Bettingpro.com's best bets for Wednesday's horse racing fixtures including day one of York's Dante meeting

Brian gives his Wednesday horse racing tips and best bets for today's six UK and Irish horse racing fixtures.

As with the previous days in the week already past, Wednesday sees a further six race meetings go to post, with the first day of York's Dante meeting headlining the afternoon's action where the Group Two Clipper Logistics Stakes and the Group Three Musidora Stakes top the bill on the Knavesmire.

Elsewhere, further racing on the flat comes courtesy of Lingfield's all-weather fixture; while jumps racing comes from the card at Worcester in the afternoon.

In the evening there is a flat racing card at Bath, and also at Naas in Ireland; while Perth host an evening fixture over the sticks.

Lingfield (flat, aw) – 1.50 – 5.00pm (7 races)

Worcester (jumps) – 2.00 – 5.10pm (7 races)

York (flat) – 2.10 – 5.20pm (7 races)

Naas (flat) – 5.05 – 8.40pm (8 races)

Bath (flat) – 5.30 – 8.30pm (7 races)

Perth (jumps) – 5.50 – 8.50pm (7 races)

LINGFIELD

(3.25) This could go the way of NUBAR BOY (5/1, bet365 ^[1]) who is a four-time course winner, although is on a lengthy losing streak at present.

However, there were signs that an imminent return to form was entirely possible when finishing third to the progressive Giovanni Di Bicci at Kempton back in March, beaten just over one length on his final start for Ronald Thompson prior to switching to David Mark Loughnane, for whom he has his first start.

The Compton Place gelding is capable on his day, and he remains fairly treated off this mark if he can recapture some of his old sparkle. A change of scenery could spark a revival, and boasting solid claims on the pick of his form he can snap his losing streak.

(4.30) CUBAN QUEEN (7/2, William Hill ^[2]) didn't cut much ice in maidens last term, but has been slowly progressive since being switched to handicapping and could have better still to come now she has got off the mark.

Jeremy Gask's Elusive Quality filly ran out a narrow winner of a Wolverhampton handicap last month, gaining a short-head verdict over Jack The Laird, foiling a gamble in the process; and with the potential for better from just 4lbs higher and switching to polytrack, she should be capable of another bold show.

1.50 – Gaelic Silver

2.20 – Labaik

2.50 – Pastoral Star

3.25 – Nubar Boy

4.00 – Lucy The Painter

4.30 – Cuban Queen

5.00 – Recent Acquisition

WORCESTER

(2.30) Donald McCain has his runners in decent form, and THE BACKUP PLAN (9/2, Paddy Power ^[3]) can provide the trainer with another success.

A winner of back-to-back races last term at Sedgefield, the Presenting gelding was still in front and travelling well when falling at Musselburgh next time, but bounced back to chase home Rear Admiral back at that venue.

Having possibly just needed the run behind Ghost Of A Smile at Carlisle last month, he should be sharper this time around and can get back on the scoresheet.

(3.00) SIR NOTE (3/1, bet365 ^[4]) bounced back from a disappointing effort at Uttoxeter on his final start for Nick Littmoden to register back-to-back successes for James Eustace at Huntingdon and Market Rasen, and the Victory Note gelding can land the hat-trick.

Having defied a 7lbs rise in the weights to score a shade cosily last time, he can race here from just 1lb higher and can continue in form. A repeat of his last run should see him firmly in the mix for all this is a deeper race for the grade than the one he contested last time.

2.00 – Cailin Du Brizais

2.30 – The Backup Plan

3.00 – Sir Note

3.35 – The Kvilleken

4.10 – Calculated Risk

4.40 – Hold Court

5.10 – Lets Hope So

5.45 – Bonobo

YORK

(2.40) FLAMING SPEAR (13/2, Boylesport ^[5]) faced some stiff tasks last term having won on his sole start and debut when scoring over course and distance, beating Lady Gemini.

The Lope De Vega gelding was no match thrown into the Greenham last term on his first start of the season, failing to beat a rival home behind Muhaarar; and he fared as well as could be expected behind Make Believe at Longchamp in a Group One contest on his next start.

Having possibly needed the outing when tried on the all-weather at Chelmsford in October, where he finished fifth, Kevin Ryan's charge was absent again until returning at Newmarket in April to finish runner-up behind Accession, although was well-beaten.

The soft ground there possibly didn't suit, and back on a firmer surface here with first-time blinkers applied, the unexposed gelding can go one better.

Castle Harbour can follow up his debut Newmarket win.

