UK racing tips – Wednesday 26 July 2023

CATTERICK

Race 1 – PETRA CELERA 5/4

Given she has already handled some cut in the ground, and fared well with the draw, PETRA CELERA has a lot in her favour and her claims are hard to ignore.

She arrives on the back of a fine effort when a close third at Ayr and another step forward could see her strike.

Smooth Silesie has also shown plenty and is feared most, with Newmarket raider Mini Magna another name to note.

Race 2 – BORDERLINE BOSS 7/1

With the form in the book not looking anything special, BORDERLINE BOSS is presented with a good opportunity to make a big impact on his racecourse debut.

The Kevin Ryan-trained youngster is a half-brother to high-class sprinter Bielsa, who has done so well for the same yard over the years.

Nelson Rose arguably sets the standard from those with previous experience and, as a potential pace angle, can provide the selection with something to aim at, with Making Dreams and Likleman others to consider.

Race 4 – FEUD 7/4

Ralph Beckett sent two runners to Catterick last week resulting in two successes and this time his FEUD can make the long journey worthwhile in the Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival Handicap.

Beautifully bred, by Dubawi out of a May Hill winner Agnes Stewart, he showed only a modicum of promise in three outings last year and was subsequently gelded.

Well beaten first time out this season, he improved on his next outing and finally got his head in front last time out.

With his confidence boosted from that Haydock success, he may be able to defy a 3lb rise.

Race 6 – QUERCUS 13/8

QUERCUS recorded a fourth course and distance success when winning here a week ago and Ann Duffield’s charge appeals as the one to beat under a penalty.

It would be no surprise were John Kirkup to play a leading role following a series of good runs in defeat, while others to note include Wade’s Magic and Ginato, who is now 13lb lower than when last winning.

LINGFIELD

Race 1 – OH SO GRAND 20/21

Overactive still looks ahead of his mark but may have to settle for a minor role once more as he bumps into a couple of upwardly mobile rivals.

Gallimimus was a touch unlucky not to gain his fourth win of the season at Bath two weeks ago and is a big player once more.

However, he may struggle to fend off the challenge of OH SO GRAND, who won at a canter at Wolverhampton last week and might have got in lightly on handicap debut.

Race 3 – MISTRESS TEITE 10/1

Cherry Hill has shaped with plenty of promise on all three starts so far and her opening mark of 60 certainly makes her of interest stepping into a nursery for the first time, although stall one is not ideal.

Another Gift and Time Signature have both shaped like improvement is imminent and are interesting, especially if the market speaks in their favour.

There is a strong suspicion that we have yet to see the best of MISTRESS TEITE who has shaped on several occasions like she will be better than her current mark.

The first-time hood is applied and, with the step up in trip likely to suit, she can get off the mark at the fifth attempt.

Race 5 – STARPROOF 5/6

STARPROOF absolutely bolted up last time out and and can give William Muir and Chris Grassick a boost ahead of a big week.

They run Pyledriver in defence of his King George crown at Ascot on Saturday and while Starproof is nowhere near that level, winners breed confidence.

Having just her second run over six furlongs, she cruised home and back over the same course and distance under a 6lb penalty, she can go in again.

Race 6 – PROUD FAIRY 9/2

PROUD FAIRY made a pleasing return to action for the Gary Moore team last month, when beaten four lengths into fifth at Kempton.

The unexposed daughter of Garswood was subsequently eased 2lb in the ratings, and the drop in class further aids her cause.

Deacs Delight continued his decent spell of form with a creditable fifth at Chepstow six days ago and is likely to make his presence felt.

Blue Collar Lad is also noted.

SANDOWN

Race 1 – NONSUCH LAD 15/4

A winner over course and distance last September, this looks like a good opportunity for NONSUCH LAD to regain the winning thread after some highly-creditable efforts in defeat of late.

The four-year-old should have too much for Mrembo and Beautiful Crown, who is looking to end a losing sequence dating back to August 2021.

Sarkha and Sea Of Charm are also capable of being in the shake-up.

Race 4 – NIGHT ARC  13/2

Frequent Flyer has been a little disappointing so far this season, but blinkers go on for the first time and Oisin Murphy is back on board so a better showing is possible.

Distinguished Lady goes up in trip to a mile on her first start for Darryll Holland and is of certain interest.

NIGHT ARC travelled so well into the race at Doncaster last time that the suspicion is that he is well up to winning off this sort of mark, especially if delaying his challenge a bit later.

Race 5 – GOZO 9/2

Ben Brookhouse’s GOZO arguably faces his easiest test to date this season in the Racing TV Handicap.

In three runs since leaving Ian Williams, he has been beaten a short head at Haydock by the now 91-rated Coverdale, finished a fair third in the Bibury Cup at Salisbury and outran 40/1 odds to be a fine fifth of 12 in a £100,000 race at the July meeting.

He has been dropped 1lb for finishing just over three lengths behind Killybegs Warrior there and should go well again.

Race 6 – NEANDRA 4/1

Militry Decoration has been coming to the boil nicely this season and has dropped back down to his last winning mark, which makes him a player.

Bunker Bay scrambled home over shorter at Yarmouth last time and shapes like this trip will suit. That said, this might be a good opportunity for Neandra to get off the mark for the season.

Things haven’t panned out for her on the all-weather at Kempton the last twice and there is a good chance this track will suit back on turf.

LEICESTER

Race 1 – TIKI TUKI 10/3

TIKI TUKI has achieved enough in two starts to date to suggest she is the one to beat in the British EBF Novice Stakes.

Her debut effort was a very promising third at Newbury behind Henry Candy’s subsequent French Group Three winner Araminta.

She was then off for a couple of months before running at Lingfield over six furlongs where her third place, when weakening late on, was better than it looks on paper as she got loose beforehand.

Down to five furlongs for her third run, which goes against her breeding but not her running style, she can break her maiden.

Race 3 – TROOPER BISDEE 6/4

TROOPER BISDEE has the look of a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver who could rattle up a sequence in the John & Lou’s Significant Birthday Celebration Handicap.

Following three runs in novice and maiden company over shorter trips at two, he has come into his own when asked to tackle further this year.

He got his season off to the perfect start when winning by a neck at Yarmouth off a basement mark of 56 and he looked sure to go on to win next time out.

Stepped up to a mile and three-quarters at Sandown, he just had a complete off day when keen throughout and he never got involved.

It was easy to put a line through that though, and he regained the winning thread it clear-cut fashion at Bath last week. Racing under a 6lb penalty off his old mark, he should win again providing the drop down to a mile and a half does not count against him.

Race 4 – PREPENSE 13/8

Sonemos wasn’t beaten far at Sandown last month and remains open to improvement in handicap company.

The likelihood of slower ground raises a concern, however, and the class-dropping PREPENSE could be a more profitable route to follow.

The daughter of Kingman has shown improved form since returning after a wind operation and appears to hold more solid credentials at this level.

Liberalist faced a stiff test in the Fred Darling last time and should also appreciate the ease in grade.

Race 6 – D DAY ARVALENREEVA 9/2

The hat-trick seeking Edwina Sheeran appeals, despite having to shoulder another 4lb after her latest Ripon success.

However, the course and distance winner D DAY ARVALENREEVA needs more serious thought and is preferred now dropped back in class after posting a respectable second-placed finish at Newmarket at the start of this month.

Dreams Adozen has been progressive since being fitted with headgear and is weighted to get closer to the selection than when they clashed here in May.