3 minute read
Sam King struck with a winner at Yarmouth yesterday and is back with three selections on Thursday.
Whilst Royal Ascot is just around the corner, Newbury, Yarmouth and Nottingham offer plenty to get the teeth stuck into on Thursday.
Grand Karat needs to prove he's as good on the turf as he is on the all-weather, but he's generally a consistent sort and looks like landing a decent handicap pot sometime soon based on recent performances.
Having finished fourth in a race that wasn't run to suit on his reappearance at Kempton, Harry Charlton's gelding caught the eye when filling the same position in a competitive handicap at Newcastle next time out, running on strongly once in the clear after suffering a slightly troubled passage at the two-furlong marker.
The sixth-placed horse that day has since gone on to land a very valuable handicap at the Curragh, while the winner has also posted two solid efforts in decent since to give the form some substance.
Trevor Wheelan should be able to find some cover from stall five and with a decent gallop to aim at expected, he looks a touch overpriced at around 12/1 in the seven-furlong handicap (4.25).
0.5pt Each-way – Grand Karat
Odds – 12/1
Later on the card, Rocking Ends looks worth a small each-way wager in the six-furlong handicap, despite him being best known for his performances over the minimum trip.
That said, he does have winning form over six furlongs, and he shaped as though stepping back up in distance when fifth at Goodwood last time, travelling sweetly off the pace before staying on nicely following some trouble in running.
Rossa Ryan was in the plate that day and he retains the ride. He was a perfect one from one on the horse until their latest effort at Goodwood, so it's interesting that Rossa is back to try and set the record straight.
Tom Clover's sprinter is back on the same mark as when he was last in the winners' enclosure eleven months ago and with a record of four from thirteen in this class, this likeable five-year-old is tough to ignore on his first visit to Newbury.
0.5pt Each-way – Rocking Ends
Odds – 11/1
Over at Yarmouth, Hintisa Bay should take all the beating in the opening seven-furlong handicap.
Ian Williams' gelding shaped as though the drop back to seven furlongs would be optimum when runner-up on his handicap debut off a mark of 46 three weeks ago, racing freely in the early stages before being collared late on by one who has proven winning form over the trip.
A 3lb higher mark shouldn't pose any issues for this unexposed son of No Ney Never, while the booking of talented apprentice Jack Dace is a definite plus.
He's also entered at Leicester and Wolverhampton later in the week and in all truth, it wouldn't surprise if he was to land this en-route to following up under a penalty.
2pt Win – Hintisa Bay
Odds – 10/11
