaz also went down narrowly in the Amateur Jockeys’ Cambridgeshire at headquarters on his penultimate outing in September.

Off a mark only a shade higher, a reproduction of either of those performances should be good enough on this occasion, with the lightly-raced Miss Messenger possibly the main threat.

* Horse racing odds correct at the time of writing. All betting odds subject to fluctuations.