UK racing tips – Monday 7 August 2023

RIPON

Race 1 – ROAST CHESTNUT 3/1

George Boughey’s ROAST CHESTNUT ran a promising race on debut at Windsor and has more scope to improve than some in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Fifth in what is likely to run out a hot contest won by Piz Nair, with George Scott talking of Group races for the winner, he was spotted getting the hang of things late on.

While she will need further in time given her pedigree, the six furlongs in very soft ground will turn into a stamina test for juveniles.

Race 2 – JURI 5/4

Roger Varian’s JURI catches the eye on debut in the Andy And Jacquie Abbott Ruby-Wedding Anniversary Novice Stakes.

Unraced at two, Hollie Doyle makes the trip to partner her as she is owned by Imad Al Sagar.

There are plenty of reasons the think the testing ground will actually suit as she is a half-sister to Extra Elusive, who produced his career-best when winning the Group Three Winter Hill Stakes on soft ground for Roger Charlton.

Race 4 – TWELFTH KNIGHT 2/1

TWELFTH KNIGHT can be forgiven a rare dull run last time out and is backed to return to winning ways in the Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap.

Trained by Ruth Carr, the four-year-old had been a model of consistency this season up until his latest appearance at Ayr three weeks ago.

For some reason he just never ran his race in Scotland as having adopted his usual prominent position, he was beaten a long way from home and trailed in amongst the also-rans.

His performance was so far removed from how he had been running that the stewards asked questions about it but connections could offer no excuse.

Prior to that the former Archie Watson inmate had been building a really progressive profile, crucially winning and being placed at Ripon twice this season.

Arguably at his best when the mud is flying, he can take this on his way to the Great St Wilfrid as when you have a sprinter that acts at Ripon, that is the obvious destination.

Race 5 – LERWICK 18/10

Ed Bethell’s LERWICK has been favourite in five of his six races to date and finally justified strong support last time out.

He was a good winner at Pontefract by two lengths and the second is now rated 77, the same as which Lerwick gets to run off in the Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate Handicap.

Race 6 – EASTERN CHARM 5/10

William Haggas’ EASTERN CHARM takes the longish journey to the Garden Racecourse on a roll.

Having had three unplaced runs over seven furlongs, the erstwhile Haggas stepped her up to a mile for her handicap debut at Yarmouth and she duly breezed in off a basement mark of 57.

Following a 54-day break and surprisingly off just 3lb higher, she was thoroughly expected to follow up back at the Norfolk venue but endured a troubled run and could only finish fourth.

Given her exploits since, it is fair to say she could be running on Monday on the verge of six-timer.

She won next time out at Yarmouth by six lengths in classified company before going back into a handicap on the all-weather at Chelmsford where she got home by a neck.

It appeared she absolutely relished the heavy ground at Sandown most recently and with that in mind, she looks set to continue her winning spree despite carrying a 6lb penalty in the Monday 28th Bank Holiday Family Day Handicap.

AYR

Race 1 – ROMAN SECRET 5/4

Misemerald has won two of her three starts to date, with the latest of her victories coming over 6f at this track, and she should have no issues with the step back up in distance.

However, she does have a 6lb penalty to shoulder, which may open the door for ROMAN SECRET.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor shaped with plenty of encouragement on her debut at Doncaster when second behind a subsequent winner, and she could take a step forward to strike. Any market support for newcomer Capellina should be noted.

Race 3 – JKR COBBLER 5/4

Iain Jardine is enjoying a real purple patch and his JKR COBBLER has plenty going for him in the Scottish Sun Ladies Night On Saturday Handicap.

He has won over course and distance the last twice, going up 9lb in the process, but Jardine really appears to have found the key to him.

Bernie The Bear is yet to gain his first victory but he has been knocking on the door this season and is entitled to be in the mix, while Vortigan’s recent third at Haydock earns him a place on the shortlist.

Race 4 – FLYAWAYDREAM 9/4

The consistent FLYAWAYDREAM was only beaten two lengths into third off this mark on his seasonal debut at Kempton a month ago and a reproduction of that level of form would make him hard to beat here.
Theme Park was not at his very best at Ascot last time but is a player based on his third at Chester two starts ago, while Glasses Up is the pick of the remainder.

Race 6 – AYR POET 3/1

Jim Goldie and Paul Mulrennan rarely leave Ayr without a winner and AYR POET looks the chosen one in the Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap.

He has been in great form of late and carries a 4lb penalty for winning last time out.

The main danger is Ice Shadow who appeared to relish the underfoot conditions when making all at Nottingham recently. The four-year-old could take some stopping off only 5lb more here, with any further rain likely to aid his cause.

Fellow last-time-out winner Rory The Cat also arrives in fine fettle and can’t be ruled out in his current mood either.

WINDSOR

Race 1 – PENGUIN ISLAND 18/10

PEGUIN ISLAND finally got off the mark at Chepstow after a string of consistent efforts and Henry Candy’s filly makes plenty on appeal in what doesn’t appear to be the strongest of contests on paper.

Sera Dawn appears the most likely threat to the selection following her third at Sandown last time, while Sergeant Pep may benefit from the drop back to 5f.

Race 2 – ADAAY IN DEVON 5/2

ADAAY IN DEVON has shown promise on all three starts to date, including when runner-up at Goodwood and Bath, and she is capable of putting that experience to good use this evening.

Zariela ran with promise on her racecourse bow when fourth at Kempton and is entitled to step forward from that effort.

Ralph Beckett has his string in fine fettle and his newcomer, Video Games, has to be respected.

19:30 (Windsor) Lethal Nymph

Count Otto had Heroism (second) a length behind when scoring over course and distance recently and she could uphold that form, as a 2lb pull in the weights may not be enough for the latter to reverse those placings.

However, they both could be up against it to deny Lethal Nymph who was denied by a length and a half when attempting to make all in similar course and distance event last month, which could prove to be the best recent form on offer, and he is taken to go one better tonight.

Cuban Breeze isn’t ruled out, as her run was too bad to be true at Ascot last time.

Race 6 – ORIENTAL ART 28/10

ORIENTAL ART has hit the crossbar the last twice, suggesting he is ready to strike off his current rating, and if he can remain in that sort of form, then he could be hard to beat under Oisin Murphy.

The main danger could be Platinum Prince, who has run well on the all-weather on each of his last two starts and can get involved off the same mark as his Lingfield third last time. Change Of Fortune is an interesting contender in first-time cheekpieces.