Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Sandown, Haydock and Beverley on Saturday. View selections below.
OMBUDSMAN (3.35) can justify short odds by repelling five quality opponents in the feature Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
The colt unleashed a devastating turn of foot to mow down Anmaat in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, building on his second spot in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over course and distance in late May.
In a star-studded line-up, he faces a formidable adversary in Andre Fabre’s Sosie, fourth when sent off favourite for last year’s Arc, but unbeaten at this shorter trip on both starts this season.
Delacroix was despatched a hot favourite for last month’s Derby but never looked happy on the undulating track. A repeat of his earlier success in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, with subsequent Epsom powerhouse Lambourn in arrears, puts him in the mix.
Aidan O’Brien also fields French Derby winner Camille Passaro, while Charlie Appleby moves 2000 Guineas victor Ruling Court up in distance following his slightly disappointing third behind Field Of Gold and Henri Matisse in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Hotazhell has been ignored in the market but his third to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2000 Guineas was a perfectly respectable effort.
SIR LOWRY’S PASS (3.15) holds strong claims in the red-hot bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock Park.
Ed Walker’s colt, the mount of Paul Mulrennan, was a beaten favourite when managing only third in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar and is moved up in trip.
The four-year-old colt had earlier scored by two lengths at Goodwood and with five places available to each-way backers, he is well worth a punt.
Stressfree had Plage De Havre two lengths adrift in third when chasing home Almosh’her at York in mid-May but is 8lb worse off with that rival this afternoon.
A 5f sprint spearheads the Haydock action and Richard Fahey’s MEARALL (1.30) outran his 100-1 odds when finishing sixth in the Palace Of Holyrood Stakes at Royal Ascot.
His lightly-raced gelding led the centre group before being overhauled and the assessor has given him a break by easing his mark by 2lb. Add in Warren Fentiman’s 5lb allowance and Mearall must have a big chance, especially if stall one proves a favourable draw.
POINT OF CONTACT (4.55) steps out of maiden/novice company in the concluding 7f Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap and can go close for the Andrew Balding yard.
The colt, a Newbury winner before being outclassed by odds-on Bowmark at York’s Dante fixture, should have more to offer in this lesser grade.
ZAPPHIRE (4.33) is taken to repel a couple of strong southern challengers in the one-mile fillies’ handicap at Beverley.
She scored with plenty in hand at Carlisle before disappointing when a beaten favourite at Hamilton last month.
There were excuses, however, as she was shuffled back when hampered at an early stage and found too much daylight as her wide challenge petered out in the closing stages.
Callum Rodriguez takes the reins as Zapphire bids to go one better than 12 months ago when just denied in a photo finish.
Take A Break had fellow three-year-old Blast The Dream two lengths adrift in third when scoring at Sandown last month and little separates the pair.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
