Saturday’s UK Racing tips come your way from Newbury and Market Rasen on 20 July 2024.
MARKET RASEN
Race 2 – PYFFO 9/2
PYFFO brings strong form with a success in a 2m6f novices hurdle at Fontwell preceding a victory tackling a higher graded 2m7f handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter, so will be a leading contender here.
Clararose represents a top yard. The mare showed ability at Uttoxeter when a decent fourth among easier company. Can build on that effort.
Belvedere Blast found success at Hexham attempting a similar distance in a lower level handicap hurdle. This two-time course winner ticks plenty of boxes and might go close.
Race 3 – KIHAVAH 13/2
Dual-purpose performer KIHAVAH can go well in the Unibet Daily Industry Best Prices Summer Handicap Hurdle.
The main threat will come from Black Poppy who has previously won a premier handicap hurdle and was last seen posting a fourth of five attempting the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. Big drop in grade.
Race 4 – MOLE COURT 17/2
Feature race of the year at Market Rasen and MOLE COURT catches the eye.
The seven-year-old Ben Pauling inmate provided smart chase efforts this time last year and has climbed the grades well since including a good fourth tackling the 3m2f Summer Cup handicap chase at Uttoxeter.
Statuario brings excellent winning form from Perth including a neck victory over 3m and should be respected.
Soul Icon went well at Aintree in May when second contesting a lower class handicap chase and could feature.
Francky Du Berlais won this in 2021 and 2022. Showed ability at Cartmel last month running a good third in a 2m5f handicap chase and shouldn’t be ignored.
NEWBURY
Race 1 – ALYANAABI 72/100
ALYANAABI can make good use of the weight he receives from his elders on his first attempt over a mile and a quarter in the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Steventon Stakes.
A smart two-year-old, he found only the Derby and Eclipse winner City Of Troy too good in the generation-defining Dewhurst at the end of the season.
This year, understandably, connections have had a crack at the best around.
He began his season in the 2000 Guineas and was far from disgraced when fourth to Notable Speech, beaten four and three-quarter lengths, and he was the same distance behind Rosallion in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
That has forced Owen Burrows to go up in trip as it was apparent he was just below the best at a mile.
Alyanaabi’s sire, Too Darn Hot, has had progeny who stay a bit further than he did and while his dam was unraced, there have been members of his family who found 10 furlongs no problem and the 9lb he gets from his elders seems a lot.
Race 2 – NAQEEB 11/2
NAQEEB may have finished downfield in a red-hot handicap at Royal Ascot last month however he was hampered late and shaped better than the bare result.
The well-bred William Haggas-trained four-year-old remains unexposed tackling staying trips and could go close down in grade with cheekpieces worn last time removed.
Revisiting handicap company looks a major plus for Prydwen who was outclassed in the G1 Ascot Gold Cup.
Previous course winner Kyle Of Lochalsh cannot be ignored after finishing a good third in a 2m4f Royal Ascot handicap, while Sleeping Lion also warrants consideration.
Race 3 – JAME’S DELIGHT 25/2
Clive Cox has always excelled with sprinters and he has some smart ones currently.
He runs two in the Fidelity Energy Hackwood Stakes in Diligent Harry and the three-year-old JAMES’S DELIGHT, with preference for the younger horse.
He arrives on the crest of a wave, having won a valuable handicap at York and a Listed race in France.
Regional sets the standard having been runner up at Royal Ascot but the 5lb James’s Delight gets off him looks generous given he is only rated 4lb his inferior and we know the older sprinters do not set a very high bar.
Race 4 – IT AIN’T TWO 5/2
Oisin Murphy was booked earlier in the week for Hugo Palmer’s IT AIN’T TWO in the Weatherbys Super Sprint.
He rode the filly last time out when she ran well to finish second in Listed company at Sandown, yet due to the weights of this race being determined by purchase price and It Ain’t Two having cost just 10,000 guineas, she is near the bottom of the weights despite being one of the highest rated.
