Horse Racing Tips: Nap of the Day

QUINTIN’S MAN looks the answer to the Champion Novices’ Hunters’ Chase at Stratford. The six-year-old has built on the promise he’d been showing between the flags in the pointing field with a switch to the hunter scene this spring, finishing second at Exeter before hammering subsequent winner Slievegar by 17 lengths. He relished the step up to 3m2f that day and clearly gets on well with jockey Darren Andrews. (MB)

WOR WILLIE – 6.45 Doncaster

WOR WILLIE couldn’t quite cope with a three-year-old Aimeric at Ayr when last seen but that rival doesn’t get the allowances now and Michael Dods’ horse is essentially 9lb better off in terms of weight carried this evening. He’d been progressive well on quick summer ground prior to that last effort of 2022 in September and can regain the winning thread on his return, having made a winning start to the last campaign as well. (MB)

ELUSIVE ANGEL – 8.25 Catterick

ELUSIVE ANGEL looks the banker bet on the card at Catterick. The daughter of Harry Angel was a non-runner on her intended debut at Doncaster in April after the ground turned soft so she was introduced at Kempton instead, going off the 2/1 favourite and only just missing out by three-quarters of a length. The winner Holy Fire has been beaten a head since under a penalty so the form looks reliable enough and Harry Eustace’s filly should have derived plenty of benefit from the experience (ran green at Kempton). She breaks from stall five here under Hayley Turner and sets a fair standard. (MB)

CAIUS CHORISTER ran well in the 10 furlong City And Suburban here in April and that form has been franked by the re-opposing Scampi while others in the field have run well in defeat. Caius Chorister is 2 lbs higher – effectively 5 lb without an apprentice in the saddle – but that shouldn’t affect this progressive filly’s chances of winning as she should relish stepping back up in trip on a quicker surface and everything looks in place for a big run from this course and distance winner.

WE STILL BELIEVE – 2.20 Hexham

WE STILL BELIEVE has won once and finished second three times (including by a head and a neck) on the level since joining Darragh Bourke and although that doesn’t represent rapid improvement it is very much a return to form after a barren spell. This will be his first start over hurdles for his new stable and We Still Believe could be a live player if translating his good form to this sphere having showed enough in his three hurdle runs to believe he can win a small race now handicapping.

GAREEB – 3.40 Musselburgh

The Newmarket handicap in which GAREEB finished fourth looks strong enough form even though the first three home were all beaten next time (all ran respectably) and this contest may not be quite as deep. Regardless of that Gareeb looked a filly to keep onside when grinding out victory at Southwell on her penultimate start and is well worth another chance with the quicker ground no hindrance at a course where her stable sends out plenty of winners.

PROSPER LEGEND – 4.00 Doncaster

Given his profile and connections, PROSPER LEGEND jumps off the page on his handicap debut and there is the style and the substance to his form to suggest that he can live up to likely expectations. Connections have a line on Chronograph through Chester fourth Night At Sea and Prosper Legend comfortably accounted for that rival when winning at Catterick and the impression he made that day marked him down as one to keep onside once handicapping. That was only a modest race but his debut fourth may be a better guide to his ability and his opening mark looks more than fair.

Brian Hughes has three wins (three seconds and three thirds) from just 12 rides for Henry Oliver so his presence about PILLAR OF STEEL on debut for the locally based trainer very much takes the eye. The yard has gone over two months without a winner but Pillar Of Steel has won twice and finished second three times from seven course runs and is 6 lbs lower than the most recent of those C&D runner-up finishes in August and 1 lb above her last winning mark so a case can be made if she, and her stable, can return to form and the booking of Hughes bodes well.

ROMANOR – 6.15 Stratford

ROMANOR was beaten a long way at Warwick but may have needed his first start since November. He drops in grade from a 3 lb lower mark (1 lb higher than when winning in September) at a course where he is something of a specialist with eight podium finishes (four golds) from 11 starts. This trip is at the upper reaches of his stamina limit but he has form over C&D and his yard is ticking along nicely, he seems sure to make another bold bid.

GLOBAL ROMANCE – 8.10 Lingfield

Take a chance that the return to racing on fast turf will help to show GLOBAL ROMANCE in a better light. Her career best run came on her only start under similar conditions as a juvenile and contributed to an opening mark of 68. Global Romance is 9 lbs lower now having cut little ice in four starts since, three of which were on the all-weather but she shaped a little better than the bare form of her latest effort suggests and this low-grade handicap may not take a lot of winning.

June winners

Will appear here…

May winners

• Post No Bills 5/4
• Allhies 11/10
• Golden Sands 11/2
• Sherborne 3/1
• Bobby Dassler 10/3
• Galata Bridge 7/4 (NAP)
• Fanfaron Dino 9/2
• Perfect Play 9/4
• Victoriano 11/8
• Spit Spot 15/8
• Jaytee 8/13
• Light N Strike 10/3
• Philos 7/4
• Getaway Tom 4/1
• Haskoy 5/2
• Boombawn 3/1
• Calico 3/1
• Blue Hero 8/1
• Arch Moon 8/1
• Animate 4/7 (NAP)
• Quintus Arrius 5/1 (NAP)
• Zucayan 4/1
• Lights Are Green 5/2
• Waleyfa 8/11
• Perfuse 11/10
• Tempered Soul 8/11
• Donald Llewellyn 7/2
• Doctor Foley 4/6
• Exit To Where 8/1 (NAP)
• Duc De Beauchene 5/1
• Raffle Ticket 7/1
• Saxon King 5/1 (NAP)
• Northern Express 11/2
• Star Shield 7/4
• Appier 13/8 (NAP)
• She’s So Lovely 10/1

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