UK Horse Racing Tips

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In the EBF Breeders’ Series Fillies’ Handicap (4.00) at Goodwood on Friday, Hestina confirmed the promise of her racecourse debut, over 1 mile 2 furlongs, at Sandown last month when easily winning her maiden, over 1 mile 4 furlongs, at Beverley ten days later and begins life in handicaps on an attractive mark. The winner at Sandown, Southern Stars, finished last of ten, beaten 10½ lengths, behind We Are Ninety in a Listed race at Newbury on Saturday, having raced freely and the second, Amjan, was narrowly beaten in a similar race at Ascot two weeks ago, but that shouldn’t count against Hestina, who was noticeably green in the preliminaries.

The daughter of Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune makes her third appearance within the space of a month, which suggests she’s thriving, and she can make her presence felt against largely exposed rivals. The prevailing good to firm going is an unknown but, with heavy, thundery showers forecast in the South East, some easing of the ground is a distinct possibility.

Selection: Goodwood 4.00 Hestina to win

In the Betway Huxley Stakes (2.40) at Chester on Thursday, Western Hymn was turned over at odds-on on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown last month, but looks to have a decent opportunity to make amends. John Gosden’s 5-year-old finished in front of Cannock Chase a couple of times last season and, with his old rival penalised 7lb for winning the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine last October, is favoured by the race conditions. His high head carriage at Sandown is a slight worry, but it’s a trait he’s shown before and doesn’t appear to be any reflection of his genuineness or otherwise. He won both starts at this level last season and ran creditably in defeat in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Coral-Eclipse, so sets a high standard.

Selection: Chester 2.40 Western Hymn to win

At the time of writing, the going at Chepstow is good but, with an unsettled outlook and widespread, heavy showers forecast for the latter part of the week, some easing of the ground is a distinct possibility. Medburn Dream has shown improved form since stepped up in distance on soft ground this season and appears to have every chance of defying a 6lb penalty in the Tradeteam Handicap (4.00), especially if the rain gets into the ground.

The son of Showcasing won with plenty in hand over 1 mile 114 yards at Epsom nine days ago and is 2lb well in compared with future engagements, so it’s understandable that connections are keen to strike while the iron is hot. Medburn Dream failed to trouble the judge in three starts over 6 furlongs as a juvenile, including on good and good to soft going, but has yet to prove conclusively that soft ground is a necessity. He’s clearly going the right way, so looks worth chancing whatever the weather in South Wales between now and Friday afternoon.

Selection: Chepstow 4.00 Medburn Dream to win

The fact that Aidan O’Brien sends Claudio Monteverdi across the Irish Sea for the Investec Derby Trial (2.30) at Epsom on Wednesday as his sole representative of the afternoon may be a hint worth taking. The Galileo colt has raced exclusively over a mile so far, but has suggested on all three starts that the step up to middle distances will be in his favour. He confirmed the promise of his never-nearer fourth of 25, beaten 4¼ lengths, behind Embiran in a maiden at the Curragh last month when comfortably winning a similar race at Leopardstown two weeks ago and looks a force to be reckoned with, despite his relative inexperience. Indeed, the form of his Leopardstown win has already been franked by stable companion The Gurkha, who hacked up by 9 lengths in a Navan maiden on Sunday so, provided he handles the idiosyncrasies of Epsom, he appears to have an outstanding chance.

Selection: Epsom 2.30 Claudio Monteverdi to win