Good ground at Newmarket for today’s seven race card with the possibility of light showers.
David Elsworth had a disappointing 2020 but he has his string in excellent form of late and the booking of Ryan Moore for Glencora certainly catches the eye as she bids to gain her fourth win from her last five starts. She was a fluent winner at Leicester from just a 5lbs lower mark last time – although she was ridden by a promising 7lb claimer – and must have every chance of landing the hat-trick.
The vote, however, goes to Handsome (2.25) who is out of a 1m 6f winner and a half-brother to several winners including the useful stayer Ranch Hand. The selection steps up to 12f for the first time this afternoon and he gave the impression that a stiffer stamina test would suit when finishing runner up at Leicester last time. He was beaten over two lengths on that occasion and a 5lbs rise looks harsh on the face of it, but he has only had four career starts and remains open to significant improvement. There was 7/2 available on Wednesday but he is a top price of 6/4 with Boylesports at the time of posting.
In the 3-y-old 6f handicap Akkeringa (3.00) carries a 6lbs penalty for a fluent win at Doncaster earlier in the month, but he has been raised 8lbs from the weekend and his excellent apprentice Marco Ghiani takes off a valuable 3lbs. The gelding has improved since the application of a tongue-tie, and he should have the race run to suit with three of his six rivals dropping back in distance from seven furlongs and indeed a mile. There was 9/4 available on Wednesday but he was into 7/4 with MansionBet at the time of posting.
In the Newcastle opener The Tide Turns (1.25) may have found the 1m 6f trip taxing his stamina at Chelmsford last time, but he would in all probability still won had his jockey not got into trouble when trying to locate his whip. Luke Morris – who was in the plate for his two previous successes over today’s distance – is back in the plate today and he is 2lbs well-in. He is likely to try and make all. The opening 6/4 looked big and he is into 11/10 with BetVictor.
Fandabidozi has travelled well but finished tamely on his last couple of starts over an additional quarter of a mile and he, too, will appreciate the drop back to a mile-and-a-half.
At Leicester this evening, I like the booking of leading 5lb claimer Saffie Osborne for Uncle Dick (6.45) in the 10f 3-y-old handicap. He travelled well but may have hit the front too soon at Goodwood last time and I hope to see his jockey play the selection fast and late. Dual Identity would have been the selection on good to soft or softer ground, but I do think this son of Belardo will need rain to be seen at his best. The ew selection is 11/2 with BetVictor.
I hope it is a good evening for Osborne as she rides Canoodled (8.45) in the finale for Ed Walker carrying a 6lbs penalty for a facile win – albeit on soft ground – at Lingfield at the weekend. The selection – 7/4 with William Hill – had previously finished second here over C&D when slowly away and forced to cover ground. If he gets out on terms today, I will be disappointed if he cannot follow up Saturday’s fluent win. Note he has been raised 10lbs for that victory and is thus 4lbs well-in under his penalty.
Wise Judgement is likely to be all the rage in the filles extended mile contest at Hamilton this evening carrying a 6lbs penalty for scoring at Beverley last week. She got an uncontested lead on that occasion, however, and she failed to go on from a promising first run on her racecourse debut last season.
Omany Amber (8.00) drops back to a mile for the first time since scoring over this trip at Wolverhampton back in the spring. She can take a grip herself and I hope to see Sam James race her near the pace. There are showers forecast for the track and any rain is considered a positive. The selection is 5/2 (from 7/2) with 10Bet.
