Horse Racing Tips: Nap of the Day

Most of these probably want six furlongs-plus but LARCHILL LASS has shown more than enough promise in two starts to suggest she can win a fillies’ maiden, sticking on from a wide draw to be second at Beverley earlier in the month. That was a similar level to what she showed first time out and we know she handles ease in the ground so conditions won’t bother the daughter of Territories, whose progeny appear at their happiest when the going gets tough.

FLEMEN’S TIPPLE – 7.40 Warwick

FLEMEN’S TIPPLE took advantage of his reduced mark to score at Huntingdon earlier this month and although a 6lb rise looks a shade harsh on the face of it, he was rated even higher around this time last year and does handle all types of ground so won’t mind the forecast showers.

ELEGANT ERIN finally looks on an attractive mark again (77), having had a brilliant time of things in 2022 when rising 20lb to a perch of 85 in the handicap, and she gave a strong indication she was coming back to form when third at Thirsk last time out. Trainer Paul Midgley has his team of sprinters in good form, Elegant Erin handles all kinds of ground and the booking of Paul Mulrennan for the first time looks another decent pointer.

MAHARAJAS EXPRESS backed up his Bath win in early April with a solid third (of 13) there later that month and I can excuse his subsequent flop of much quicker ground at Beverley. Drawn widest of all in East Yorkshire, he was racing on ground plenty fast enough and got no cover from his difficult stalls position. It’s never easy to overcome such a start over the minimum trip there and I’m inclined to think the four-year-old probably remains in decent form. He’s not handicapped out of this off 72 and should appreciate the underfoot conditions.

There are a handful of fillies still officially rated sub-100 in this year’s Oaks, which isn’t unheard of by any means but it shows just how much most of them need to improve to bridge the gap with last year’s Fillies’ Mile winner YLANG YLANG, who has a BHA rating of 112. Her 1000 Guineas comeback run could hardly have been more encouraging with an Epsom bid in mind and stall 12 of 12 should allow Ryan Moore every chance of picking up the early position he’s looking for. Dance Sequence and the lightly-raced Treasure are worth considering at big prices in the place markets, but this looks all about Ylang Ylang as the daughter of Frankel looks to secure her second Group 1 success.

TEES DOUGE – 6.55 Catterick

TEES DOUGE probably isn’t one to set your watch by but he’s got enough talent to win races and it’s hoped the fitting of first-time blinkers could spark a bit more improvement. He’s surely going to appreciate getting back on a turning track, having shown one of his best pieces of form over this course and distance last summer. He’s down 9lb in the ratings since then too and Adrian Nicholls has had a couple of recent winners (2-9 in past fortnight) so it might all slot into place for this Dream Ahead gelding.

PREMIER MAGIC – 7.35 Stratford

All the attention will be on Aintree third Annamix for Willie and Patrick Mullins but this is competitive and preference at the likely prices is for PREMIER MAGIC, winner of the 2023 Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and back to form after a low-key run there this March when second last time out. He still retains plenty of ability on that evidence and should enjoy the slightly better ground on offer here.

Gelded over the winter and upped in trip for his handicap/seasonal debut at Kempton, SIR GALAHAD almost landed the gamble when finding just the one too good (winner has since finished second off higher mark) and I can’t imagine a 1lb rise in the ratings will be enough to stop James Ferguson’s son of Churchill putting in another big effort here. The cheekpieces applied for the first time at Kempton are understandably retained and the good to soft ground shouldn’t be an issue.

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