Sam King has been in good form with 14/1 and 15/2 winners over the last week and he returns with three Sunday sizzlers for you this afternoon…
We head to Salisbury for our first selection and George Boughey's Gallimus should take some beating in the H S Lester Memorial Challenge Cup at 5.45.
The unexposed three-year-old lost many lengths when rearing out the stalls at Lingfield last time-out and had no chance of completing the hat-trick shortly after the start. He looked a horse well ahead of the handicapper when winning back-to-back ten-furlong Class 6 handicaps on quick ground at Leicester in May and I'd expect him to remain well-treated.
A career-high mark of 61 does make life slightly tougher but he looks to have been found a good opportunity at a venue George Boughey clearly excels at. The Newmarket-based handler has saddled five winners from his last 14 runners at the Wiltshire venue and Gallimus can enhance that record this afternoon with Kevin Stott also a positive booking.
Selection: Gallimus – General 5/4
Eyes turn to Ireland for our second wager and Semantics looks rock-solid in the Ladies Day July 29th Apprentice Handicap at Gowran Park (4.15).
Ger Lyons has a healthy 25% (34-135) strike-rate at Gowran Park over the last five years and this looks like a suitable opening for his unexposed three-year-old.
The daughter of Broken Vow shaped nicely when only beaten three-quarters of a length in a ten-furlong maiden at Navan recently and she remains very much unexposed in handicap company. The slight drop back in trip should suit and the application of first-time blinkers could easily eke out some more improvement.
Apprentice Jack Kearney is excellent value for his 4lb claim and his mount looks by far the most likely winner this afternoon.
Selection: Semantics – General 9/4
Our third and final selection on Sunday comes from Doncaster. The James Hammond Handicap looks the standout contest on the card and Michael Appleby's King Of Bavaria ticks plenty of boxes for me in the 3.50.
It's certainly not uncommon for Michael Appleby to turn to top jockey James Doyle in recent years and the pair have struck up a solid 23% (6-16) strike-rate over the last five seasons.
Paul Midgley's multiple course and distance winner Burning Cash looks like an obvious threat but King Of Bavaria can prove too strong.
The lightly-raced four-year-old looked to have plenty up his sleeve when winning a four-runner handicap sprint at Windsor 20 days ago. The runner-up that day, Navello, has since gone on to land the Epsom Dash and the form looks solid.
James Doyle should get a lovely spot from stall five and there could easily be further progress on the cards on what is just a fifth outing for the Leicestershire-based trainer.
A 3lb rise for winning last-time-out looks lenient and I'm expecting the gelded son of No Nay Never to continue the winning thread given he remains well-treated based on his past exploits for Aidan O'Brien.
Selection: King Of Bavaria – General 7/2
