9 minutes Check out today's horse racing tips from meetings at Lingfield, Musselburgh and Wolverhampton.
3:45 Lingfield
BetWright Instant Withdrawals Handicap
SPEED OF MAAJID - 11/10
Robert Cowell’s progressive three-year-old has made a bright start to handicapping and can gain compensation for a narrow defeat last week with conditions again expected to suit. There’s little doubt that Speed Of Maajid is the one on the up here. He made an impressive start to life in handicaps when making all at Yarmouth in June, quickening smartly off the front and winning with plenty in hand. He nearly followed up under a penalty at the same track last Wednesday, only headed in the final stride and was arguably unlucky not to score again. Back down south under similar conditions, he looks a major player from the same mark, especially if allowed an uncontested lead again. Hollie Doyle takes over in the saddle and there could still be plenty more to come from this Mayson colt who is unexposed compared to most of these.
Angle Land bounced back to form with a win and a second at Yarmouth in recent weeks and is one of two Cowell-trained dangers. She’ll likely be up there early as well and has run well at this track before, though soft ground would be a concern based on last year’s efforts. Abate has run solid races on his first two outings for George Baker, including over C&D and the veteran could grab a place again if handling any ease underfoot. Apache Star is consistent but hasn’t won for almost a year, while World Of Darcy is interesting if the rain comes, having landed a hat-trick on soft/heavy last autumn, albeit over further.
Verdict: SPEED OF MAAJID went down fighting last week and can gain quick compensation here under Hollie Doyle. He’s improving fast and may well have too much tactical speed for these if getting loose on the front end. Angle Land and Abate look the main threats, while World Of Darcy needs watching if the heavens open.
4:00 Musselburgh
Hays Travel Holiday Outside The Box Handicap
JM JHINGREE - 6/1
Jim Goldie’s three-year-old looks ready to open his account for the yard after a much-improved effort at Ayr last week and he’s taken to go one better now from a favourable draw and mark. There’s no shortage of pace here, with both Miss Brazen and Brazilian Belle likely to be up there early, but the value could lie with one who’ll sit just behind them and finish strongest. That’s where JM JHINGREE comes in. He posted his best run since switching to Jim Goldie when a close-up fourth at Ayr over 5f last Monday, travelling powerfully and sticking on gamely in a race that has already started to work out. The winner that day, Prohibition, is a horse on the up and Jm Jhingree was just half a length behind the reopposing Our Absent Friends, who he meets again here on slightly better terms. That Ayr run suggested he’s found his feet with the yard now and back against largely exposed older rivals, he can take advantage of his unexposed profile. Paul Mulrennan, a notable booking for this yard, keeps the ride and crucially, Jm Jhingree is drawn in stall 7, bang in the middle of the pace. He should get a perfect tow into the race and looks set to launch late in a race that should be run to suit.
Brazilian Belle sets the standard on form after bolting up at Thirsk last week and is clearly progressing, but she must now defy a 6lbs penalty in a deeper field. Miss Brazen is in fine form herself and will be prominent throughout, while Our Absent Friends has solid claims if backing up his Ayr effort, though he’s never been the most consistent.
Verdict: A strong case can be made for several here, but JM JHINGREE shaped like a winner-in-waiting at Ayr last week and is backed to land the prize with conditions and draw in his favour. Brazilian Belle is the main threat under a penalty, while Miss Brazen and Our Absent Friends are others to consider.
4:30 Musselburgh
Edinburgh Childrens Hospital Charity Handicap
RAVENSCRAIG CASTLE - 2/1
Back on the Flat following a confidence-boosting hurdles win, Iain Jardine’s gelding is fancied to make the most of a winnable mark returned to a course where he’s gone well before. This isn’t a deep contest and RAVENSCRAIG CASTLE makes plenty of appeal on multiple fronts. He was last seen landing a modest novice hurdle at Perth earlier this month, where he stayed on strongly to score with a bit in hand. That performance should have sharpened him up nicely and now back on the level, he’s operating off a mark 5lbs lower than when finishing a close second here over 1m6f earlier this season. This 2m trip suits him well, both his Flat wins have come over staying distances and while he has only two victories from 30 starts on the level, he’s often been campaigned in stronger company. With conditions to suit and a handy inside draw, this looks an ideal opportunity to strike.
Simple Star is another coming here in winning form after scoring over hurdles 19 days ago and he’s clearly in good order. However, his Flat form is more patchy and he may not want the ground too soft. Currumbin also arrives on the back of a hurdles win, but he’s been a shade inconsistent and may find this tougher than recent AW contests. Cascade Hall is a long-standing maiden but hinted at better when fourth at Ayr last time, while Trojan Sun and Young Merlin have bits of form but arrive with questions to answer.
Verdict: RAVENSCRAIG CASTLE is taken to follow up his recent hurdles success by striking back on the Flat. He’s well treated, stays well and returns to a track where he’s run well in the past. Simple Star and Currumbin head up the dangers, while Cascade Hall has place claims if settling better.
4:50 Lingfield
Download The Racecourse App Raceday Ready Fillies' Handicap
SWEET SONATA - 4/1
Rod Millman’s filly arrives in top form and can continue her upward trajectory under Oisin Murphy, who looks a good booking in this competitive fillies' handicap. Sweet Sonata has really clicked since blinkers were applied last month, getting off the mark for the season with a tidy success at Goodwood before backing that up with a narrow second at Leicester off this same mark. She travelled well on both occasions and shaped like a filly still on the upgrade. Ground conditions should hold no fears unless it turns properly soft and with the champion jockey booked, she looks primed to go one better.
There are dangers aplenty, headed by Lady Modena, who arrives on the back of a Wolverhampton maiden win and now makes her turf and handicap debut for a yard in decent form. She’s open to progress but does need to prove herself on this surface and in what’s likely to be a more strongly run affair. Loving Apprentice will appreciate any ease in the ground and is well drawn to race against the nearside rail. She ran a cracker at Ayr earlier this month and could be a major player if repeating that effort back at this trip. Miss Collada has contested stronger races and is another who could go well now dropped in class, while Spiritualism landed a modest event at Wetherby but might find this tougher from a wide draw.
Verdict: SWEET SONATA has hit form since blinkers went on and her latest Leicester second confirms she remains well treated. With Oisin Murphy taking over, she’s fancied to pick off the leaders late and notch a second win of the campaign. Loving Apprentice and Lady Modena rate the chief threats in a wide-open heat.
7:30 Wolverhampton (AW)
It's A Photo - Big Fella EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Band D) (Qualifier) (GBB Race)
LYRA LEA - 5/2
Lyra Lea shaped with definite promise when fifth at Ffos Las last month, breaking slowly and running green early before keeping on into midfield behind some useful types. That experience should have brought her on considerably and the step up to 7f is a plus on pedigree. The Rod Millman yard has had juvenile winners in recent weeks and with the market speaking positively again, this looks a good opportunity for her to get off the mark.
Jowalla has shown ability in both Newbury starts, placing on each occasion, but hasn’t improved much between runs. She should go well again if taking to Tapeta but may be vulnerable to one with more progression to come. Lapidarist is unexposed and was taken out on account of soft ground recently, so could show more now, while Space Bear shaped as if learning on debut and may build on that initial run. Truly Special has a good Wolverhampton pedigree and is worth monitoring for a market move. Plenty of these are unknown quantities, but many trainers have modest two-year-old AW records and a handful look to need more time.
Verdict: LYRA LEA caught the eye at Ffos Las and can improve plenty now stepping up to 7f on a sounder surface. Jowalla looks the obvious danger based on what she’s shown to date, while Truly Special could go well first time out given her family’s success around here.
