9 minutes We kick off the week with racing tips from meetings at Yarmouth, Ayr, Galway, Windsor and Southwell.
2:15 Yarmouth
ROGUE DYNASTY - 2/1
Rogue Dynasty made the perfect start for James Owen when getting off the mark at Chester earlier this month and a 3lbs rise might not be enough to stop him following up. The switch of yards and application of a first-time hood clearly sparked improvement, as he travelled smoothly and showed a nice turn of foot to settle matters in good style. With further progress likely, he sets the standard here.
Gorgeous Mr George finally broke his maiden tag over this C&D last time and has claims again, while Born A Rebel arrives on the back of a win at Newmarket and should be competitive despite a 4lbs rise. Spirit Of Breeze, runner-up at Chepstow on reappearance, could also feature if building on that encouraging run.
Verdict: ROGUE DYNASTY did it nicely at Chester and looks capable of defying a small rise in the weights. Gorgeous Mr George and Born A Rebel are both in form and can chase him home.
2:30 Ayr
HAVANA RUM - 3/1
Havana Rum has been knocking on the door in recent weeks and is taken to finally get his head back in front. Richard Fahey’s five-year-old has finished runner-up on his last three outings, including over this trip at Carlisle last time when chasing home Mattice. He’s now 5lbs better off with that rival and should get a smoother passage from stall 3 with the aid of first-time cheekpieces, which could eke out that little extra required. He’s proven on good to soft ground, has gone close here before and boasts a solid profile for a race of this nature. With Oisin Orr maintaining the partnership and plenty of pace expected up front, Havana Rum should get the race run to suit and looks ready to strike.
Danzan won over C&D last week and carries a 4lbs penalty, though that was a narrow success and he’s not the most consistent. Giselles Izzy is another C&D winner who has been holding her form well and was a close third here behind Danzan last time, she should be thereabouts again. Mattice beat Havana Rum last time but is worse off at the weights now, while Thunderstorm Katie wasn’t far behind the front two in that same race and could be competitive again despite being out of the handicap.
Verdict: HAVANA RUM is holding his form well, is weighted to reverse form with Mattice and could be sharpened up by cheekpieces. Danzan and Giselles Izzy rate the chief dangers, while Thunderstorm Katie appeals for each-way players in a tight sprint.
3:00 Ayr
KELPIE GREY - 11/4
Kelpie Grey made a highly encouraging return to action when second over a mile here earlier this month and looks set to go one better back over his optimum trip. A triple winner as a three-year-old, including over this C&D on soft ground, he travelled fluently for a long way on reappearance before just giving best late behind a race-fit rival. That was his first outing in 270 days and he’s entitled to come on significantly for it. Danny Tudhope is a notable booking and from a good draw in stall 1, he should be able to get a handy position in what doesn’t look a particularly deep Class 4. With conditions in his favour and a strong record at Ayr, Jim Goldie’s lightly raced five-year-old is well weighted to resume winning ways off a mark of 80.
Boy Douglas arrives in winning form, having landed a mile handicap here last week. He carries a 5lbs penalty and is effective on soft ground, though his record over 7f isn’t as convincing and he may find this sharper test less suitable. Redarna is a grand old campaigner with seven C&D wins to his name and ran well over a mile at Carlisle last time. He’s entitled to go close again if the race turns into a slog. Jkr Cobbler flopped last time but had earlier shaped well when second over C&D and is another with a strong course profile.
Verdict: KELPIE GREY shaped like a winner in waiting on his reappearance and is taken to strike back at his favoured track with ideal conditions on offer. Boy Douglas and Redarna are respected threats, while Jkr Cobbler could run well if bouncing back.
3:30 Ayr
JANNAS JOURNEY - 11/10
We were on the right side of Jannas Journey when she landed her second career win here last Monday and she’s fancied to complete the hat-trick under a 5lbs penalty. That latest success came over 7f where she beat Cooperation by just over two lengths, despite not getting the clearest run and she looks well worth a crack at a mile now given how strongly she hit the line. Daniel Tudhope remains aboard and with proven course form, soft ground no issue and a handy racing weight, she’s got plenty in her favour once again. Jim Goldie’s four-year-old appears to be thriving and this doesn’t look any deeper than last week’s race, especially with her key rivals remaining exposed or inconsistent.
