Tuesday Tips

Shallow Hal can make the most of a quick return to action by landing another prize at Southwell in the Betway Handicap.

Karl Burke's runner hit the mark at the Nottinghamshire venue last week, just getting the better of Gabrial The Devil in a tight battle over six furlongs.

Shallow Hal showed plenty of guts to hang on in the final furlong, adding to another victory over the course and distance back in October.

Burke has mixed and matched over six and seven furlongs in the interim, but there seems little doubt Shallow Hal excels over the sprint trip - and with a proven liking for Fibresand, he can make it a swift double.

Nick Vedder has won three of his four starts in 2021, and he can further augment those statistics with victory in the Betway Casino Handicap.

Robyn Brisland's charge has leapt 12lb in the ratings in four weeks, winning off a mark of 58 on January 3 before following up off 4lb higher just a week later - triumphing by three lengths with the minimum of fuss.

Nick Vedder then met with defeat upped to seven furlongs, with the trip not really playing to his strengths, but he got his head back in front when switched back down last time.

The winning margin of a neck that day does not really do justice to the ease of Nick Vedder's victory - and while he has been kept busy, he is seemingly thriving, and Southwell suits him admirably.

Carrothers can kick off his year with a win in the Bombardier Novice Stakes.

David Simcock's runner shed his maiden tag on the second of his two starts at the back-end of 2020, winning a seven-furlong novice heat at this track in December.

The Mshawish colt has shaped with a good deal of promise on his initial start at Newcastle, finishing with purpose in third after looking a bit green throughout the race.

Jamie Spencer was not hard on him that day, and a patient approach clearly paid dividends next time - although he made hard work of his Southwell win.

Carrothers completely missed the break that day and had to battle to get back on terms, eventually prevailing a length and three-quarters while looking as though a step up in distance may be appreciated.

Moving up to a mile here seems sensible, and Carrothers can continue on an upward curve.

The jumpers are in action on the Newcastle all-weather once again, and Tom Lacey is a name to note among the trainers with runners.

He struck with a raiding party from Herefordshire to the north-east two weeks ago, when Argonauta was successful on a similar card.

This time, both Hunting Percival and Tea Clipper catch the eye.

Lacey appears to have found a decent opportunity for Hunting Percival in Division two of the Quinncasino 'Jumpers' Bumper' National Hunt Flat Race.

Hunting Percival has not been seen since early September, and will doubtless have some more important assignments on his spring agenda once the ground starts to dry up a little around the country.

But with Lacey, a five-month absence is no bar to a successful return.

Hunting Percival is a fine example, in fact, as a bumper winner on his racecourse debut in October 2019 before taking a mid-summer novice hurdle at Uttoxeter last year on his first start since the preceding January.

In between, he found Nicky Henderson's Allart a touch too classy when third at Ludlow - and he was disappointing when beaten into fourth as favourite back at Uttoxeter on his most recent run.

He has nonetheless shown enough to suggest he could well score again here.

An hour later, Tea Clipper has the ability to complete the double for Lacey and jockey Jonathan Burke in the Download The Quinnbet App "Jumpers' Bumper" National Hunt Flat Race.

The six-year-old is a classy handicap hurdler, who has won five of his seven career starts - including a Larkhill point-to-point.

He has a significant preference for good ground, so there is little for him at this time of year on turf.

He too will doubtless be in higher-profile action over the coming months. But the Tapeta should be no problem - and for a horse who stays a good bit further than this extended two miles, Newcastle's stiff track is spot on.

SELECTIONS:

NEWCASTLE: 12.25 Okavango Delta, 12.55 Stormin Norman, 1.25 Ottonian, 1.55 Fontana Ellissi, 2.25 Armattiekan, 2.55 Hunting Percival, 3.25 The King Of May, 3.55 Tea Clipper, 4.25 Le Cheval Noir.

SOUTHWELL: 4.40 Geography Teacher, 5.10 Carrothers, 5.40 Nick Vedder, 6.10 SHALLOW HAL (NAP), 6.40 Fantasy Keeper, 7.10 Defence Treaty, 7.40 Palazzo.

DOUBLE: Shallow Hal and Carrothers.