By Jack Milner
The best of this afternoon’s action comes from Leicester where Bargain Buy (3.25) should be difficult to beat in the 7f Fillies’ Handicap under Paul Hanagan. The selection made a winning debut under regular partner Pat Cosgrave earlier in the campaign at Lingfield Park and, despite finishing second on her handicap debut, followed-up on her second start handicapping from an unrevised mark of 79 at Carlisle. She just held on that day stepped up to a mile, and was too keen to see the trip out when disappointing last time out at Yarmouth. The daughter of Tamayuz drops back a furlong and still remains well-treated from a 3lb higher mark.
The closing apprentice handicap looks a wide-open affair but 7lb claimer Clifford Lee has been impressing for his boss Karl Burke and can help Les Eyre’s Disclosure (5.00) give weight and a beating to his 11 rivals in the 6f Handicap. The 5-y-o has the plumb draw in stall one and should strip fitter for two recent runs after returning from an absence of almost eight months. He can reward each-way support from a career-low mark.
Richard Hughes has enjoyed an excellent start to his training career and must go close with the relatively unexposed Sydney Ruffdiamond (4.15) at Chepstow in the feature 6f Handicap under Shane Kelly. The gelded son of Equiano has been unplaced in all three starts since moving to Hughes’ Lambourn stables but the handicapper has given him a chance; dropping him 6lb to his last winning mark. The combination of a good draw, a drop down in grade and the removal of head-gear should hopefully combine to see him go close.
Hughes has yet to enter the winners’ enclosure at Epsom as a trainer but can make it third time lucky with Wordismybond (6.10) in the opener. The 7-y-o was a comfortable winner of a Brighton handicap earlier in the season over a mile and reverts back to the same trip after failing to stay a mile and a quarter in his two most recent starts. From just a 5lb higher mark than that recent success, he should remain competitive at the weights.
There’s evening action elsewhere from Doncaster where Godolphin’s Blue Point (7.05) should be very hard to beat under man of the moment James McDonald. The Shamardal colt cost the boys in blue 200,000 gns at the sales and showed plenty of ability making a winning debut last month at Nottingham. He holds plenty of fancy entries and can maintain his unbeaten record under a penalty.
Further north of the border there’s a decent card up at Hamilton where Lord Yeats (3.35) can take advantage of his favourable weight-for-age allowance to beat his elders in the handicap over an extended mile and a half. Trainer Jedd O’Keefe was interviewed on Racing UK at Beverley on Tuesday and, when asked about the chances of his runner Sovereign Bounty, gave a positive word and mentioned the fact a horse in his yard called Lord Yeats was one to follow this term. The Beverley runner duly obliged in a 7f Handicap and this gelded son of Yeats should follow-up his recent Ripon success under regular pilot Jack Garritty.
David O’Meara won the corresponding maiden over a mile with a warm favourite 12 months ago and should be able to land back-to-back renewals with Haraz (4.40) under stable jockey Danny Tudhope. The former Michael Halford inmate has been expensive to follow this term, a beaten favourite on two of his four starts for new connections, but rated 79 should take some beating and looks to have been well-placed to shed the maiden tag at the belated 11th time of asking.
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