8 minutes Check out today's tips from meetings at Salisbury and Doncaster.
2:15 Salisbury
Highclere Castle Horse Feeds "Carnarvon" Amateur Jockeys' Handicap
GUITEAU - 2/1
Guiteau looked all over the winner at Chepstow last week and can gain compensation off the same mark here. That was his first run for Faye Bramley and despite drifting late in the market, he ran with real credit, only collared in the final strides. The excellent Simon Walker takes over in the saddle and that can make all the difference in a contest where few arrive with obvious claims. A repeat of that Chepstow effort would make him hard to beat.
Endowed arrives on a hat-trick but both recent wins came at 6f and he's unproven over this longer trip. He kept on gamely to win at Chepstow 12 days ago, but this 7f around Salisbury is a stiffer test and may just find him out. Monks Mead has produced a couple of solid efforts at Brighton and could be thereabouts again under a capable rider. However, he's winless this season and has often found one or two too good. Amathus is another with something to offer off his reduced mark and he’ll appreciate drying ground and a return to 7f. He’s not without a squeak if things fall his way.
Verdict: GUITEAU went agonisingly close at Chepstow and looks well placed to make amends with Simon Walker booked. Endowed has hit form but stamina is the question mark, while Monks Mead and Amathus are the others with place claims.
2:50 Salisbury
1945 Larasian British EBF Novice Stakes (IRE Incentive Race)
INCA HEIGHTS - 9/2
Inca Heights sets the clear form standard here and can make that experience count. He looked a smart prospect when making a winning debut at Newbury in April, showing a nice turn of foot to come home strongly over 5f. He then bumped into some classy opposition at Ascot next time in a race that’s worked out well, but still shaped with plenty of promise. This step up to 6f looks ideal and with conditions to suit, he should take plenty of pegging back.
Assiri Heights is an obvious danger on paper, having fetched 700,000gns as a yearling and representing powerful connections. He’s by Frankel and has the pedigree to be useful, but this is no easy introduction and his yard tends to leave a bit to work on with debutants. Bone Marra was well held in the Coventry but had earlier shown a good attitude to win at Wolverhampton. He should appreciate this drop in grade, although that AW form doesn’t look anything out of the ordinary in hindsight. Thanos and Sprinting Speed are both newcomers of interest and represent stables that know the time of day. Of the pair, the latter perhaps makes more appeal based on pedigree, though both may be playing catch-up against more experienced rivals.
Verdict: INCA HEIGHTS has the best form in the book and looks sure to appreciate this step up in trip. With the benefit of two runs under his belt, he’s taken to outclass some well-bred newcomers. Assiri Heights is bred to be smart but may come on for the run, while Bone Marra and Sprinting Speed could fight it out for the places.
3:50 Salisbury
JARHAM - 4/1
Jarham has been knocking on the door in handicaps and can make the breakthrough here. He shaped well when fourth at Windsor two starts ago and then took another step forward when narrowly denied at Ffos Las last time, finishing a strong second over this 1m trip. That was his first run in cheekpieces and he responded well for pressure, so it's a positive that the aids are retained. With further improvement on the cards, he looks well treated off 74 and should go close in a race that lacks standout opposition.
Moutai heads the market and brings solid claims based on his third at Hamilton behind two next-time-out winners. However, he didn’t convince over 1m2f on the all-weather since and has yet to get his head in front after five starts. He’s clearly going the right way but offers little value at the current odds. Opening Bat is another unexposed type who arrives in decent form. He ran well behind Political Power last time but is now 5lbs worse off with that rival. While there’s scope for more progress, he may need a career-best to come out on top in this slightly deeper contest.
Kodi Fire opened his account at Brighton last time and shapes as though the step up to a mile could suit. That said, this is stronger form-wise and he’s yet to prove himself as well-handicapped off his current mark.
Verdict: JARHAM is improving with each run and was arguably unlucky not to win last time. With the cheekpieces retained and David Probert booked again, he gets the vote to go one better. Moutai is respected on the Hamilton form but is becoming a touch frustrating, while Political Power and Opening Bat can battle it out for the places.
5:45 Doncaster
Get Raceday Ready EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Bands C/D) (Qualifier) (GBB)
SUPREME CLARETS - 12/1
Plenty of these are open to progress, but Supreme Clarets makes each-way appeal on debut and could be the one to spring a minor surprise. He’s a well-related colt by Supremacy and a half-brother to multiple winners, including a pair of Listed scorers in Italy. The Richard Fahey yard isn’t averse to striking with newcomers at this venue and there was quiet market support ahead of his intended debut earlier in the month before being declared a non-runner. Conditions should suit on pedigree and this looks a winnable novice.
Exclamation sets the standard based on his Brocklesby third and Lily Agnes second. He’s tried-and-tested over this C&D and likely handles soft ground, but was comfortably held in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot and might be vulnerable to an improver. U S S Charleston is also respected after narrow defeat at Leicester, though that race has yet to really work out. The step into softer ground asks a fresh question and the value may lie elsewhere.
Verdict: With proven rivals looking beatable, SUPREME CLARETS is an intriguing newcomer with a classy pedigree and can make a winning start. Exclamation brings solid form to the table, while U S S Charleston rates a danger if handling conditions.
6:20 Doncaster
Polypipe Building Products Handicap
ISHE WORTH AGAMBLE - 4/1
Plenty of these arrive in decent nick, but Ishe Worth Agamble has a solid profile at this track and looks the one to beat. Tim Easterby’s gelding won over course and distance last month in first-time cheekpieces and has continued in good heart since, backing that up with a close fourth here on quicker ground. He’s already shown he can handle cut when shaping well at Carlisle in June and with this track clearly suiting, he’s primed for another big run.
Missmimi heads the market after a tidy win at Pontefract and remains well treated despite a 5lbs rise. She’s open to further progress, but both her soft ground runs are inconclusive and she’s short enough in the betting. Hurstwood is in the form of his life and goes well at Ripon, but most of his best efforts have come on a sounder surface. He’s respected but might be slightly vulnerable if conditions deteriorate further.
Verdict: ISHE WORTH AGAMBLE has been holding his form well and his previous course win marks him out as a big threat under ideal conditions. Missmimi and Hurstwood are consistent types and should be in the mix, while Punchbowl Flyer could surprise if building on his Chepstow reappearance.
7:20 Doncaster
Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Fillies' Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
ELA'S GEM - 3/1
Plenty of unexposed fillies on show, but Ela’s Gem made a striking impression at Nottingham and looks ready to take the next step now entering handicap company. Ed Walker’s filly was well-backed on her reappearance and travelled like the best horse throughout before pulling clear in a steadily-run affair over this trip. She beat Nightsinwhitesatin with authority that day and remains open to bundles of improvement on just her third career start.
Perfect Your Craft heads the market and clearly has a touch of class as she won her debut on heavy ground and wasn’t disgraced in Listed company at Goodwood when failing to get a clear run. That form entitles her to respect, but the 1m2f trip is still a question mark and she could be vulnerable to a more battle-ready rival. Model Yuko made all to win well at Wolverhampton and is bred to improve over this longer trip. However, her mark doesn’t leave much margin for error and this is deeper company.
Verdict: ELA'S GEM is progressing the right way and looked to have more in hand than the bare margin suggests last time. She can confirm that form with Nightsinwhitesatin and has the potential to rate higher than this grade. Perfect Your Craft is respected but needs to prove herself at the trip, while Model Yuko appeals as one for each-way backers.
