There is mid-week Listed action at Bath on Wednesday, with a seven-race card that includes the Listed Beckford Stakes.
Mimikyu is a short-priced favourite for the 1m6f Listed Beckford Stakes (4:00), returning to a lower level after a fifth in the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp. Although consistent throughout the season – placing second in the Group 3 Bronte Cup and third in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks – she appears to be finding it difficult to break through at Group level and the connection's decision to take in this race appears justified. Some of the four-year-old's best form has come over 1m6f and she has won on soft ground before, although she has generally been campaigned on a sounder surface.
With the mixed forecast in mind, it may pay to side with stablemate One Evening from the John and Thady Gosden yard. The four-year-old is lightly raced with only seven career starts under her belt, but she appeared to relish the softer ground conditions at Doncaster when second behind Sumo Sam in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes. It was only the daughter of Galileo's second time over 1m6f, having been very disappointing on her first attempt on good-to-firm, but these conditions may bring out the best in her. It is worth noting that One Evening is a half-sister to Group 3 Valiant Stakes winner Random Harvest, who also performs well on soft ground.
WIN: ONE EVENING
In the 5f Class 5 Vickers.Bet EBF Novice Stakes (3:27), James Tate's Blue Storm will be aiming to bounce back. One of the first winners for first-season sire Blue Point, Blue Storm was an impressive debut victor at Newmarket back in April before struggling behind easy winner Elite Status in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown Park. He returned after a four-month break with a ring-rusty third in a Hamilton Park novice stakes, where the colt weakened in the closing stages. The juvenile will undoubtedly sharpen up for that run and this should be well within his capabilities.
At a longer price, Dashing Harry could be an interesting contender with further improvement to come. The colt ran very green on debut at Salisbury, pulling hard and beaten over twenty lengths, but showed considerable progression over the same course and distance on his second run. Although he took a keen hold again, the son of Harry Angel led from the start and only weakened in the closing stages to finish less than two lengths back in second. The Clive Cox-trained juvenile appeared to enjoy the softer ground and it would be no surprise to see him continue an upward arc, especially with the assistance of seven-pound claimer Oliver Timms.
WIN: DASHING HARRY
There is more action over 1m6f in the Class 4 Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Handicap (4:35) and stamina is likely to play a major role on soft ground. Although it is interesting to see Alan King give the formally Joseph O'Brien-trained Spartan Army a spin on the Flat, the gelding may lack for fitness on his return after a break since March and others are better equipped.
It is difficult to see past William Haggas' Tajanis, who recorded a maiden win at Great Yarmouth in a 1m6f Class 4 handicap on soft ground when last seen. The application of first-time blinkers undoubtedly sparked improvement from the gelding, and he didn't have an easy time of it, with a bumped passage from one furlong out. There is plenty more to come from the son of Australia and he seems to hold an obvious choice with proven form in similar conditions.
WIN: TAJANIS
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: FREDS MATE
RACE 2: APACHE STAR
RACE 3: DASHING HARRY
RACE 4: ONE EVENING
RACE 5: TAJANIS
RACE 6: ALBUS ANNIE
RACE 7: KILLALOA
