Top Tipster Daryl Carter gives a trio selections for the Bank Holiday racing on Sunday.
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Posted: 5.46pm May 28th (Odds correct at time posted)
3.10 Windsor – NIGHT ON EARTH (1pt win – SP)
NIGHT ON EARTH refitted with the cheek-pieces, took a step back in the right direction at Chester last time, and today’s drop in grade and return to a sounder surface are reasons to be positive about his chances. He took the scalp of fellow class dropper and the shorter-priced Whenthedealinisdone at Nottingham last year and is now seven pounds better off at the weights and has the promise of a soft lead today, meaning he could be hard to catch under Richard Kingscote, who is a sound judge of pace. He has won at this venue when with Andrew Balding on his second racecourse start, and six of his eight victories have come in field sizes of seven or less.
4.00 Redcar – PILLAR OF HOPE (1pt win – 5/1 Bet365, 9/2 generally)
The only three-year-old to run in this race in the last ten years was Leroy Leroy, who finished a narrow second at 16/1 from out of the handicap in 2019. It’s a daring move by Edward Bethell to throw his unexposed Oviedo in here, who was better than the bare result at Newcastle last time in Listed company when making his challenge on the wrong side of the track on seasonal return. Bethell likely knew his runner would need the outing, and running in Listed company would see a pound or two off in the handicap. It’s perfectly reasonable to think that this Zetland Gold Cup has been the target for him given his trainer’s 25% strike rate at Redcar, and his last run on good ground on turf was a three-length second to 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean in the 7f Accomb. The weight-for-age allowance here for three-year-olds is 14 lbs, and Callum Rodriguez riding for Bethell sees a 28% strike rate. It’s very hard to see him out of the frame. From stall one, War In Heaven will have a significant role to play, contributing to a strong pace, but he has enough to prove at the moment, including back on turf. Highwaygrey and Baryshnikov are fairly handicapped horses featured in multiple runnings of this. Still, today’s conditions are probably not ideal, while Turntable’s profile away from Newmarket is not encouraging. Favourite City Streak had a box seat at Chester last time on the front end of a steady pace resulting in plenty of hard luck stories. This could be fought out between PILLAR OF HOPE and Kitsune Power. The latter could yet prove to be group material on the back of some excellent efforts last season, and Roger Varian knows how to win here. Still, stall nine could see him further back than ideal at a track that favours those on the pace, and he might be running on for an eye-catcher next time. Surely though, Mark Johnston’s Pillar Of Hope is the best-handicapped horse in the race off of this rating of 82, and it was very encouraging to see him score at Beverley last time, having won both previous starts off of a break. He now looks ready to kick on for the season and could be a progressive handicapper to follow. He is very lightly raced, having scored in two of his three starts on turf (debut was the defeat), and the return to Redcar, where he was an excellent winner in September last season, is a postive. The quicker surface should suit, and Joe Fanning is a master at judging pace, so him in the saddle at a track that suits prominent racers is a bonus for a yard who has a great record in this event. Back him no shorter than 5/1.
4.48 Leicester – CARMELA (1pt E/W – 20/1 Bet365, 14/1 generally)
CARMELA‘s form tailed off at the back end of last season as she switched between five and six furlongs, but it’s today’s distance of six furlongs she wants. She made an encouraging reappearance at Chester despite absolutely hating the tight turning track. She stuck to the task well and finished her race strongly, and with that now behind her – she is worth another chance in a handicap down a handy 3 lbs on this more conventional track. Her two-year-old form is very strong, and this is not a deep race, and the early part of the season looks to be the time to catch her so back on a sounder surface (Chester was her first attempt on soft), she could easily prove a different proposition and looks good value at 8/1 or bigger.
Daryl Carter’s Best Bets
3.10 Windsor – NIGHT ON EARTH (1pt win – SP)
4.00 Redcar – PILLAR OF HOPE (1pt win – 5/1 Bet365, 9/2 generally)
4.48 Leicester – CARMELA (1pt E/W – 20/1 Bet365, 14/1 generally)
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