(3.15) A cracking renewal of this contest could go the way of MATTMU (8/1, Paddy Power ^[6]) who showed himself a very smart performer last term, winning a Curragh Group Three contest having previously gone close in this race twelve months ago when just touched off behind Glass Office.

Tim Easterby's charge also performed with the utmost credit in Graded company inbetween, and followed up his win with an excellent third in the Nunthorpe prior to disappointing at Haydock behind Twilight Son.

Possibly amiss that day, he bounced back on his return to action to go down by just a half-length behind the reopposing Magical Memory at Newmarket; and for all he probably needs to improve on that run he is likely to be sharper now.

He can give a good account over a course he clearly goes well at having won and placed twice from his three career starts at this venue.

2.10 – Erik The Red

2.40 – Flaming Spear

3.15 – Mattmu

3.45 – So Mi Dar

4.20 – Castle Harbour

4.50 – In First Place

5.20 – Life Less Ordinary

NAAS

(5.40) This could potentially turn into a match between debut winners Ambiguity and PSYCHEDELIC FUNK (11/8, Boylesport ^[7]) with preference for the latter given he represents a stable in excellent early-season form, and the form of his win over course and distance came in a slightly deeper race than that won by Aidan O'Brien's charge.

Both are open to progress, but the Choisir colt did the job well last time when beating Bean Feasa last month, and unless one of the newcomers proves to be an above average sort then he can double up here.

Dermot Weld's Zhukova can win the feature race of the day at Naas.

(6.40) Progressive ZHUKOVA (5/2, Paddy Power ^[8]) can continue her ascent up the ladder and follow up her win in a Listed event at the Curragh last month when proving almost five lengths too strong for Success Days.

Dermot Weld's charge had earlier won at Galway back in September last year, as well as on her second career start at Navan; and her win last time came at the expense of the likes of Found and Bocca Baciata, both of whom have won since.

Impressive in that outing, the Fastnet Rock filly is clearly on a steep upward curve, and she can follow up that win with further success here.

5.05 – Cuff

5.40 – Psychedelic Funk

6.10 – Munshid

6.40 – Zhukova

7.10 – Sean O'Casey

7.40 – Kellstorm

8.10 – Firecrown

8.40 - Heartful

BATH

(6.30) DANILOVNA (6/4, Paddy Power ^[9]) shaped very well on her debut at Lingfield in November, overcoming a slow start and a poor draw to gain a short-head verdict over Bretoncelles.

While that form is only ordinary, the Dansili filly is capable of better with the experience under her belt and David Lanigan's unexposed charge should be capable of a big run in her follow-up bid now switched to turf.

She boasts some fancy entries though, including the Investec Oaks and the Ribblesdale, so is clearly regarded by her trainer; and she could well prove to be a smartsort as she gains further experience.

(8.00) It looks noteworthy that Johnny Murtagh sends SISTER BLANDINA (4/1, Coral ^[10]) on a raiding mission for this contest, and the Mastercraftsman filly could go close as a result.

Although she hasn't shown much in a trio of all-weather starts, she produced much better form when only beaten around four lengths on her return from a three-month break when tackling turf for the first time at Gowran Park last month.

Racing off the same mark, she should appreciate this extra furlong, and with ground expected to pose little problem she can make the journey worthwhile.

5.30 – Bushwise

6.00 – Kristal Hart

6.30 – Danilovna

7.00 – Ginzan

7.30 – Juan Horsepower

8.00 – Sister Blandina

8.30 – Oratorio's Joy

PERTH

(6.20) ASUNCION (7/1, Ladbrokes ^[11]) is capable on her day, resuming winning ways when scoring at Newcastle back in March, and following up with a solid runner-up effort back at that venue next time behind Mumgos Debut.

Turned out ten days later at Hexham, Rebecca Menzies' charge may have found the race coming too soon when disappointingly pulled up having never gotten involved at any stage in the race; however, he has been given a short break since and while she may prefer slightly more cut in the ground, she has dropped below her last winning mark and could bounce back to form.

(7.50) FIDDLERS REEL (6/4, William Hill ^[12]) defied an absence to score well at Haydock in March, beating Fine Parchment by one length, and shaped arguably better when chasing home a thriving rival at Kelso next time in a stronger race when finishing just over two lengths' adrift of Nakadam last month.

That race has thrown up two subsequent winners, and while the Karinga Bay gelding has to concede both years and weight to rivals, he has very much been in better form than his rivals and should continue to give a good account of himself.

5.50 – Sammy B

6.20 – Asuncion

6.50 – Harley's Max

7.20 – Tomahawk Wood

7.50 – Fiddlers Reel

8.20 – Royal Chatelier

8.50 – Ballinvegga