11 minutes Below you'll find my latest racing tips with today's picks coming from meetings at Haydock, Newbury, Nottingham, Killarney, Hamilton, Newmarket and Pontefract.
2:05 Haydock
Racing To School Haydock Park Apprentice Training Series Apprentice Handicap (RE Series)(Grassroots)
FLATLEY - 7/2
Flatley returned to form when narrowly denied at Chepstow last time, finishing a close second over this trip in a race that’s worked out well. That effort came off today’s mark and suggests he’s still well treated on turf despite a better strike rate on the all-weather. He’s now partnered by apprentice Taryn Langley and in a race where plenty arrive with questions to answer, he looks capable of going one better if reproducing that recent run.
Port Erin is respected as a lightly raced five-year-old who scored on the all-weather in April and ran creditably in deeper company at Goodwood since. He’s still unexposed on turf and rates a live threat dropping back in trip. Lunarscape shaped with promise at Ffos Las last month and can get involved if building on that seasonal return. Captain Corelli was prolific at the end of last season but has struggled in two runs this term and may still be a few pounds too high. Clear Angel and Youarenotforgiven have both hinted at ability this season but lack consistency, while veteran Young Fire is hard to fancy despite a sliding mark.
Verdict: FLATLEY has been freshened up since his Chepstow second and can make the most of a winnable opening if repeating that level. Port Erin is the main danger, while Lunarscape has place claims if improving for her return.
2:25 Newbury
LADY OF THE ISLES - 13/2
Lady Of The Isles has shown gradual improvement across three qualifying runs and shaped with real promise when a close fourth in a 1m Windsor novice last time out. That effort hinted at untapped potential and she now makes her handicap debut off a workable mark in a race lacking depth. Rossa Ryan, who partnered her most recently, retains the ride and this unexposed filly could easily find the necessary progress to go close now tackling this level for the first time.
Bownder has already won twice at this trip and landed a solid Goodwood success last month over 1m2f. He’s respected despite a below-par effort since at Windsor. Sonic Pioneer has been in consistent form on the all-weather and endured a luckless passage last time, he’s better than that run suggests and holds each-way claims. Earthwatch represents powerful connections and is lightly raced, but didn’t make the expected impact on his first two handicap starts. Geo and Warrnambool have bits of form but stamina doubts linger, while Spirit Lead Me needs to recapture his AW peak to get involved back on turf.
Verdict: LADY OF THE ISLES looks the one open to the most improvement now entering handicaps and is preferred in a modest heat. Bownder is solid and should go well again, while Sonic Pioneer can bounce back with a clear run.
2:50 Nottingham
NOVELLO LAD - 13/8
Novello Lad has been knocking on the door all season and looks ready to get off the mark for 2025. He’s finished runner-up on his last two starts at Doncaster, showing a strong attitude over 7f and today’s return to 6f should suit given his sharp turn of foot. He’s holding his form well, is proven on good to firm ground and this looks a good opportunity to finally go one better.
Thunderous Love is the obvious danger, chasing a hat-trick after recent wins here and at Newbury. She escapes a 4lbs rise by running under a 5lbs penalty and remains a major threat if holding her form. Bayraat shaped with promise when fourth on his reappearance and could be an each-way player, especially back at the track where he gained his only win. Beelzebub is more effective on the all-weather but could outrun his price if the refitted cheekpieces spark improvement, while Havana Sky has consistent form but isn’t as reliable back on turf.
Verdict: NOVELLO LAD has been a model of consistency this season and can gain a deserved success with conditions and trip to suit. Thunderous Love is in flying form and rates the main danger, while Bayraat looks one to keep an eye on each-way.
3:05 Killarney
BoyleSports Daily Money Back Meeting Handicap Chase
ST FAZ - 7/2
St Faz has proven consistency in similar handicap chases and brings standout recent form, having finished ahead of several of today’s rivals at Tipperary last time. A dual-purpose performer with course-winning form over hurdles, he returns to Killarney with conditions likely to suit and arrives just 3lbs higher than that excellent Tipperary second. With Danny Mullins booked again and still open to improvement at just five years old, he looks primed to go one better.
Solitary Man boasts a strong course record and could bounce back now returned to his favoured track. He’s twice a C&D winner and shaped as though he would come on for last month's reappearance run. Gaelic Arc is another course winner who took this race in commanding style last year and arrives fresh off a Kilbeggan win, although a 7lbs rise asks a new question. Aeros Luck must rebound from a disappointing run at Tipperary but was an impressive Punchestown winner the time before. Dutch Schultz and Embittered have solid form in the book but may find one or two better treated, while Fils d’Oudairies returns to chasing after a spell over hurdles and remains opposable on his last chase form.
