SALE SHARK saved the day for the column with victory at Hamilton last Wednesday. It was an impressive winning debut and the strong vibes about his gallops work proved spot on.
YA KARIM was a solid third at Kempton and is well worth sticking with. So is Neyva’s Angel, who hit the crossbar when chinned by a head by the well handicapped Another Abbot at Yarmouth. The pair were six lengths clear of the third and both are worth keeping on side.
Jason is one of the country’s leading newspaper tipsters. In 2023 he did the rare double of winning both national tipping titles – the Racing Post Press Challenge and also the coveted Racing Post Naps Table. He is currently the leading “red-top” tipster in the country in the National Press Challenge table.
Every week, he will bring you the ‘Ante-post Focus’ – a look at some of the big races to come in the next few weeks. ‘This Week’ – some of his tips on horses running over the next few days. And ‘Future Winners’ – horses you should definitely keep an eye on.
EPSOM
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The picture for this Friday’s Oaks has changed dramatically with 30mm of rain falling at Epsom on Tuesday and the favourite Precise being pulled out. Mud lovers are being backed and among them is A LA PROCHAINE.
Trainer Ralph Beckett has a good record in the race and has a third of the nine-runner field with the daughter of Lope De Vega looking the strongest of his three runners.
She ran on strongly to be third to Amelia Earhart at Chester. The latter will go off a strong favourite now stablemate Precise has been scratched and, at the time of writing, A La Procaine looks decent each-way value at 8-1.
Beckett also has K Sarra who was a promising third at York in the Musidora Stakes but who did not look to be in love with the track at a recent gallops morning. Her brother Pride Of Arras also bombed out in last year’s Derby.
But his third runner ON MESSAGE should not be totally discounted. She has won around the track which is a big tick in the box and she ran a lovely race at Goodwood when last seen on the track. She stayed on strongly over 1m2f and would have won if it had been 1m 4f.
Soft ground should be fine for this daughter of Derby winner Camelot and although she is an unlikely winner at 28-1, she is a good each-way bet to nothing.
The picture for Saturday’s Derby is also muddied by the state of the ground. Conditions are currently on the soft side which has led to mudlarks such as Pierre Bonnard being well supported.
With more showers forecast there seems little doubt that there will be some ease in the ground although I don’t think it will become bottomless by Saturday afternoon.
William Haggas has expressed concern about soft ground for Maltese Cross – who I have backed each-way at 10-1. Benvenuto Cellini remains a strong favourite – even more so as Ryan Moore has opted to ride him from Aidan O’Brien’s four runners.
I’m keeping my powder dry on a main selection until I know more about the state of the ground later in the week but I am going to have a bit of each-way on BAY OF BRILLIANCE at 16-1 who will like the conditions and ran Maltese Cross so close at Lingfield.
THIS WEEK
MIGHTY QUIET (8.50) is worth a close look at Ffos Las on Thursday night. The mare will be fitter for a promising return run at Nottingham and she should take a big step forward.
She has form on testing ground if, as expected, the rain has an impact on conditions at the Welsh track. At Wetherby CIAO CAPO (4.12) is a strong fancy on Thursday too as long as there is not too much of the wet stuff.
He won easily at Beverley and the handicapper has been very kind in only raising him 3lb. Summer jumping has a wintry look this week with all the rain but I do like SECRET TRIX (3.00) at Uttoxeter on Thursday with Sean Bowen doing the steering on a horse he knows inside out.
I’m throwing in a big outsider in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Friday. ROMIDIJO (2.05) has it all to do on paper but there is more to come and I’ll be having a speculative each-way bet at around 33-1.
SURPRISED holds two entries next Monday at Carlisle and Pontefract. I backed her each-way when she was a close third last month at a big price – and she will race off the same handicap mark.
She is – at the very least – strong each-way value wherever she turns up and I’m hoping that Paul Mulrennan will be on her back.
ANTE POST FOCUS
OPPORTUNITY was a smooth winner at Carlisle last weekend where he showed just how well handicapped he is.
He has been put in at 7-1 for the Northumberland Plate in a few weeks but the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot is a more likely port of call and it will be interesting to see what price he is when the bookies price up this race.
FUTURE WINNERS
ETERNAL SUNSHINE: An improved effort at Thirsk last Sunday and she might just be running into form in time for the good summer sprint handicaps.
ANGEL SENSE: Is a surefire future winner for Marco Botti. She has posted three fine efforts and could pay her way in nurseries eventually.
NO CLAIMS BONUS: Harry Eustace’s filly ha shown definite promise in three low-grade handicaps and is now down to a mark of 48. Another winner waiting to happen.
Be lucky!