Leicester is one of five meetings across the UK and Ireland on Tuesday, featuring a busy eight-race card.
The 1m2f Class 3 Kube - Leicester's Premier Event Hire Venue Handicap (4:32) is the highlight of the card and Ziryab appears well-handicapped if showing any improvement from a recent gelding operation. The John and Thady Gosden-trained three-year-old made a solid start to his career and broke through for a maiden victory over a mile at this track on the third time of asking, partnered by Ryan Moore. The form of his fifth in the Golden Gate Handicap at Royal Ascot is potentially superior to the rest of the field, despite being well-beaten by Burdett Road, and he produced a similar performance in a competitive ten-furlong handicap at Newmarket's July course subsequently. Out of a Grade 2 placed mare, the gelding is working from an attractive mark and the yard enjoyed a successful weekend with Inspiral's victory in the Sun Chariot Stakes.
WIN: ZIRYAB
Whilst the prior racecourse experience held by Warda Jamila, Prize Possession and Remarkable Flight may be an advantage in the 1m Class 4 British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2:46), the eye is drawn to debutante Pique' from the James Fanshawe yard. By Nathanial, the two-year-old is out of Group 2 winner Pongee, who has produced four individual Black Type performers including Group 2 placed Dr Drill. Three of Pongee's seven individual winners have been successful as juveniles, which indicates Pique', although probably a three-year-old prospect, should have the precocity to be effective on racecourse debut.
WIN: PIQUE'
In the 6f Class 5 Best Ticket Prices Online At leicester-racecourse.co.uk Handicap (3:22), Michael Appleby's Maxzeno will be having his first start since a wind surgery at the end of June. The four-year-old is fairly lightly raced, having placed on two of his three starts last year before making a solid start to the new campaign when second at Wolverhampton. He appeared to improve slightly for the application of a tongue-tie when runner-up at Nottingham over five furlongs on soft ground but clearly showed signs of a wind issue in a disappointing run at Doncaster subsequently. Having finished close on a number of occasions, it appears only a matter of time before the gelding can get his head in front.
WIN: MAXZENO
A competitive field of eleven line up for the 5f Class 4 Everards Of Leicestershire Handicap (3:57) with former course and distance winner Ey Up It's Maggie fancied to go close. The five-year-old has been an excellent servant for connections and broke through for a narrow victory at Ripon in early August over five furlongs, when partnered by Kevin Stott. Although she remains on the same mark of 79 following a well-beaten fourth at Beverley, the heavy ground would not have been her preference and the quicker surface is expected to suit. The mare won her only previous start at the track and a return to these conditions could spark another successful outing.
WIN: EY UP IT'S MAGGIE
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: HORSE WHISPERER
RACE 2: ARIZONA DESERT
RACE 3: PIQUE'
RACE 4: MAXZENO
RACE 5: EY UP IT'S MAGGIE
RACE 6: ZIRYAB
RACE 7: ROYAL BLISS
RACE 8: SEATTLE TIME
