15 minutes Check out today's horse racing tips from meetings at Worcester, Sandown, Doncaster, Yarmouth and Newbury.
1:45 Worcester
Land O Plums Hirons 50th Anniversary Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
FEVER DREAM - 5/1
Fever Dream looks a solid proposition in a competitive heat and can strike again over this course and distance. The seven-year-old has won two of his last three completed starts, bouncing back in style here 17 days ago when scoring with a bit up his sleeve despite idling on the run-in. That effort came after a pulled-up run where he was found to have an irregular heartbeat, but connections clearly have him back firing and the 4lbs rise may not be enough to stop him going in again.
Heroique De Maulde is another recent winner who arrives in good form, but he’s been nudged back up to a career-high mark. He’s consistent and the refitted cheekpieces seem to be working, but the handicapper may just be catching up with him now. Deep Purple is an interesting chaser in the making and certainly respected for the Skelton team on his first start over fences. He showed promise over hurdles last season and had earlier won a point, so this switch looks positive. Still, he may just lack the experience of his market rivals and might be one for next time. Gateau De Miel made a winning start for new connections last month and wasn’t disgraced back over hurdles after that, but he doesn’t always find a lot off the bridle and will need to improve again to get involved in this deeper field.
Verdict: FEVER DREAM returned to winning ways in style over C&D last time and is fancied to follow up from just 4lbs higher. Heroique De Maulde remains a threat in current form, while Deep Purple is one to watch closely on chasing debut.
2:10 Sandown
Texas At Sandown Park 7 August Handicap
SILVER WRAITH - 4/1
Silver Wraith brings untapped potential to this low-grade sprint and looks well worth chancing, returning to the scene of her highly promising debut. She had no luck in running over this C&D last August when meeting significant traffic but finished with purpose behind a well-handicapped winner. Her recent effort at Goodwood suggested she’s on the verge of clicking, travelling smoothly for much of the race before flattening out late and the application of a tongue-tie could eke out the required improvement.
Jenever is a familiar type at this venue and must be feared. He boasts a record of 2112 over C&D and ran respectably when fourth in a stronger race at Newmarket last time. He’ll be front rank early and won’t go down without a fight. Blind Beggar is capable at this level but has now gone 17 starts without a win and tends to find one or two too good. He’s consistent enough for each-way players but vulnerable for win purposes. Cloud King is another capable of winning on his day. He’s only 1lb above his last winning mark and shaped better than the bare result at Pontefract. He’s respected if building on that.
Verdict: SILVER WRAITH is open to far more improvement than this exposed bunch and looks poised to strike returned to Sandown. Jenever is solid and rates the obvious danger, while Cloud King and Blind Beggar complete the shortlist.
2:35 Doncaster
Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap (Div I)
LOCKDOWN LASS - 11/1
A return to testing ground at Doncaster could be just the spark Lockdown Lass needs. She’s now 10lbs below her last winning mark, that success coming over this very course and distance on soft ground last summer. Although out of form on quicker surfaces of late, she caught the eye two starts back when doing some late work from a poor position at Ayr. With conditions finally back in her favour and a more than capable 7lbs claimer booked, she looks poised to take advantage of her reduced rating in a race lacking strong depth.
Jack Daniel goes particularly well with cut in the ground and continues to hold his form reasonably well following wind surgery. He’s a solid each-way player once more under Dougie Costello. Diddy Man has soft-ground form at Doncaster and comes into this with a decent fifth at Hamilton behind him. He’s gone well for Paul Mulrennan before and is entitled to be competitive again, though he’s now on a career-high mark on turf. Reignman is one of the least exposed in the field and shaped nicely for third on handicap debut at Kempton. The softer ground remains a question, but if handling it, he’s likely to improve again from a fair mark. Autumn Festival continues to look tricky to win with but hinted at better when sixth at Ffos Las last time. He’s more than capable in this grade and acts on soft, but consistency is his biggest issue.
Verdict: LOCKDOWN LASS is back on the same mark as when winning over C&D last season and finally gets her favoured ground. She can take advantage of this drop in class. Jack Daniel and Reignman look the most likely dangers, while Diddy Man should also be on the premises.
3:10 Doncaster
Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap (Div II)
EY UP ITS JAZZ - 4/1
Ey Up Its Jazz has found his stride this summer and returned with a bang when scoring over this trip at Ayr earlier in the month. He relished the soft ground that day and saw it out strongly, suggesting the mile holds no fears despite most of his wins coming at shorter. A 3lbs rise is perfectly fair and with the same conditions in place, he has every chance of going in again for a yard hitting form.
