Leicester is the highlight of four meetings in UK and Ireland on Tuesday with three Class 4 contests attracting competitive fields.
A 380,000 guineas purchase at the yearling sales in 2018, Maxi Boy makes his UK return in the 7f Class 4 Ivan Ayris 70th Birthday June 1st Handicap (3:30). The six-year-old was last seen on the racetrack in the US in March 2022 and his previous UK form was in Class 2 and Class 3 company. His main opposition appears to be Thapa Vic, a last-start Class 5 handicap winner at Yarmouth who takes a step up in grade.
Godolphin are represented by Theatre Honours in the 1m Class 4 British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (4:00). Half-brother to Meydan Group 3 winner Discovery Island, Theatre Honours produced a good effort on debut in a 1m novice stakes at Newmarket despite being carried right in the closing stages by eventual winner Quddwah. Charlie Appleby's poor stable form (10% in last fourteen days) is the only concern. The progressive Ziryab recorded a fair second behind the impressive Mostabshir at York on his second outing in a Class 2 novice stakes and is expected to be competitive returning to this level. A mention goes to Ed Walker's Merry Minister, who is capable of an improved effort switching to a flatter track after a debut third at Epsom.
Brave Knight heads the market in the 1m4f Class 4 Racecourse Live Streams On Racing TV Extra Handicap (4:35) following a winning reappearance at Windsor. He looks an improved horse at three and he form was given a boost over the weekend with the second place Bulldog Spirit winning a 1m4f Doncaster handicap. Fairbanks deserves to try Class 4 competition after recording an easy three-and-a-quarter length success at Haydock over 1m3½f and seems to be improved for the additional stamina test. It's All About You tries 1m4f for the first time following a well-beaten third at Doncaster on seasonal reappearance over 1m2f. He has predominantly been raced in Class 4 company throughout his career and could find more over a longer trip.
A competitive field of seventeen line up for the 6f Class 5 Every Race Live On Racing TV Restricted Maiden Stakes (2:30). Etihad Rail drops in class after a promising debut third at Newbury for trainer Marcus Tregoning, having kept on well in the final furlong to finish five-and-a-quarter lengths behind an impressive winner. Bits and Bobs makes his racecourse debut for the Balding team and holds entries to the valuable auction stakes at Newmarket in August and October. A place mention goes to Diddy Man, who out-ran odds of 100/1 when sixth in a hot novice stakes at Newmarket in mid-May and continues to improve.
In the 6f Class 6 Next Meeting @leicesterraces Saturday Evening 17th June Apprentice Handicap (2:00), Hurt You Never is expected to go back-to-back following an impressive five-length success over the same distance at Redcar. Shazam will be looking to replicate the same feat in the 1m2f Class 6 Friction Marketing Handicap, having improved to win a Lingfield Class 6 handicap over the same distance a week ago.
RACING & SPORT SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – HURT YOU NEVER
RACE 2 – ETIHAD RAIL
RACE 3 - SHAZAM
RACE 4 – MAXI BOY
RACE 5 – THEATRE HONOURS
RACE 6 – BRAVE KNIGHT
RACE 7 – HURT YOU NEVER
