UK racing tips – Friday 28 July 2023

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Race 2 – KING EAGLE 5/4

KING EAGLE can make it three wins from as many starts since joining Nicky Henderson in the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap.

The four-year-old ran five times for Michael Bell between October 2021 and September of last year without success, but did run a couple of sound races in defeat.

He subsequently underwent wind surgery and was gelded after moving to Seven Barrows, presumably with a jumping career in mind, but that appears to have been put on the back burner for the time being.

King Eagle did not surface during the last National Hunt season, but did make a winning debut for Henderson on the level at Bath in April.

He returned from a couple of months off the track to double his tally at Newmarket at the end of June, defying an 8lb rise as he stepped up to a mile and three-quarters for the first time.

The son of Frankel must contend with a further 3lb hike in Berkshire, but there is every chance a further rise in distance can bring about even more improvement as he goes in search of the hat-trick in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Race 3 – HALLA DUBAI 

William Buick is another eyecatching jockey booking aboard HALLA DUBAI in the Chapel Down Handicap.

After finishing second in two of his three outings in novice company, the Owen Burrows-trained colt was well fancied ahead of his handicap debut over a mile at Goodwood, but was simply too keen to do himself justice and weakened into fourth place.

Dropping back to seven furlongs and racing in a bigger field should give him a better chance to settle and finish off his race. With Buick in the saddle, a bold bid can be expected.

Race 4 – GAASSEE 

GAASSEE is tipped to get back on the winning trail in the £45,000 John Guest Racing Handicap.

The five-year-old rattled off four wins on the spin for William Haggas before finishing third as a red-hot favourite in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock last summer.

He subsequently returned lame after going off as the market leader for the Ebor and also disappointed on his first couple of starts of this season.

However, having dropped a couple of pounds in the weights, he ran his best race for a while when fourth on his second stab at the Old Newton Cup three weeks ago, beaten just over a length.

Gaassee has proven himself on an easy surface and this looks a good opportunity to return to the winner’s enclosure despite the burden of top-weight.

THIRSK

Race 1 – FORESEEABLE FUTURE 10/3

Mehmo justified favouritism at Beverley and is now asked to carry a 5lb penalty, which is negated by Joe Bradnam’s claim, so he is likely to be bang there again.

However, the one to side with could be FORESEEABLE FUTURE, who was just denied over 6f at Yarmouth and reappears before his revised rating kicks in, so is fancied to take full advantage.

Manila Style warrants a market check on his handicap bow.

Race 2 – DARNATION 4/1

Recent Haydock third DARNATION can provide Karl Burke with yet another juvenile winner in the Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Nighteyes hit the crossbar the last twice but her latest effort at York, when denied by just under a length, was arguably her best and she sets a pretty high standard for a race of this type with a rating of 80.

Any market support for 60,000gns purchase Cloudy Skye should be noted.

Race 5 – LABALABA 13/10

LABALABA won a Ffos Las maiden with something in hand and keeping the son of Sioux Nation to novice company could be a good move at this stage.

The Crisfords’ colt was a well-supported favourite to build upon a pleasing Salisbury introduction and he can double up before he heads off into deeper waters.

Last weekend’s Doncaster scorer Snafiya is feared most, with Mushterek and Indivar also considered.

Race 6 – WOOBAY 15/2

WOOBAY has been threatening to land a race of this nature of late and the return to 6f could prove a tonic that helps Phillip Makin’s filly shed her maiden tag at the eighth time of asking.

Happier also arrives on the back of two runner-up efforts and is feared most with first-time cheekpieces expected to aid her cause, while better is expected from the lightly-raced Destined, who was successful in her only previous outing on rain-softened going.

NEWMARKET

Race 1 – CROCUS TIME 9/4

CROCUS TIME boasts a consistent level of form having finished third on all three starts to date, including here over 7f at the start of the month.

The daughter of Acclamation was then beaten less than a length at Windsor and is expected to put her experience to best use.

Les Bleus is open to improvement stepping up a furlong in trip after her debut effort at Sandown, while Al Shabab is expected to come forward from his first start at Newbury, where he displayed plenty of inexperience.

Race 4 – NAQEEB 4/7

As a half-brother to Baaeed and Hukum, NAQEEB‘s reputation went before him on his Leicester debut and he was sent off a warm order.

He had to settle for third there, but showed the benefit of the experience when going one place better at Newbury and there are good races to be won with him.

Middle Earth has done nothing wrong in finishing second at Sandown and Kempton, and is the obvious danger. The fillies Marmara Sea and Rosa Chinensis are worth a look, as is expensive newcomer Highland Song.

Race 5 – TERWADA 85/40

This can go the way of TERWADA, who could not have done it any easier when getting off the mark at Nottingham and he could be well treated off a mark of 90 on his handicap debut.

The fact he is proven over further should come in handy against recent course winner Pastiche, who has yet to go beyond 7f.

Oliver Show and The Gatekeeper have the form to get involved too.

Race 6 – KING OF THE DANCE 9/2

Kevin Stott seems to ride this track particularly well and his presence aboard KING OF THE DANCE could be crucial as Eve Johnson Houghton’s four-year-old attempts to bounce back to the form that saw him make the frame at Newbury on his penultimate start.

Lordsbridge Girl has been knocking on the door and might give him most to think about, although Split Elevens wasn’t beaten far over a mile here last month.