Monday’s UK racing tips come your way from the meeting at Brighton on Monday 21 August 2023.
BRIGHTON
Race 1 – JUSTAHUNCH 28/10
Not many of these have shown anything by way of recent form, but it may pay to side with JUSTAHUNCH, who at least displayed promise on his first two starts before disappointing at Lingfield last month.
He can strike on his nursery debut off a mark of 62, with Zachary and the capable Vidi Vici looking best placed to chase him home. Raft Up is also entitled to be thereabouts.
Race 2 – FLY ZONE 33/20
This can go the way of FLY ZONE, who sets the standard on form, having finished behind a subsequent Group 3 winner when second on his penultimate start at York.
A respectable third at Chelmsford since, the son of Expert Eye is preferred to Paternoster Square, who has not been outside the first three in his last three starts, and as eight-race maiden Cobalt Blue.
Race 4 – RITA RANA 33/10
RITA RANA has settled better since having a hood fitted at Bath last month and recent placed efforts suggest that a race of this nature is within her compass.
The Game Is Up posted a more encouraging effort when fourth at Windsor last Monday and may give the selection most to think about from the foot of the weights.
Lady Bracken’s opening mark doesn’t appear the kindest on what she’s achieved so far, but the three-year-old is open to more improvement than most and completes the shortlist.
Race 6 – OPTIVA STAR 7/2
Spanish Mane regained the winning thread at Lingfield last time and the two-time course winner merits respect off only 2lb higher in this event.
However, OPTIVA STAR makes slightly more appeal after gaining a breakthrough success over C&D in early August, with apprentice Alec Voikhansky now on board claiming 5lb.
That effectively puts the three-year-old 1lb lower here and a double could be on the horizon. Media Guest has been performing well enough over this distance of late to suggest that he could have a say too.
