UK racing tips – Thursday 29 June 2023

NEWCASTLE

Race 1 – MASO BASTIE 6/5

James Fanshawe’s MASO BASTIE has passed up several entries in recent weeks, so the hint must be taken that he is running in this handicap.

The Churchill gelding was fourth on his debut at Kempton last year before breaking his duck by a short head at Lingfield a month later in December.

Clearly a late developer, he reappeared at Nottingham in May, defying a penalty from Tempered Soul, and it is the exploits of that one that makes a mark of 87 for him look very lenient indeed.

Tempered Soul was in receipt of 9lb from Maso Bastie when going down by a head then bolted up next time out at Chelmsford before not being disgraced in a Listed race at Goodwood, won by none other than Queen’s Vase winner Gregory.

Raised to a mark of 90, he outran his 66-1 odds in the Britannia last week when fifth to Docklands. Maso Bastie does look very well-treated off 87.

Race 4 – LATTAM 7/4

LATTAM could prove to be well ahead of the assessor in the fourth at Newcastle.

Trained by William Haggas, he was expertly placed to win first time out this season in the Irish Lincolnshire, bagging a huge pot on just his fifth-ever run.

That success was pretty last-gasp, with Chris Hayes delivering him right on the line to beat a hardened handicapper in Saltonstall.

Haggas went to Ireland as Lattam needs cut in the ground, which he had on his most recent outing at Newbury in the Spring Cup.

He had no excuse when beaten into second that day as the 2-1 favourite and on the face of it, being beaten three and a half lengths, you may have thought the handicapper had hold of him on a mark of 92.

However, the winner of that race was none other than Jimi Hendrix, revitalised by first-time blinkers there and he made a mockery off a mark of 94. That was no surprise really as last week he still looked well treated when beating stablemate Sonny Liston by two lengths in the Royal Hunt Cup off 103.

NEWMARKET

Race 1 – CHEEKY BLIMEY 15/8

CHEEKY BLIMEY made a very pleasing debut and can take the next step in the restricted novice Stakes at Newmarket.

A Marco Botti-trained son of Ribchester, he was fourth of 15 at Leicester, only getting caught for third right on the line.

The winner, Andrew Balding’s Bits And Bobs, went close to defying a penalty next time out so the form looks decent.

Race 3 – PREMIERE BEAUTY 17/2

PREMIERE BEAUTY must have been a hard horse for the handicapper to assess.

Stuart Williams’ filly was an 80/1 winner at Yarmouth last season before being outclassed in the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes.

On her seasonal return and handicap debut, she was a fair third at Haydock off 76 and can take a step forward today.

Taking that into account, Lattam faced a pretty tough ask at Newbury so even with an extra 2lb, he looks the one to beat despite racing on the all-weather for the first time. His sire Lope De Vega’s progeny operate at an impressive 40 per cent on artificial surfaces.

Race 5 – URBAN SPRAWL 21/20

Charlie Johnston’s URBAN SPRAWL has been busy of late but continues to improve.

Winner of a valuable pot at Goodwood at the end of May, he then met trouble in running when favourite for a nice race at the Derby meeting.
He was in action in the aforementioned Britannia last week, running a cracker to finish third at 50/1.

Back in a smaller field, he should be able to dominate..

NOTTINGHAM

Race 2 – WINTER CROWN 5/4

There still looks to be scope for WINTER CROWN to win off his current mark.

Trained by the now Royal Ascot-winning team of Julie Camacho and Steve Brown, he came from Godolphin having shown little in two outings.

Having won first time out for his new connections, he was second the next twice before finishing down the field at York but he was unlucky not to finish closer last time out at Beverley. Off the same mark in the second at Nottingham, he catches the eye.

LEICESTER

Race 1 – GREAT TRUTH 23/20

Charlie Appleby’s GREAT TRUTH is worthy of attention on paper ahead of his debut in this novice stakes at Leicester.

By Dubawi, his dam, Beyond Reason, won a French Group Two for Appleby and he is likely to know what is required.