UK racing tips – Thursday 17 August 2023

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 1 – DANDYS DERRIERE 17/10

DANDYS DERRIERE was said to have benefitted from the reapplication of cheekpieces (retained) when winning at Newcastle a fortnight ago.

The son of Dandy Man remains well treated, despite a subsequent 4lb hike in the ratings, and he could repeat the dose should the headgear have a similar effect.

Two decent runs at Bath would suggest First Company is nearing a return to the winner’s enclosure, and he merits the utmost respect from a sliding handicap mark. Fiscal Policy is another to consider.

Race 2 – PAYMENT IN KIND 56/100

PAYMENT IN KIND ran a cracker to finish third in the Super Sprint at Newbury last month, and any further improvement ought to make Harry Eustace’s colt a tough nut to crack.

Cheeky Blimey was too keen to do himself justice at Nottingham last Wednesday, but earlier efforts bring him into the reckoning.

Different Breed, who hit the woodwork at Yarmouth in June, completes the shortlist.

Race 3 – TRAVEL CANDY 11/2

Having defeated Bazball (second) at Catterick on her penultimate outing, TRAVEL CANDY lost nothing in defeat when narrowly denied by an improver at Musselburgh later that month.

She is 3lb better off with her old foe today, despite the former being 2lb well in compared to her revised mark, and Brian Ellison’s filly is taken to confirm that form en route to further success with that in mind. Others to note include Fifty Grand Slater and Scoops Ahoy.

Race 4 – BLACK HOLE 13/10

A half-brother to Greenham winner and French Group 1-placed Isaac Shelby, Happy Chandler looks bred to be capable of more than his debut run at Sandown last month and he is fancied to improve in the hands of William Buick.

However, BLACK HOLE showed plenty of promise when finishing a decent third over 6f at Leicester in June and he shades the vote from Owen Burrows’ inmate. The unraced Hound Dog heads the remainder.

Race 5 – BERNADINE 7/2

Runner-up over a mile at Ascot last month, a fractionally stiffer stamina test can see BERNADINE make a return to the winner’s enclosure.
Although she is now rated 8lb above her last winning mark, which came over an extended mile at Nottingham, she is still taken to get the better of the class-dropping Eximious, who struggled in the Sandringham at the Royal meeting.

Don’t Tell Claire has been consistent of late and is another to consider.

Race 6 – BO TAIFAN 28/10

This could go the way of the hat-trick-seeking BO TAIFAN, who reverts to handicapping following a comfortable success over a mile at Lingfield in June.

Although he is now rated 6lb above his last winning mark, Liam Wright knocks 7lb off the gelding’s back with his claim, which makes the six-year-old of additional interest.

Ebury heads the list of dangers following a decent fourth over C&D latest, while you can make a good case for All Dunn too.

SALISBURY

Race 1 – FALLING FOR YOU 4/1

FALLING FOR YOU made a pleasing start to her racing career when finishing a far-from-disgraced fourth over 6f at Windsor last month.
She shaped as though an extra furlong would aid her cause and, with progression likely, gets the vote at the main expense of the grade-dropping Romanova, who failed to get involved in Listed company at Sandown on her debut.

The unraced Nothing To Fear is related to a few smart types and completes the shortlist.

Race 2 – WELLEEF 1/1

A case can be made for several of these, but it is hard to oppose WELLEEF, who kept on well to score by two and a quarter lengths on his racecourse bow over this trip at Leicester.

He does have to shoulder a 7lb penalty for that success, so Crown Dreams can give him plenty to think about having filled the runner-up spot on both career starts. Solar Portrait warrants a market check on his debut and is another to consider.

Race 3 – BOOM BOOM POW 7/2

BOOM BOOM POW recorded a staying-on success over 7f at Kempton in June and a reproduction of that effort can see her firmly in the picture.
She is rated 7lb higher for that success but, with the potential for more to come, can get the better of Eye Of The Water, who has to shoulder top weight after a pleasing third at Bath most recently. The unexposed Kalamunda completes the shortlist.

Race 4 – MIGHTY ULYSSES 28/10

Regal Reality added another Group success to his CV when winning the Diomed at Epsom in June and the gelded son of Intello, a former winner of this contest in 2020, merits respect under his penalty.

Chichester confirmed his well-being with a comfortable victory at Listed level last time and is another to consider, though MIGHTY ULYSSES edges preference.