Verdict: ST FAZ is a consistent and improving type who ran a cracker last time behind similar rivals and now returns to a track where he’s already won over hurdles. Solitary Man rates the danger back at his favourite venue, while Gaelic Arc commands respect as last year’s winner arriving in form.
4:31 Nottingham
pricedup.bet Boosts 'Confined' Handicap (For Horses Which Have Not Won A Race In 2025)
ROMAN SECRET - 4/1
Roman Secret has shown enough in two recent efforts since joining Kevin Frost to suggest a breakthrough win may be close. She shaped with promise when a staying-on fourth at Chepstow and wasn't disgraced when third at Pontefract over this trip, despite the small field not playing to her strengths. Dropped 1lb since and now meeting less progressive types in a race confined to 2025 maidens, this looks a golden opportunity to strike. Alec Voikhansky claims 3lbs and keeps the ride.
San Francisco Bay rates a danger after his bold front-running second over C&D two weeks ago. He’s a longstanding maiden but that run showed he still retains ability and this setup may suit again. Right Now was second to an improver at Pontefract in May and had excuses since, so cannot be dismissed off a workable mark. Toby Two Scoops is unexposed and didn’t get the clearest run at Wetherby on seasonal return, he has each-way potential if sharpening up for that. The rest, including Lilac Wine and West Wickham, need to prove they can be competitive at this level.
Verdict: ROMAN SECRET has been knocking on the door and now looks ready to deliver in a race lacking standout opposition. San Francisco Bay and Right Now look the main dangers, while Toby Two Scoops is open to improvement.
6:35 Hamilton
G4 Claims Not At Fault Claims Made Easy Scottish Stewards' Cup Handicap
JONNY CONCRETE - 12/1
In a wide-open sprint, Jonny Concrete appeals as a value alternative to the progressive favourite. He's been a model of consistency since the headgear went on, winning three times and placing on his last two starts over this trip. He was only just edged out at York last time by Kats Bob and had previously run a big race at Carlisle, both on fast ground. With no concerns over trip or ground and drawn to attack from stall 2, he looks well equipped to go close again.
Double Rush has been the eye-catcher of the season and looks well treated based on his York run in a strong three-year-old-only handicap. But at short odds in this deeper and more experienced field, he's no certainty, especially given this will be just his fifth start. Nariko is another with strong claims after her Goodwood win, but she’s best with cut and the drying ground may not suit. Bergerac and Commanche Falls are proven in big handicaps and capable of bouncing back, while Strike Red could outrun his price if returning to his best. The draw, race tempo and track bias will all play a part here.
Verdict: JONNY CONCRETE has strong recent form in big-field 6f handicaps and with a good draw and conditions to suit, he could be the one to spring a surprise. Double Rush remains the big danger, while Bergerac is another to consider each-way.
7:00 Newmarket (July)
CATCH CUNNINGHAM - 7/2
Catch Cunningham has been knocking on the door and is taken to go one better after a luckless second over C&D just a week ago. Denied a clear run at a crucial stage, he flew home late to finish just behind the winner and now reappears off the same mark. A C&D winner here last summer and clearly well suited by the July Course, he looks primed to finally snap his losing run with conditions again in his favour.
Rocking Ends, last year’s winner of this race, reopposes after finishing third in that same contest last Friday and remains a key threat. The application of cheekpieces could eke out a little more, but he was better placed than Catch Cunningham on the day and may struggle to confirm the form. Gold Star Hero and Coup De Force are both capable of better, especially the former, who was unlucky at Epsom and could still have improvement to come. Jacquelina is on a competitive mark and could sneak a place if things fall right from the front.
Verdict: CATCH CUNNINGHAM has hit form at the right time and shaped like a winner-in-waiting over course and distance last week. If enjoying a clearer run, he can reverse the form with Rocking Ends and get his head back in front.
7:55 Pontefract
Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival Handicap
REIGNING PROFIT - 4/1
Reigning Profit looks the value pick in a competitive sprint, having bounced right back to form when a neck second in a red-hot Ascot handicap on Saturday. That performance came in a big field, where he raced prominently throughout and was only just denied by a well-handicapped rival. Crucially, he’s 2lbs well-in under a quick turnaround and is ideally drawn to attack from stall 1 at a course where he’s already a dual C&D winner this season. With the visor retained, he has every chance of going one better.
Squealer heads the market after a smart York win last time and remains a big threat despite a 4lbs rise, but this will test his consistency in a deeper field. Dan Tucker continues to progress and should be respected as a three-year-old on the up, though this marks his toughest assignment to date. Kodiac Thriller is also in fine form and looks likely to be on the premises again, while The Bell Conductor and Dream Composer have solid back-class but need to recapture their very best.
Verdict: REIGNING PROFIT was unlucky not to land a valuable race at Ascot last weekend and can make amends here from a favourable draw. Squealer and Dan Tucker are the main dangers, but both may find the selection hard to pass if he gets into a rhythm.
