Sunday 18 June’s UK racing comes your way from Doncaster and Salisbury – get all of today’s tips and picks right here!
SALISBURY
Race 2 – ANOTHER THOUGHT 17/2
ANOTHER THOUGHT should be more at home against her own sex in this fillies’ handicap. Winner of a fillies’ novice in May, she chased home Garner at Lingfield last time and an opening mark of 74 looks workable for Eve Johnson Houghton.
Race 5 – MISTRAL STAR 15/8
MISTRAL STAR is the choice in this fillies’ novice stakes at Salisbury.
A daughter of Frankel out of Classic-placed mare Shirocco Star, she was an Oaks entry at one point for Hughie Morrison.
A close second on her only two-year-old outing, she had to settle for third in a Newbury maiden on her return, when Gather Ye Rosebuds beat her 12 lengths in what was a bit of a muddling affair on testing ground.
She likely would not have to progress too much from that to win here.
DONCASTER
Race 3 – VAGUELY ROYAL 8/13
VAGUELY ROYAL is becoming a bit frustrating to follow but is worth one more chance in the the third at Doncaster – a maiden stakes event.
This well-bred son of Galileo looked a promising type when third on his only juvenile start, finding a mile a bit too sharp even at that stage.
Subsequently upped to 10 furlongs on his three-year-old bow, he looked as though he wanted further still as he failed to reel in an all-the-way winner at Newmarket.
Nevertheless, he was sent off at skinny odds over that trip at Chepstow last time and trying himself for a front-running success, he was edged out by half a length on the line.
Moving up to 12 furlongs now, it will be disappointing if this colt cannot get off the mark.
Race 4 – KING OF BAVARIA 7/2
KING OF BAVARIA makes plenty of appeal as he shots for a second successive victory in the James Hammond Handicap at Doncaster.
A 50,000 guineas recruit out of Ballydoyle in October, the four-year-old has taken a while to find his feet for new handler Mick Appleby, eventually getting off the mark at the fifth attempt at Windsor at the end of last month.
Racing off a mark of 96, the No Nay Never gelding came from last to first over five furlongs, prevailing by three-quarters of a length despite getting a smack in the face from a rival jockey’s whip over a furlong out.
He looked decent value for the margin of victory and the handicapper may have been quite generous in inflicting just a 3lb rise.
Given he was rated as high as 105 when fourth in the Listed company for Aidan O’Brien, he could still be well treated.
Race 5 – LASER GUIDED 13/8
LASER GUIDED can continue his upward trajectory in our final pick of the day. Second in two of his three previous starts, he got his first win – albeit a shared success – at Ripon earlier this month, and a 3lb rise should not be insurmountable.