Cooperation reopposes 4lbs better off and was unlucky not to finish closer last time having been forced to switch. He’s unproven at a mile but stays on strongly over 7f and looks the most likely to give the favourite a race. Jewel Maker ran his best race for a while when third at Musselburgh over 1m1f and is well handicapped on old form, while John L Sullivan has a patchy profile but is another with each-way claims based on his latest C&D effort.
Verdict: JANNAS JOURNEY is a filly in top form and can complete the treble with further progress expected upped to 1m. Cooperation is respected again, while Jewel Maker and John L Sullivan are in the mix for minor honours.
6:40 Galway
Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap
TOO BOSSY FOR US - 4/1
This unique staying handicap is often targeted by the big yards and Willie Mullins sends a strong team, headed by the progressive Too Bossy For Us, who looks a well-handicapped stayer on the up. He shaped very well when second in a red-hot 25-runner handicap at the Curragh last time, splitting two stablemates in a performance that screamed "Galway prep". The son of Frankel stays well, is versatile tactically and looks the stable number one with Patrick Mullins booked.
Fellow Mullins runner Toll Stone split Comfort Zone and Filey Bay in last season’s Naas November Handicap and could be the main threat if tuned up. Comfort Zone, meanwhile, has the Ascot Stakes third to his name and is weighted to go close despite carrying top weight under Derek O’Connor. Outside the market leaders, Riviera Queen could be a dark horse on handicap debut off a mark of 89, a big drop from the Listed company she’s been contesting. Royal Hollow, a decent dual-code mare, arrives on the back of a confidence-boosting win and has scope off her opening mark. Familiar Dreams, proven in bumpers and over timber, adds further intrigue for Gordon Elliott.
Verdict: TOO BOSSY FOR US ticks plenty of boxes and looks the one to beat after his excellent second in a high-class Curragh staying handicap. Toll Stone is closely matched and feared, while Comfort Zone remains a major player despite his weight burden.
7:05 Windsor
Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap (Windsor Sprint Series Qualifier)
BADRI - 3/1
Badri arrives in cracking form and looks well placed to make it win number eleven over sprint trips. The eight-year-old finished runner-up in a competitive Class 2 handicap at Pontefract earlier this month and backed that up with another solid second behind the progressive Hieronymus in a big-field Ayr contest last week. He remains on a workable mark and looks ideally suited by this return to a smaller field and fast ground.
Chief Mankato returned to form with a narrow win at Chepstow and should remain competitive despite a 5lbs rise, while the lightly raced filly Heaven Knows is open to further progress and could be dangerous if there’s a strong early gallop.
Verdict: BADRI has rediscovered top form and can go one better than his recent seconds. Chief Mankato and Heaven Knows are the likeliest dangers.
7:25 Southwell
Join Southwell Golf Club Handicap
LESSAY - 10/1
Lessay is back to his last winning mark and looks primed to run a big race returned to Tapeta. He was well supported when scoring at Kempton in March and while his form since has been mixed, he wasn’t disgraced at Newmarket last month in a stronger 0-85 and this drop back into Class 4 company can see him bounce back. Ed Dunlop’s four-year-old is ideally drawn in stall 9 to tuck in behind the pace and the booking of Hector Crouch catches the eye for this type of horse.
The progressive Bold Suitor chases a hat-trick after back-to-back wins on the AW, but he’s up another 6lbs and faces stronger rivals in this deeper field. Altmore has hinted at a revival the last twice and now sports a first-time tongue-tie for a yard in solid form. Silver Trumpet remains a player having shaped well the last twice after a wind op, while Noodle Mission, back in a 0-80, could be dangerous if returning to his 2023 form.
Verdict: LESSAY is dangerously well handicapped and could be ready to strike again with conditions in his favour. Bold Suitor is thriving and must be respected, while Altmore and Silver Trumpet are live each-way players.
