Thursday’s UK racing tips come your way from meetings at Nottingham, Newbury, Yarmouth and Haydock on 15 June 2023.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 1 – FOREIGN EXCHANGE 5/2
Karl Burke has an embarrassment of riches in the juvenile division this year and FOREIGN EXCHANGE looks another likely type in this novice stakes at Nottingham.
A Clipper Logistics homebred out of Marie Of Lyon, who was a debut winner for Richard Fahey and earned black type at two, he will know his job and those who have run do not set an exacting standard.
NEWBURY
Race 5 – TOP SECRET 13/2
TOP SECRET looks a solid selection in this handicap test at Newbury. The six-year-old was a good second on his reappearance to Bear Force One and runs here off 1lb higher. He also ended last season with two wins and seems to have picked up from where he left off for William Muir and Chris Grassick.
Race 6 – SHOBIZ 10/11
Charlie Hills is in cracking form and his SHOBIZ can back up a victory over course and distance from a 4lb higher mark in the sixth at Newbury today.
YARMOUTH
Race 5 – EASTERN CHARM 3/10
William Haggas’ EASTERN CHARM is backed to get back to winning ways in this classified stakes event at Yarmouth. A course-and-distance winner on her handicap debut in April, she was only fourth when back at the seaside last week. She did meet trouble in running there, though, so is given another chance to confirm the impression she made on softer ground.
HAYDOCK
Race 3 – IRISH NECTAR 3/1
Kevin Ryan’s juveniles usually take a good step forward from their first run so IRISH NECTAR is of interest in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.
The race in which he made his debut at Hamilton looks a hot little affair, with Alice Haynes’ winner Golden Arrow heading to Ascot next week where the third, Golden Mind, will join him after winning subsequently.
Weak in the market and green in the early stages, Irish Nectar was only beaten just over a length and must have a say here.
Race 4 – BRIAN THE SNAIL 7/2
BRIAN THE SNAIL appears to have rediscovered his love for the game at the ripe old age of nine and can go in again in this handicap at Haydock. Once a high-class handicapper in his days with Richard Fahey, he never really won the amount of races his talent suggested he might.
Having joined Patrick Morris last year, he had almost a year on the sidelines before returning to action with a few lacklustre runs. Given a chance by the handicapper, there had been signs he was not far off winning again when fourth at Ripon in May before he chased home Abate at Hamilton.
Last time out, back at Ripon, he absolutely bolted up from a basement mark of 57, suggesting something recently has clicked. His new mark is 64 but even with a 4lb penalty for his win he only races off 62, giving him bottom-weight, and he could be difficult to stop.
Race 6 – TRAIS FLUORS 6/4
Another old timer taken to follow up a recent win is Jack Channon’s TRAIS FLUORS in the sixth at Haydock Park today.
Formerly a Group One performer for Andre Fabre, he is also nine now but looked on good terms with himself when winning at Goodwood last week in an apprentice race for Rose Dawes. Unpenalised for that, the veteran is 4lb well-in but had been running well prior to his win.
