Today’s UK racing tips come your way from the meetings at Leicester, Redcar and Lingfield on Tuesday 30 May 2023.
LEICESTER
Race 1 – OCEAN RUNNER 10/11
Charlie Appleby looks the man to follow at Leicester today, where OCEAN RUNNER could put himself in the Royal Ascot picture if taking the opening novice stakes event. The two-year-old is from the first crop of his handler’s former sprint king Blue Point who has made a fantastic start to his stallion career and Ocean Runner has not disgraced himself when starting out at Ascot earlier this month.
The expensive 625,000 guineas breeze-up buy was sent off the odds-on favourite for what looked a deep maiden at the Berkshire track and a race used by his handler to start off some of his top youngsters in the past. Although turned over, there was plenty of encouraging signs following a sluggish start, and having only been beaten two lengths on ground that would not suit, Ocean Runner is given a second opportunity to prove his class on a sounder surface.
Race 2 – IMPRESSIVE ACT 8/13
IMPRESSIVE ACT could quickly provide the Moulton Paddocks handler and his number one jockey William Buick with a double if building on a promising debut at York in this maiden stakes.
A 650,000 guineas son of Dubawi, he is the first colt to make the track out of Fred Darling winner Dabyah, and chased home a smart operator in Dominic French Davis’ Cuban Thunder for a silver medal when making his bow. That rival is off to the Coventry Stakes next and it would be no surprise if this lad ends up joining him if progressing as expected.
Race 3 – MENALIPPE 3/1
Both of MENALIPPE‘s career victories have come over the course and distance of this fillies’ handicap and it would be no surprise to see another trip to the east midlands prove fruitful for James Ferguson’s filly, while Musical Tribute has been knocking on the door in two starts this term and commands plenty of respect here.
REDCAR
Race 4 – ZARGA 85/40
ZARGA is the name to note at Redcar and looks to have a standout chance in this fillies’ handicap. It is always wise to pay attention whenever trainer Sir Michael Stoute sends the horse box north with the master of Freemason Lodge holding a strike-rate touching 25 per cent at the track.
He could now have found the ideal opportunity for the daughter of Camelot to open her account following some eye-catching runs in defeat. She bumped into some useful opponents in her three outings as a juvenile last term and looked in real need of the step up to 10 furlongs when running on for third over a mile at Nottingham on her return. The handicapper has left her alone for that and she could make a mark of 74 count here.
LINGFIELD
Race 2 – BALGAIR 6/1
BALGAIR could steal the prize-money in the only advice from today’s meeting at Redcar if in the same form as when winning impressively at Lingfield on debut. Things didn’t go completely to plan when upped to 10 furlongs for his second start, but having been keen to post and showed plenty of keenness throughout the contest, he did well to still finish third.
He will have learnt plenty for that outing and although Stoute’s Crystal Mariner looks a tough nut to crack, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Cracksman colt can gain some revenge for stablemate Lion’s Pride who had to play second fiddle to that one recently.
