Wetherby tips for Boxing Day: It Definitly has to be Red in Rowland Meyrick

The seven-year-old then ran very well when switched back to the larger obstacles and finishing third in the Lusted Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle off a mark of 142.

He has since been dropped 1lb to a rating of 141 and that looks very exploitable judged on his runs behind the classy Black Hercules and Blaklion, and he is now 5lb better off with the latter compared to when they last met.

Ballycash bets worth a go

Ballycash has been shaping well of late and can gain a deserved success in the 2m 3h handicap hurdle (13:15).

The gelding was a point winner in Ireland, and also ran well in that sphere when a keeping on 7 3/4 length fifth of 13 to Born Survivor in a useful contest at Ballymena that has thrown-up a whole host of subsequent hurdle winners.

Born Survivor is a useful sort who has won twice since to be rated 142, the runner-up Some Are Lucky is now rated 125, Fionn Mac Cul – who came third and has won twice since – is to be rated 128, as has the fourth home Chef D’oeuvre who is now rated 134.

That is very strong form and Ballycash shaped with promise on his second start after joining Nigel Twiston-Davies when third in a bumper at Doncaster.

Although he has failed to trouble the judge in his next three subsequent starts over hurdles he was allotted an opening handicap mark of 102 as a result, and ran well off it when fourth of 16 at Southwell when travelling strongly until weakening late on after leading at the second last.

Ballycash backed that up with a solid third at Huntingdon and, if the fitting of the hood for the first time has the desired effect, looks weighted to get off the mark.

Wetherby tips for Boxing Day

12.10: The Nipper
12.40: Smuggler’s Stash
13.15: Ballycash (NB)
13.50: Definitly Red (NAP)
14.25: Solomn Grundy
15.00: Mountain King
15.35: Deepsand

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