Horse racing predictions: Ffos Las, Newcastle and Southwell

It’s another busy racing day on Tuesday with extra cards added to compensate following the cold snap that decimated the programme in mid-January.

They jump at Limerick (12.25-3.52pm), Newcastle (12.50-4.20, all-weather), Ffos Las (1.05-4.35) and Lingfield (1.15-4.10), with evening all-weather racing on the level at Southwell (5.00-8.30).

Tuesday’s nap made a pleasing return from a long break at Cheltenham in November on his stable bow for Fergal O’Brien and should have more to give.

Horse racing predictions today: Ffos Las, Newcastle and Southwell

Enda McElhinney’s Tuesday predictions are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them. 

Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.

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Horse racing predictions: Ffos Las 2.50

OSCAR THYNE has low mileage for an eight-year-old and should have races in him for Fergal O’Brien. He won a maiden hurdle and a beginners’ chase in his time with Gavin Cromwell in Ireland before he moved stables at the back end of a 517-day break from the track.

In November he finished an excellent third of 18 on his stable bow at Cheltenham (2m 5f, good), off a mark 3lb lower than today in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. Liam Harrison held him up and he made good late headway to split a pair of subsequent hurdles winners in second and fourth. 

Cromwell’s Sweet Will won that race and has since gone close over fences back in Ireland, so the form holds up. Today’s 2m 4f trip and predicted soft ground should be spot-on now for Oscar Thyne and he has the assistance of Paddy Brennan in the saddle, which won’t do his cause any harm at all.

Selection: Oscar Thyne @ SP with Sky Bet

Horse racing predictions: Newcastle 2.35

French Paradoxe looked all set to win at Ffos Las just before Christmas only to crash down at the final fence. That means it is now two wins and two falls in his five races over fences. It was a hefty tumble in Wales and, despite having more than five weeks to get over it, doubts persist.

For that reason, this may be a good spot for Harry Whittington’s OLD PAINLESS. A winner of his only point-to-point, he pulled up no trees in three starts over hurdles but was quickly on the up once sent chasing, decisively winning a novices’ handicap at Plumpton (2m 3½f, soft) and finishing second over 2m 6½f on soft ground at Kelso just after Christmas.

Daryl Jacob is on board for the first time here and Old Painless has scope for better in this sphere. Those doubts about the confidence and jumping ability of French Paradoxe help ensure he’s fancied to land this stayers’ event over 2m 7½f.

Selection: Old Painless @ SP with Sky Bet

Horse racing predictions: Southwell 7.00

All Dunn comes into this one-mile contest in rude health and seeking a hat-trick for Jamie and Saffie Osborne, but those wins have come by a short head and a nose, the latter over course and distance, and he has more on her plate now conceding 6lb to the field.

That may open the door for AUROPHOBIA to get her nose in front on her fifth start. She improved off a break to win on her handicap bow over 7f at Chelmsford in December and built on that at Lingfield this month when nosed out herself in a similar event to this.

The daughter of Galileo Gold should go very close for Amy Murphy and George Wood with a repeat showing, especially in receipt of 6lb from the likely market leader.

Selection: Aurophobia @ SP with Sky Bet

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