UK Horse Racing Tips

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In the 7.55 at Sandown on Thursday, North Yorkshire trainer Ruth Carr hasn’t had a runner at the Esher track during the last five seasons, so the fact that Chaplins Bay makes the 238-mile trek down the M1 may be a tip in itself. The Fastnet Rock gelding was beaten favourite in a 0-75 event at Musselburgh six days ago, but makes a quick reappearance and is reunited with regular partner James Sullivan, so may be able to regain the winning thread, even in this slightly higher grade.

His last win – in fact, his only win – came in a 0-65 contest, over 6 furlongs, at Hamilton in May off a handicap mark of 63, but he won convincingly, by 4½ lengths, on that occasion and has continued to run creditably in defeat off revised marks on all seven starts since. His form doesn’t suggest that he’s crying out for the stiffer test of stamina that he faces here, but he was tried over a mile, and further, in the early part of his career with David Wachman, so he should be OK.

Selection: Sandown 7.55 Chaplins Bay to win

Richard Hannon makes life difficult for punters by saddling two in the Rose Bowl Stakes (3.40) at Newbury on Friday, but Legendary Lunch looks the pick of the pair after finishing sixth of 11, beaten 4 lengths, behind Prince Lir in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. The Dragon Pulse colt carries a 3lb penalty for winning the Woodcote Stakes, over 6 furlongs, at Epsom by a nose, but the Ascot form has worked out well and the way he finished that day suggested a step back up in distance would be in his favour.

He’s yet to tackle ground faster than good so, with the going at Newbury currently good to firm and fine, dry weather forecast for South East England between now and Friday afternoon, his ability to act on a sound surface must be taken on trust. It’s also notable that regular partner Pat Dobbs deserts him in favour of Richard Hannon’s other entry Sterling Silva, who has winning form on good to firm going, albeit at a much lower level. Under the circumstances, a saver on Sterling Silva or, if the odds allow, dutching the Hannon pair, may be in order.

Selection: Newbury 3.40 Legendary Lunch to win

The 3.45 at Newmarket on Thursday is undeniably competitive but, even so, it’s difficult to get away from the chance of Rae Guest’s filly, Show Stealer, who made a successful return to action over 6 furlongs on the Rowley Mile Course at Newmarket in May. The daughter of Showcasing has been raised 7lb for that success, but the form has worked out well and, with the benefit of that run, she should be competitive once again. She reportedly doesn’t take much getting ready, so an absence of 54 days is no great worry and she looks excellent value at around the 9/1 mark in the early price lists to win again. Any rain would be against her, but dry weather is forecast for the East of England between now and Thursday afternoon so, hopefully, she should be in her element.

Selection: Newmarket 3.45 Show Stealer (9/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral) to win

The Coral-Eclipse, a Group 1 contest run over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Sandown, is likely to be a one-sided affair if the ante post betting is to be believed. The Gurkha, one of five Aidan O’Brien entries, was installed as 100/30 favourite on Sunday, but has since been backed as if defeat was out of the question, forcing his price down to 5/4.

The Co. Tipperary trainer has yet to make a final decision, but said on Tuesday afternoon that it was ‘very possible’ that the Galileo colt would run. The going at Sandown is currently good to soft with an unsettled outlook between now and Saturday but, while Aidan O’Brien admitted that soft ground ‘isn’t ideal’, The Gurkha easily won his maiden on soft/heavy going at Navan in April.

On paper, My Dream Boat, who ran on strongly to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, over 1 mile 2 furlongs on soft going, has fewer questions to answer than The Gurkha, but that hasn’t stopped punters from backing Aidan O’Brien’s charge almost to the exclusion of everything else. Despite never having won beyond a mile, The Gurkha receives an 11lb weight-for-age allowance from his nearest market rivals, My Dream Boat and Time Test, and must take all the beating.

Selection: Sandown 3.45 The Gurkha to win