Today’s UK racing tips come your way from the meetings at Windsor, Redcar and Leicester on 29 May 2023.
WINDSOR
Race 4 – WHENTHEDEALISDONE 2/1
The Roger Teal-trained WHENTHEDEALISDONE may be able to exploit his falling mark in the Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap at Windsor.
The five-year-old has won from his current perch of 93 before and fairly bolted up off 90 at Ascot in the latter part of last season. There was definite promise in his reappearance run at Goodwood and he was not beaten far at York last time when the gaps did not open for him when he needed them. The handicapper’s decision to drop him 3lb since looks more than fair and the fact he is a previous winner over this track and trip adds further confidence that he can return to winning ways.
Race 5 – PEACE MAN 2/1
In the fifth at Windsor today, PEACE MAN looks a likely winner for the Gosden team. While the four-year-old was not disgraced in either of his first couple of races, he was a 14/1 shot when making it third time lucky over this course and distance. He could make up into a smart handicapper in time and an opening perch of 86 appears workable.
REDCAR
Race 5 – PILLAROFHOPE 9/2
PILLAR OF HOPE looks the pick of the Bank Holiday action as he bids for a second course and distance win at Redcar in the Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup.
Charlie Johnston’s charge was rated 82 when striking gold at the Tees Valley track in September and returns off the same mark. Results since that verdict have been largely disappointing, but in fairness, his below-par runs were on the all-weather and he showed his true colours back on the grass at Beverley last month when knuckling down to see off Crownthorpe by a head. He is two from three on the turf and has every chance of enhancing that record for a yard that has been among the winners in recent days.
Race 6 – DUKEMAN 2/1
DUKEMAN looks the potential class act on show in this handicap test. The son of Kingman cost plenty as a 500,000 guineas yearling purchase and while he was unraced at two, there was plenty of encouragement from each of his three starts as a three-year-old.
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained youngster confirmed the promise of a debut third at Thirsk with a first win on his second start at Newcastle, after which he filled the runner-up spot at Epsom.
His fitness obviously has to be taken on trust on his seasonal bow, but there is every chance that he will prove better than his opening handicap mark of 82 in time.
LEICESTER
Race 5 – STRIKING STAR 85/40
STRIKING STAR will not be winning out of turn if he can plunder this handicap assignment at Leicester. The three-year-old was favourite for last season’s Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury off the back of an impressive debut win at Sandown, but was bitterly disappointing in heavy ground.
So far this term Charlie Appleby’s inmate has proved expensive to follow, finishing second as a market leader in each of his three outings. However, there was not much wrong with his latest effort at Newmarket and he can reward those who keep the faith in the Midlands.
