With three winners from three selections on Wednesday, the tipping column is back with selections from an exciting day’s racing on Thursday…
We head to Newmarket for the first day of the July meeting for our first selection. Andrew Balding's Saint George may have a tough task in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes against short-priced favourite Tower Of London but he produced a big effort when second in the Group 2 Queen's Vase over 1m6f at Royal Ascot. He couldn't find any extra in the closing stages behind good winner Gregory and his performance in the last few furlongs suggests the drop back to 1m5f could be a positive. It's going to be a competitive contest but the yard is in good order and he's probably over-priced at 4/1.
SELECTION – SAINT GEORGE (4/1)
Epsom Downs hosts a summer evening meeting and Tokyo Dreaming appears to be a good price at 9/2 in the 7f Dan Meeser Memorial British EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies' Stakes (6:25). On an unusual track such as Epsom, it will be an advantage that the filly has already had four runs, including two thirds at Lingfield and Doncaster.
The current favourite Alnoory was only a head in front of Tokyo Dreamer when the pair ran in a novice stakes at Lingfield on the all-weather and Tokyo Dream has subsequently been placed on turf. Experience is expected to play a part in these conditions, which makes the Stuart Williams-trained filly a solid prospect.
SELECTION – TOKYO DREAMER (9/2)
For our third selection, we switch to Leopardstown for the 7½f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Aidan O'Brien's Brilliant is capable of further improvement from her debut, where she finished sixth in a Cork maiden in mid-June. She was ridden prominently by Wayne Lordan and became outpaced in the closing two furlongs, but stayed on well to keep her position. The step up to seven furlongs is undoubtedly a positive, especially as the filly is a half-sister to Alcohol Free, who was a Group 1 winner over 6f and a mile.
There are question marks about the top two in the market – Navassa Island is not guaranteed to enjoy the step up in distance as a half-sister to Lezoo and Bellezza is making her debut – so Brilliant is definitely over-priced at 6/1.
SELECTION – BRILLIANT (6/1)
