8 minutes Check out the latest tips from our resident tipster, Stephen Welch
14:15 Doncaster
BRAVE NATION - 2/1
Back to defend his crown in this race, BRAVE NATION boasts an impressive record of three wins from six starts over course and distance, including a narrow success in this contest last year. He returns on the same mark as when a strong-finishing fourth of 14 here last month, a race that’s already working out well, with the runner-up going in again since.
Michael Bell’s five-year-old is clearly at home on Town Moor and shaped as though still in top form when staying on behind the pace that day, faring best of those ridden off the speed. With Callum Rodriguez once again in the saddle, he’s well positioned to strike from stall 5 in a field that could set up nicely for his style.
15:35 Sandown
GETREADYTORUMBLE - 9/4
Progressive with each of his four starts to date, GETREADYTORUMBLE looks a sprinter firmly on the upgrade and is taken to continue his rise through the ranks. A maiden winner at Brighton in early June, he made light work of an 84-rated handicap mark when following up at Goodwood two weeks ago, travelling powerfully before asserting readily in the closing stages. An 8lbs rise is a fair response from the handicapper, but the visual impression that day suggests he may have plenty more in the tank.
Tom Marquand retains the ride,and the draw in stall 5 should allow him to adopt a prominent position behind likely pace-setters. With his trainer Jack Channon enjoying a good spell, this sharp 5f track should play to his strengths, especially if he gets a tow into the race.
16:10 Sandown
Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes (Listed Race)
WINDLORD - 13/8
A smart prospect from the Andrew Balding yard, WINDLORD takes a significant drop in class after two tough assignments in Group 1 company and is fancied to capitalise. A Listed winner at two, he was well backed for the Group 3 Classic Trial over this course and distance in April and shaped with considerable promise when finishing second behind the now top-class Field Of Gold. Although comfortably held in elite company since, those efforts came in deep waters and are easy to excuse for one still learning his craft.
This represents a much calmer test and Windlord crucially receives a hefty 11lbs three-year-old allowance from the bulk of his older rivals. With just five career starts under his belt, there’s plenty more to come and the booking of Colin Keane adds further intrigue. If reproducing anything close to his Classic Trial effort, he’ll be hard to stop.
16:25 Wexford
Poolcourt Engineering Handicap Chase
CLARENS - 9/2
Already a dual winner over fences at Tramore this year, CLARENS arrives in top form and looks primed to take another step forward now tackling a longer trip. He made a bright start to his chasing career with a novice win in April and while unlucky not to go close on his handicap debut at Tipperary where he was badly hampered two out, he made no mistake when returning to Tramore last time, showing tenacity to score under testing conditions.
The step up to 2m3½f could unlock further improvement for this scopey eight-year-old, who has shaped as if stamina will be a strength. He remains fairly treated off a mark of 122 and retains the services of promising conditional Danny Gilligan, who takes off a valuable 5lbs. Ground conditions suit and he’s drawn to get a nice position just off the pace.
16:35 Doncaster
attheraces.com/marketmovers Fillies’ Handicap (Class 5)
PEARLY SQUIRREL - 5/1
A lightly raced three-year-old with upside, PEARLY SQUIRREL shaped with plenty of promise when runner-up over a mile here in May and can go one better now dropping back to 7f. That effort came in a race that has since been strongly franked, with the winner and fourth both scoring next time out. She travelled sweetly that day and only gave best close home, suggesting this slightly shorter trip could be ideal.
Ivan Furtado’s filly has clearly settled well into her new surroundings since joining the yard from John Quinn and the application of cheekpieces looks a smart move to sharpen her up further. Drawn in stall 8, she should get a nice tow into the race and with Daniel Muscutt booked again, she has a big chance to shed her maiden tag.
16:45 Sandown
Coral Marathon (Listed Race) (Registered As The Esher Stakes)
TERM OF ENDEARMENT - 5/2
A three-time Group race winner in Ireland, TERM OF ENDEARMENT caught the eye on her second run for William Haggas when finishing a strong second in the Group 3 Bronte Cup at York and she now steps up to 2m for just the second time with compelling claims. That latest effort hinted there’s still more to come and she looks primed to thrive over staying trips this summer.
Crucially, she receives weight from all of her main rivals here and while this will be a tougher stamina test, her pedigree and running style suggest she should stay. Her previous Group-level exploits over 1m6f give her a solid platform and with Shane Foley retained and Haggas’ team going well, she’s a major player receiving 5lbs from the older geldings.
16:53 Newton Abbot
South West Rail Solutions Handicap Chase (Class 5)
BACKINACTION - 11/4
Still relatively unexposed over fences, BACKINACTION returned from a 251-day break with a strong second over course and distance last month and is fancied to go one better in this modest staying contest. That was just his third run over the larger obstacles and having travelled fluently for much of the race before going down narrowly, he looks the type to improve significantly with that effort under his belt.
He represents the in-form Evan Williams yard and is now reunited with Adam Wedge, who knows the gelding well. The return to Newton Abbot is a positive and with drying ground unlikely to pose any issue, this looks an ideal opportunity to capitalise on a still workable mark of 91. There’s a sense he’s been brought along steadily and could have more to offer in staying chases.
18:50 Beverley
Ward Homes Yorkshire Selling Stakes (Class 6)
TROPEZ POWER - 11/8
Although his recent form figures may not leap off the page, TROPEZ POWER takes a significant drop in class here and is fancied to capitalise in a seller that lacks depth. He’s been competing in stronger company than this of late, contesting Class 3 and Class 4 handicaps at York and Thirsk and now finds himself in by far the easiest race he’s contested in over a year.
A dual winner over 7f and a mile, he boasts solid Beverley credentials too, having finished second and third in two previous visits to this track over 7.5f. He shaped particularly well in first-time blinkers when second at Redcar in May and remains well treated on his best form. With the headgear retained and Jason Hart booked, he can make his class tell.
19:40 Bangor
Wrexfest Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
LIPA K - 5/2
A proven performer at this track, LIPA K arrives in peak form and looks the one to beat after a determined success over course and distance last month. That win confirmed he's very much at home around Bangor, where he’s now 3-3 under rules and the return of cheekpieces; last worn when winning over fences here in 2024, looks another smart move from connections.
He’s only been nudged up 3lbs for that latest victory and remains on a fair mark (112) given his consistency and willingness to battle. This drying ground suits and with Henry Brooke taking over in the saddle, he has a great chance of recording back-to-back wins for the thriving Greenall & Guerriero yard.
20:25 Haydock
G4S Secure Solutions Handicap (Class 4)
DESERT FALCON - 3/1
A dual winner over this trip at the end of last season, DESERT FALCON looked better than ever when reappearing at Thirsk in May, where he was narrowly denied by a well-handicapped rival in a competitive heat. That performance came off today’s mark of 83 and suggested he’s returned in top order for Julie Camacho, who continues to operate at a strong strike-rate with her older handicappers.
Now five, Desert Falcon remains relatively unexposed for his age with just 12 runs on the board and crucially, his best efforts have come over 7f on decent ground. Drawn wide in stall 10, he’ll likely be ridden to settle early before being produced late and with Ryan Sexton claiming 3lbs, he has the tools to pounce in what looks a winnable Class 4.
