UK racing tips – Wednesday 20 September 2023

SANDOWN

Race 1 – EXQUISITELY 9/4  

EXQUISITELY seemingly relished testing conditions when making a winning stable debut at Ffos Las last month and she can regain the winning thread following a solid second-place finish at Goodwood a few weeks later.

With conditions likely to be tough, Firenze Rosa cannot be left out of the equation having looked in good heart when scoring on soft ground at Lingfield (6f) on her penultimate outing.

Others that need to be included are Harb and Mary Of Modena.

Race 3 – WINTERFAIR 15/2

WINTERFAIR is an interesting newcomer for William Haggas in the Follow @racingtv On Twitter Novice Stakes.

A daughter of Kitten’s Joy out of a half-sister to dual Classic winner Camelot, she boasts an entry in next month’s Fillies’ Mile and merits a second look.

Race 4 – KNIGHT 5/2

KNIGHT can end his near year-long wait for a win in the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s charge won both of his juvenile outings in 2022, culminating in a stylish Group Three success on deep ground in Newbury’s Horris Hill which was the last time he struck gold.

The son of Mehmas was beaten 18 lengths in the Greenham on his return to action, while a trip to France for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains ended in disappointment as he was withdrawn by the starter.

Gelded after that, Knight shaped with promise on his comeback from a 104-day absence when fourth in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood and stepped up again to come home a fair second in the Group Two Celebration Mile.

Moving back down to Listed company for this mile assignment, Knight’s rating of 111 puts him right in the mix while he is favoured at the weights as a three-year-old and without a penalty for his win at higher level least year. Easy ground is also another positive factor.

Race 7 – KYNSA 5/1

KYNSA was undoubtedly disappointing when well-beaten at Ffos Las last time but it could be worth chancing as she aims to bounce back.

Jamie Osborne’s filly looked to be crying out for this trip when runner-up on heavy ground at the same venue prior and gets a slender vote in a wide-open finale.

Al Hargah doesn’t do much off the bridle but won snugly at Newbury and backed that up with a decent third over the same trip at Leicester last time.

Kamanika and Bletchley Storm shouldn’t be ruled out.

YARMOUTH

Race 1 – ELUSIVE ANGEL 17/10

ELUSIVE ANGEL can get off the mark at the fifth attempt.

Encountered a decent performer when runner-up tackling this trip on soft ground at Ripon in July and could go close racing off 1lbs lower than when third on nursery debut at Carlisle last month.

Forecast conditions will likely be no issue for Belardo filly Bonkersinabundance who is only 2lbs above her last winning mark.

Recent Wolverhampton third Alpine Girl and Back Tomorrow both look interesting.

Race 4 – AL ASIFAH 83/100

AL ASIFAH is on a retrieval mission in the EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies’ Stakes.

The Frankel filly did not make her racecourse debut until May and was something of a revelation on her first two starts, winning by just short of five lengths on her first attempt at Haydock and hacking up by six and a half lengths in a Goodwood Listed heat.

However, upped to a mile and a half from 10 furlongs and supplemented for the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, Al Asifah came unstuck as the 5/6 favourite.

Beaten eight and a half lengths in sixth, the form has still worked out well with winner Warm Heart now a dual Group One scorer, second Lumiere Rock a subsequent Group Two winner and third-placed Bluestocking only narrowly denied Irish Oaks glory.

It could be a combination of factors was to blame for the defeat, with Al Asifah making a swift 11-day turnaround over a trip that stretched beyond her remit and in company that was just a bit too deep.

Given the promise of her Listed win, Al Asifah should be given another chance.

Race 5 – LORD BERTIE 9/4

LORD BERTIE could be forgiven a recent disappointment at Chester as the William Haggas trained gelding looked good winning by a wide margin over 1m at Thirsk in August and might return to form.

Return To Dubai scored at Chelmsford after a lengthy break last month and may remain competitive off a 4lbs higher mark.

Choisya and Flying Frontier should also be considered.

Race 7 – BELL SHOT 14/1

The class-dropping top-weight BELL SHOT provided solid winning form among Class Four company for Charlie Hills last year and can leave his below-par stable debut well behind with first-time cheekpieces fitted.

Consistent previous course winner Razzam could be in the mix after a decent third over 6f at Wolverhampton last time.

How Impressive and Smalleytime could also feature.