Saturday 14th June
By SP2A Analysis
Chester 2.45 - Handicap - Class 3 - 1 mile 2 and 1/2 furlongs - 13 run - Good (showers)
I really like GREY CUBAN here, a Course and Distance winner who hasn't always had the luck of the draw here but gets Stall 1 here and should be able to run just off the pace right on the rail and then have the tactical option of the cutaway on the home straight or coming out wider to strike. QITTAL is drawn to attack from stall 6 and should be finally getting preferred cut in the ground, very well handicapped and any rain is a plus. With 13 runners there may be some enhanced places and one who looks well worth a look at big prices is DEBORAH'S DREAM whose form the last twice has been better than the finishing position suggests and one who could run well here. (RJ)
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Downpatrick 2.50 - Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 6 furlongs - 15 run - Good to Yielding (rain) > Soft
Rose Of Kalanisi may be an uneasy favourite here and the second favourite Menas Miracle showed very little until impressing on handicap debut, if that run is repeated it would go very close but it's hard to assess its validity so at the price I will seek more solid form lines.
FORTUNE THE BRAVE was very well backed last time before unshipping mid race, with a clear round i think it wins this and I narrowly prefer it to AVANDRA whose run last time has been franked more than once and who looks ready for this sort of trip. With 15 runners and enhanced place one at a bigger price who also catches my eye is HANGRY who has dropped to a very appealing mark of 89, gets a good 7lbs Claimer and who has suggested a few times it has win in there once the handicapper relented from marks in the mid 90's (MG)
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York 3.35 - Hadical - Class 2 - 3 year olds only - 6 furlongs - 22 run
There are a lot to consider here and the fact that my form analysis delivered a 1-2-3-4 focussed mainly on the middle stalls and likely near the usual arrowhead formation is I have to admit a coincidence, but on reflection a possibly good omen. I always look at high and low draws, so I would particularly fear Dark Cloud Rising in Stall 1, which can deliver big priced winners here.
A TRACKER HORSE is TUCO SALAMANCA whose form may look exposed here but who keeps running well in big races and this one is my 4th best rated and if you want to play to 5th or 6th place enhanced odds or have a reserve, then this one is it.
My top 3 rated are DOUBLE RUSH who looks a worthy favourite drawn in Stall 20 and therefore covers the draw bias angle too. AMERICAN STYLE has solid form, a high RPR Rating that has been well earned and a Distance win proves stamina, this one has no excuses from Stall 13. Next door in Stall 12 (with Tuco Salamanca berted the other side) is DILIGENTLY a Course and Distance winner and the most likely of the Clive Cox (who has a good record in this race recently) trio today (Caro)
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York 4.45 - Handicap - Class 4 - 1 mile 1 furlong - 14 run - Good
I really like TELE RED here and think that the step back up in trip will be ideal off a nice handicap mark, LEADENHALL steps up in trip and has the sort of prominent running style ideally suited to the course and COSMOS RAJ is very much an in form horse with 9 furlong stamina and indeed a proven 10 furlong performer.
I noted and see Obelix (4th rated if there is a non runner) and both Ey Up It's the Boss and last year's winner Pisanello ( both of whom have delivered for me a few times) as clear dangers. (Northern)
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Hexham 5.28 - Handicap Chase - Class 5 - 3 miles - Good (rain > Good to Soft - 1 2run
Take A Hike, Iturgeoun Du Breuil and Ballydangan are all horses whose win ratio is very low but who have shown more than once that they could nick a small race like this with Ballydangan the most likely and my 3rd best rated. College Causeway brings some decent Irish form and is a worthy favourite but may end up at something like 5/2 - too short!
My pair against the field are HALFWAY HOUSE LAD who was heavily backed last time before falling but who really should be competitive if it gets a clear round and MUROOR who deserves another chance as he should be much more at home here than at Cartmel last time and I think looks overpriced for this still competitive veteran. (Robin)
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TRACKERS
*Sandown 2.05 - Theoryofeverything (solid e/w)
*York 2.25 - Financer (solid e/w)
Downpatrick - 2.50 Nevereverever (tip race not obvious chance)
*York 3.35 - Tuco Salamanca (tip race tip - see notes)
Sandown - 4.25 MAHOGANY BAY - (tip when non runner earlier in the week, if good to firm worth a look)
York 4.45 Theme Park (tip race not an obvious chance)
*Hexham 6.25 - Sea The Clouds
(* SUGGESTED small unit L15 e/w)