Astronomica is feared most. Her two wins came on soft ground over a round mile and she’s entitled to come forward for her seasonal reappearance at Ripon last month. She’s on a good mark and is likely to be a major threat if finding rhythm early. Harbour Vision has been running with credit in higher-grade handicaps on the turf this summer. He’s a reliable sort who handles cut in the ground and will be thereabouts if things fall right. Electric Lightning shaped well when sixth behind the selection at Ayr, travelling powerfully before fading late on his return from a lengthy layoff. He should strip fitter and could be dangerous if getting cover early.
Verdict: EY UP ITS JAZZ looked better than ever when winning at Ayr and is fancied to follow up under similar conditions. Astronomica has the soft-ground credentials to pose the biggest threat, while Harbour Vision and Electric Lightning both have place claims.
4:20 Doncaster
Autism In Racing At Doncaster Today Handicap
NOVELLO LAD - 15/8
Novello Lad arrives in peak form and looks well placed to follow up last week’s Nottingham success under a 5lbs penalty. That was his first win on turf since joining Paul Midgley and he did it with authority, travelling powerfully and pulling clear late. He’s unexposed at 7f and ran well over this trip at Catterick in May. While the soft ground is a slight unknown, he’s bred to handle some cut, and his form is solid in the context of this modest 0-72.
Amayretto is the obvious danger. He’s been a model of consistency since cheekpieces went on, winning over C&D in May and finishing runner-up back here just five days ago. He handles quick ground well but has shown less on softer going, which just tempers enthusiasm. Highland Olly could also get involved. He’s shown flashes of ability on easy ground and was a winner at Nottingham earlier in the year. His latest effort at Redcar was underwhelming, but he’s a type who can bounce back. Bella Bisbee might prove vulnerable if the rain gets in, as her best efforts have come on sounder surfaces. Still, she’s lightly raced and was a good second over 1m here last time, so isn’t dismissed lightly.
Verdict: NOVELLO LAD is thriving and looks capable of defying a penalty if coping with softer underfoot conditions. Amayretto rates the chief danger back at his favoured track, with Highland Olly and Bella Bisbee best of the rest.
4:30 Sandown
Aspen Insurance Handicap (A Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Series Qualifier)
BEACH POINT - 15/8
Beach Point has gone close on turf several times this season and can get his head back in front now returned to grass. He was sent off favourite when disappointing on the all-weather last time, but his turf form prior to that reads 22422, including a neck second at Leicester and a narrow defeat at Bath. He’s shaping like this 1m2f trip suits well and remains fairly treated off 69. Oisin Murphy takes over in the saddle, which looks a significant vote of confidence from connections.
Man Of Desert rates the main danger. Still unexposed after just five starts, he shaped with encouragement when rallying for fourth at Yarmouth over a mile. This step up in trip is a logical move and Silvestre De Sousa is a positive booking. He’s got scope from a mark of 79. Baltic Voyage is hard to weigh up. He returns from a long absence after a failed hurdling spell but did win over this trip on soft when trained by Ralph Beckett. Market support would be interesting, but he’s risky without it. Croeso Cymraeg won at Lingfield in May and has an excellent record in grassroots qualifiers, but at eleven years old he’s hard to catch right these days and was well beaten at Sandown last time.
Verdict: BEACH POINT is much better than he showed on the all-weather last time and should prove a tough nut to crack back on turf. Man Of Desert is respected as an improving type, with Baltic Voyage one to watch in the betting on his stable debut.
5:40 Yarmouth
Racing League Race 1 Handicap (In The Care Of Trainers Registered To Racing League) (GBBPlus Race)
SECRET BEACH - 7/1
Secret Beach arrives on the back of a career-best effort at York, where he ran out a comfortable winner in a decent 1m4f handicap. That came on good to firm but he’d shown his versatility on slower ground previously and this well-built four-year-old looks capable of progressing further now he's found his stride. The 7lbs rise looks manageable and he’s likely to be prominent again under Alistair Rawlinson, who gets a good tune out of him. With conditions no concern and plenty in his favour tactically, he looks the one to beat.
