Stratford & Chelmsford - Tuesday 1st July

Stratford

20:18, Farmers Farewell Handicap Chase

Kaproyale 9/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

10 year old Kaproyale will be having only his 3rd run for trainer Max Comley, but it will be his first run in optimal conditions. He was given a nice run over hurdles at this track 94 days ago but now appears back over fences and is racing off a 4 pound lower mark than his latest win. His 3 wins under rules have come in the summer months and 2 of those at Stratford. The stables runners are going well and this looks a winnable race. 

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Chelmsford

21:00, Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap

Con Te Partiro 10/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

Richard Spencer's horses continue to run well and his 4 year old Time Test gelding runs here 2 pounds lower than his last winning mark. He's a prolific winner on the all-weather and finished 2nd on his only run at Chelmsford. Looks to be turning the corner now and will appreciate coming back onto the synthetic surface. Hollie Doyle is back in the saddle (3 from 3 record on Con Te Partiro) and has the box seat in stall 1. Looks overpriced. 

Ffos Las - Monday 30th June

15:45, Pure Elegance At 3A's Leisure Handicap

Racing Demon 12/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

I've followed Ed de Giles's 5 year old closely this season and it hasn't paid as he was very slowly away on his first 2 starts and had no chance of winning. It was much more like it last time out at Salisbury though when he finished 4th on his first go over this trip since July 2024 and connections persist with the trip here. He's tumbled down the weights and this is the lowest grade he's run in for a long old while. He shaped as though he needs this trip now and will enjoy being away from the recent fast ground. Cieran Fallon rides for the first time and if he's ever going to go in again, surely it has got to be now. 

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16:15, Great Trekker Run At 3A's Handicap

Narmar 11/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

This is an open 14 runner handicap and it may be worth taking a chance on Narmar who is now racing off a very lenient mark judged on his Irish form. Jennie Candlish's horses continue to run well and her runner here comes in to this off the back of a good effort when finishing 3rd at Nottingham in a similar class of race to this. He was slow away that day but still ended up making his challenge a bit soon. A bigger field here should suit as he'll have more cover and will probably enjoy this slightly easier going than last time out. Decent shout at the prices. 

Newcastle - Saturday 28th June

15:15, JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Handicap

Pappano 7/1, 2pts win
Dancing In Paris 12/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

The big staying handicap of the summer has arrived and it's a fair renewal to light up the Saturday afternoon after Royal Ascot. Pappano runs for Willie Mullins who seeks his first win in the famous race. This will be just Pappano's 2nd run for the Irish training genius since getting the 4 year old from the Gosden's at the back-end of last year. That run came when pulling up in the Triumph Hurdle but I think we can forget about that as it was proper tilting at windmills stuff. He's totally unexposed at this trip and has always hinted that stamina will be his forte, as is the case with many of Nathaniel's offspring. A mark of 96 looks fair considering he was 3rd in a Listed race in October and it's positive that his 2 wins to date have both come on the all-weather. He's been guilty of perhaps racing too forward in his races and so I expect Jamie Spencer to hold up his mount and come with one late withering run. He looks to have a big chance. At slightly bigger odds, Ian Williams could be trying to pull off a masterstroke with Dancing In Paris. This 5 year old hasn't raced much at 2 miles but hinted lately that it is probably what he wants these days. He had a test run on the track earlier in the season over a trip too short but followed it with a huge run last time over 14 furlongs at Goodwood last time out when he nearly got the better of subsequent Royal Ascot winner French Master. He properly bolted up at Southwell last year which is about as near to a track as Newcastle as you can get and Marco Ghiani is an eye-catching jockey booking. I expect him to go close. 

Newmarket - Friday 27th June

20:55, Trust A Trader Fillies' Handicap

Mercury Day 9/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

I like the angle of Mercury Day dropping back to 6 furlongs on a stiff track. She's been running in better races than this over further and is now looking well handicapped. This could well be what she needs. 

Newmarket - Thursday 25th June

16:10, laywheeler.com Handicap

Two Tribes 4/1, 2.5pts win

This is the hottest handicap of the day but Richard Spencer's 4 year old gelding Two Tribes looks set to strike under Ryan Moore. A poor return of just 1 win from 16 starts doesn't tell the whole story as it has taken a while to get to grips with the son of the stable's Coventry winner Rajasinghe but he looked a well handicapped horse last time out on his first go at thus 7 furlong trip. He was caught widest of all throughout at Doncaster and ended up making his run far too soon before being a hard ride in the closing stages. That came after an eye catching run under Ryan Moore at York when he defied poor track position to finishing a fast closing 4th. A win is incoming surely. 

Salisbury - Thursday 25th June

16:58, Showcasing Standing At Whitsbury Manor Bibury Cup Handicap

Criminal 5/1, 4pts win

Richard Hughes' 3 year old Sea The Moon gelding missed an intended target at Sandown a couple of weeks ago but is now handed the assignment of winning the Bibury Cup on handicap debut. He has looked to be crying out for further on his 3 runs in novice company and is now gets in sent handicapping. He's bred to excel over this trip and has been running against some pretty fair horses do date on unfavourable terms. A mark of 80 looks readily exploitable and it's interesting that Irish jockey Donagh Murphy has been put in the saddle to claim a further 7 pounds off so he'll be getting weight from every runner in the field. The trainer is gunning for a nice pot and I think it will be rewarded. I can't believe he's not shorter in the market. 

Newbury - Tuesday 24th June

17:40, Racehorse Ownership From 25 At racingclub.com Apprentice Handicap

Secret Beach 6/1, 1pt each-way (3 places with Coral)

This is a tricky little handicap to open Newbury's evening card but Ben Brookhouse's horses are running really well at the moment and his 4 year old runner here is having his 2nd run after a wind op which is always an interesting angle. He's unexposed at the trip and looks the value in this. 

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19:15, Pump Technology Sewage Lifting Stations Handicap

Almuhit 7/2, 2pts win

This is a small field long distance handicap and it may pay to go with Faye Bramley's Almuhit. This 6 year old is very well weighted on old form from when he was trained in Ireland and showed a return to form when 4th in a better race than this at Goodwood last time out on ground that may have been softer than ideal. 

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20:15, Grosvenor Sport New Customers Double Odds Handicap

Strike 6/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

This 7 furlong handicap is probably the best race of the night. It's an open affair and plenty are in form which isn't always the case at this level. Strike has never won over 7 furlongs but had run very well over the trip before and has shaped this year as if it's worth another go given he's been going through the line well over 6 furlongs. He won at this course last year and is only a pound higher in the handicap than when 2nd at Ascot in May. He has a decent 7 pound claimer in the saddle now and the stable is going well. 

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20:50, Grosvenor Sport Cashback Every Day Handicap

Phoenix Moon 9/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

An open, if low level, 6 furlong handicap rounds off the night and it may pay to look away from the head of the market. Phoenix Moon was 5th in a better race than this at Ascot last time out and has been given plenty of time to get over that. She's been dropped 4 pounds for that effort but I thought she shaped well all things considered and will be more at home on this flatter track. Tyler Heard normally rides this filly but Dennis Coakley has put up Rob Hornby this time around and should run well at a decent price now her sights have been slightly lowered.