Hereford top tips (1510): Flash Gorcombe to fend off Famoso in potential two-horse race

15:10 Hereford: Horse Racing On Another Planet Podcast Handicap Chase (2 miles)

The early-morning withdrawal of three horses included the strongly-fancied Ferrybridge, which has squeezed the remaining six runners up in the betting to leave Flash Gorcombe and Famoso vying for the favourite tag in what could well turn into a two-horse race.

Both have shown impressive recent form, and over the last calendar year Robert Walford’s Flash Gorcombe has only once missed the frame in nine outings, the last five of which have yielded tasty figures of 32132.

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The seven-year-old’s only visit to the winner’s enclosure came at Wincanton in his first outing of 2024, but it’s worth noting that all of those recent runs have come over longer distances, so it will be very interesting to see how he tackles this sharper two-mile trip, over which he enjoyed back-to-back wins on improving ground this time last year.

Suggested best bet: Flash Gorcombe in the 15:10 at Hereford

• Tip advised by The Leftovers on Tipstrr

His main threat looks sure to come from the Sheppard team’s eight-year-old gelding Famoso, who had not finished outside the first three in five outings before the heavy ground at Ludlow proved his undoing last time out, when he finished fourth of ten.

Prior to that, he had crowned that purple patch of form with a course-distance win here in January, cruising seven lengths clear after an imperious jumping display in slightly stronger company than he will face here.

The reduced field has inevitably had a major impact on each-way terms as well as prices, but anyone looking for a candidate capable of splitting the market principals might be interested by Ali Stonge’s Ardmayle, who won this renewal last year, and defends his title off a two-pound lower mark this time around.

That reduced mark might be down to three sub-par displays so far this term, which included a distant fifth of eight over this course and distance in January, and a more recent pulled-up effort at Taunton 16 days ago.

Ben Jones is a capable presence in the saddle, and he will need to prove that if he is to get his charge in amongst those market leaders here, but this return to a happy hunting ground might just bring a positive response from the veteran 12-year-old.

Each-way punt: Ardmayle in the 15:10 at Hereford

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