Fantasy World has improved steadily across four runs and got off the mark with an all-the-way success at Ffos Las last month. This is a stronger race on handicap debut, but he’s open to progress now upped in trip and represents a respected yard in Andrew Balding. That said, the form of his win hasn’t really been tested and he’ll need to dominate again from a low weight. Minhad ran out a stylish winner of a Newmarket novice before being pitched into Group 2 company at Royal Ascot. That proved too hot, but he's back in calmer waters now and appeals as one who could have more to offer in handicaps. Ground and stamina should suit, though he's still learning the game and may need things to fall right. Sportingsilvermine has had a busy campaign but has held his form well and was arguably unlucky not to finish closer in the Old Newton Cup last time. The return to Class 4 company is a big plus and he's already proven over this sort of trip. Any easing of the ground would enhance his claims. Charmaine continues to run well and is holding her form after a couple of AW wins in the spring. She's been placed the last twice and could sneak into the frame again if conditions suit, though she looks vulnerable for win purposes.
Verdict: SECRET BEACH is on the upgrade and looks ideally placed to continue his progress after a taking win at York. He goes well from the front, handles some ease underfoot and can take advantage of a mark that still looks within range. Fantasy World and Minhad are unexposed and respected, while Sportingsilvermine appeals as a solid each-way player dropping in grade.
7:33 Newbury
Price Boosts Now Live At BetVictor Handicap
KITTY FOYLE - 5/2
Kitty Foyle is taken to go one better after a narrow C&D defeat last time where she was just denied by a rival who boosted the form by winning again since. That run came on quick ground and showed she stays 2m strongly, settling well and finishing off with purpose. She's now 1lb higher but remains well treated on old hurdles form and having been placed on all three Flat starts at Newbury, this looks a golden opportunity to shed the maiden tag on the level.
Deep Water Bay heads the market and has shown solid form on the AW, winning at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford, but he’s now 0-2 on turf and was readily brushed aside in a better race over this trip last time. The addition of cheekpieces may eke out more and he’s still respected, but his price feels cramped for one unproven under these conditions. Captain Brett has progressed with racing and was first past the post over 1m6f at Bath last week before being demoted. He’s 4lbs well-in and shapes as though this extra distance could suit, but he’s tackling 2m for the first time and still has something to prove on turf against less exposed stayers. Cheshire Belle is a complete unknown at the trip but represents a capable yard and now makes her handicap debut. She's bred to stay and her novice runs were fair enough, but she’ll need to settle better than she has so far.
Verdict: KITTY FOYLE brings reliable course form and was unlucky not to win here last time. With proven stamina, a good draw and a generous price, she can reverse form with the favourite. Deep Water Bay is feared, while Captain Brett shouldn’t be dismissed up in trip.
7:40 Yarmouth
Racing League Race 5 Handicap (In The Care Of Trainers Registered To Racing League)
JER BATT - 7/2
Jer Batt has plenty going for him in a tightly knit 5f handicap. He ran some excellent races last season, including when beating this year’s King’s Stand winner American Affair at Naas and was close up behind the same rival on his seasonal return. His last two runs are easy to forgive; badly positioned at Chester, then missed the break in the Epsom Dash when sent off favourite. He handles soft ground, is well drawn in stall 2 and this represents a slight ease in class. A repeat of his best Irish form or that Naas return would put him firmly in the driving seat.
Solar Aclaim arrives in career-best form after a convincing soft-ground win at Chester over 6f. He drops back to 5f and is up 8lbs, but he’s effective at the trip and clearly thriving. The ground poses no issue and he should go well again for Julie Camacho, though life will be tougher off this higher mark. Brooklyn Nine Nine was a strong-finishing winner at Hamilton (5f, good) and looks better than ever at five. He goes on soft and only has a 4lbs rise to contend with, though this is a stronger race and he’ll need a clear passage from mid-pack. Existent rarely runs a bad race and was third in the Epsom Dash last time, a rock-solid effort. However, his best form comes on better ground and soft going may blunt his speed. Nazron is consistent and has shown he handles cut, including a fair fourth at Chester on soft. He’s not obviously well treated but should be competitive again under a patient ride. Marching Mac flopped at Hamilton but was fourth in the Dash at Epsom the time before, strong form in the context of this race. If bouncing back to that level, he has the tools to make an impact. End Of Story is lurking on a winnable mark and shaped as if coming back to form last time. He’ll enjoy the ground and could run better than his big odds imply.
Verdict: JER BATT stands out on past form and looks ready to get back to winning ways after two luckless runs. He’s drawn to attack and handles the ground, this looks a good opportunity. Solar Aclaim is the obvious danger, while Marching Mac and Brooklyn Nine Nine could be involved if replicating their best recent efforts.