The Gosdens’ charge returned from an absence with a decent fifth in the Summer Mile at Ascot, but he can take a step forward in first-time cheekpieces.

Race 5 – QUEEN REGENT 17/10

Having opened her account at Newcastle in February, QUEEN REGENT lost nothing in defeat when filling the runner-up spot under a penalty at Wolverhampton last month.

A mark of 89 wouldn’t appear to be a gift, but there is enough on the dam’s side to suggest this step up in trip can suit, and she is open to more improvement than most.

Truthful’s unbeaten record came unstuck in a Listed contest at Newmarket, but she is of interest on handicap debut, while Mistral Star is also noted.

Race 6 – MANTOOG 33/10

MANTOOG showed plenty across her three runs to date, perhaps most notably when narrowly denied by the now 90-rated Truthful (engaged to run in the 4.40) over C&D in May.

It looked another decent novice in which she competed at Chelmsford last time, and the handicapper might have underestimated her with an opening mark of 77.

Monty Bay hit the frame over 1m at York last month and he is an obvious candidate upped in trip. Malka can chase them home.

WINDSOR

Race 1 – LOADED GUN 13/2

Chinese Knot is 2-2 under Saffie Osborne in the Racing League series and, having won with plenty in hand at Chepstow last week, a 6lb penalty is unlikely to prevent another bold effort.

However, several of these have potential, with none appealing more than LOADED GUN, who fared best of those who clashed in a class 2 nursery at Goodwood 13 days ago.

Zoulu Chief and Mauna Loa look held on a literal reading of that form, so the lightly-weighted Acer completes the shortlist.

Race 2 – CONQUISTADOR 7/2

George Boughey picked up a live-wire when he took over the training of CONQUISTADOR and, given he had a legitimate excuse for a disappointing run at Newmarket last month (he never recovered after stumbling at the start), the lightly-raced gelding has a good chance of getting back on track.

His commendable third-place finish in the Palace of Hollyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot is hard to ignore and a repeat of that level could suffice. Expert Agent, Antiphon and Bernardo O’Reilly are feared most.

Race 3 – ANOTHER BAAR 8/1

A crackerjack of a sprint, in which the likes of the progressive Crimson Angel, the in-form Libra Tiger and recent Lingfield winner Eeh Bah Gum all command respect.

However, there could be much more to come from ANOTHER BAAR, who showed plenty of zest when tried in a visor in a higher grade at Goodwood last time.

With the headgear retained, he offers strong appeal, which is further enhanced by Danny Sheehy’s 3lb claim.

Race 4 – MAGIC MEMORIES 17/2

A fairly open contest in which preference is for the unexposed MAGIC MEMORIES.

The gelded son of Starspangledbanner makes his handicap debut following a second-placed effort over 7f at Lingfield last month and he shaped as though he could benefit from a stiffer stamina test on that occasion.

Last-time-out winner Achillea should not be taken lightly off 1lb higher, while the class-dropping Man Of Eden is another to bear in mind.

Race 5 – CHARTWELL HOUSE 5/1

An emphatic winner over 7f on his most recent outing, an 8lb rise may not be enough to stop Maywake being in the mix upped in distance.
However, CHARTWELL HOUSE is rated 5lb higher than the Thirsk winner but carries 1lb less, courtesy of his weight-for-age allowance, and he can get the better of Richard Fahey’s inmate with that in mind.

Mobashr is another to consider following a decent second over 7f at Ascot last month.

Race 6 – GALLANT LION 28/10

Similar to his jockey Saffie Osborne, GALLANT LION can do little wrong at present and the step up in trip may eke out further improvement as he looks to bring up the four-timer.

A comfortable winner at Lingfield latest, Fulfilled can give him the most to think about, while Graignes, who could not have done it any easier at Kempton in June, is noted too. The Whipmaster and Wynter Wildes have the form to get involved as well.

Race 7 – REACH 11/2

A difficult puzzle to solve, with slight preference for the progressive REACH, who has been a taking winner on her last two starts and may not have reached her ceiling of ability just yet.

The admirable Cumulonimbus won a similar contest to this at Yarmouth and must be considered, along with Spirit Dancer, who won really well at York last time.

Irish raider Star Harbour is entitled to be thereabouts, as well as the in-form Mostawaa.