Five meetings take place across Britain and Ireland on Monday with the action well spread around. Yorkshire’s racing festival kicks on with an evening meeting at Beverley, while decent handicaps are run at Ayr and Windsor. Here are the highlights along with the main contenders.
4.40 Ayr (1m2f Handicap)
Royal Regent
A standing dish at Ayr, he’s very consistent but looks to have nothing in hand.
Testa Rossa
See above. Does well here and conditions should be fine, but may need to come down in the weights before another good run.
Gworn
Another local runner and yet again the same comments apply. Solid, if not with a lot in hand.
Tamayuz Magic
Runs mostly over 1m4f including at the weekend on soft ground, if taking his chance though will go well in these better conditions.
Berengaria
Mark Johnston brings just this and one other to Ayr this afternoon and if she gets her act together she could be one of precious few in the race with weight in hand. Conditions look ideal and a big run is on the cards.
Maulesden May
Only a 4yo and from a good yard, she has more to give but for now be just be in the handicappers grip.
Barwell
Progressive young horse on a hat-trick but perhaps facing stiffer opposition now.
Jamacho
Still going very much the right way until encountering soft ground last time, likely to step forward again and must have a huge chance.
Summary
It should pay to look towards the bottom of these weights and the progressive types, mostly with JAMACHO and Berengaria. It’s hard to know what to expect from the latter, but the former was still on a heavy upward curve until facing unsuitable ground last time and can resume progression.
7.55 Beverley (7f Handicap)
Russian Soul
Traveller, good jockey booking and shown good form, however the draw and the weather have really gone against him.
Sovereign Bounty
One race out of 18 on soft ground doesn’t give us a lot to go on, but he seemed to handle it just OK that day and he can run solid enough.
Muirsheen Durkin
Liked it here as a juvenile but looks high enough in the weights now.
Saint Equiano
One of the few who will flourish if the ground comes up soft, another step forward can be taken here and it makes him a serious contender.
Chaplin Bay
A fairly versatile and experienced sort from a good yard.
Navarone
Although he’s already raced 10 times he is only young and is still going forward. A win over C&D two starts ago was followed by a good second at Ayr but he could have been done by the draw here.
El Principe
Running consistently without winning but has the plum draw here and Les Ayre brings back the tongue tie.
Summary
We aren’t certain of the ground and the draw is always a factor here, nonetheless we can be fairly confident that EL PRINCIPE has enough in his favour to run a big one here. Saint Equiano is next best and it’s a shame Navarone wasn’t drawn lower.
6.45 Windsor (1m3f Fillies’ Handicap)
Kath’s Legacy
Off since April and with just a Class 5 handicap win to her name, could yet have more to offer.
Di Alta
A winner on softish ground last backend and lightly raced since. Her good 2nd last time puts her right at the forefront of contenders here.
Marie Jospehe
Can go well enough if handling the ground after some decent efforts the last twice.
Jive Talking
Going the right way but not certain to want this ground.
Kind Of Beauty
Going backwards since debut win last year.
Summary
Ed Walker’s DI ALTA has plenty in her favour here and should have enough to account for Marie Jospehe among others.
7.45 Windsor (5f Handicap)
Union Rose
Won well at Bath last time on typically fast ground though has won on this sort of surface before (soft). Too inconsistent to judge easily.
Atletico
Nice belated reappearance at Ripon after being gelded and was progressive before that. Unproven on ground this soft and on breeding, wouldn’t want it.
Pettochside
If we can take his Salisbury run in June at face value then he’d have an outstanding chance here, however he was expected to win that race and faces tougher opposition this time.
Intibaah
Had to run alone when second to Pettochside and form took a major rise last spring when encountering heavy ground. Given the underfoot conditions and that he’s slipped to a mark of 79, he could well have a few pounds in hand here.
Wiley Post
Only a 4yo and with improvement in him, he’s just finding his feet in his new yard. 3rd last time to some not bad types and a further step forward here could see him prove to be ahead of the handicapper.
Summary
Atletico will be all the rage and is sure to go well, however these conditions may well see Intibaah and especially WILEY POST prove to be ahead of the assessor and as such hold winning chances.
7.05 Ballinrobe (1m2f Handicap)
Castle Guest
Going well enough at present and probably prefers this ground.
Vastonea
Has been a star for Kevin Prendergast in the past but looks to be a few pounds below his best now.
Remarkable Lady
Pat Smullen booked again for one who is not as consistent as ideal, probably too high in the weights.
Snoozing Indian
Stamina is a slight concern, though he stayed 8½ furlongs well last September and doesn’t need to go too much further here.
Palmones
Right back to form now and another good run from the filly can be expected in conditions she’ll like.
Summary
The filly PALMONES looks the one to side with here, though Castle Guest and Snoozing Indian are likely challengers.