Ben Linfoot ‘s Thursday Nap won at 9/2 – he and Matt Brocklebank provide the Friday selections.
TIARAQUEEN – 4.20 York (NAP)
William Haggas pulled TIARAQUEEN out of a Listed race at Sandown on Saturday due to the ground but it is with hope she turns up at York as she looks to have a cracking chance in the George Blades Memorial Handicap over a mile from a perch of 77 on Friday. The Kingman filly is clearly ready to roll as this is one of four entries she’s had in the last week and the form of her Wetherby win was given a premium boost by runner-up Thunder Run at Thirsk. (Ben Linfoot)
DREAMROCKER – 2.15 Ascot
Ed Walker’s DREAMROCKER looks primed to run well in the LSH Handicap for apprentice jockeys over a mile at Ascot (2.15). The four-year-old ran in a similar type of race last time out at Goodwood where she was beaten three parts of a length into second, running on well after being outpaced. The stiff nature of this track looks sure to play to her strengths for a trainer who has a good record here. (Ben Linfoot)
PORTA FORTUNA – 3.35 Newmarket
The Falmouth Stakes has been a difficult race to predict the last five years with three favourites at evens or shorter being turned over, but PORTA FORTUNA has rock-solid credentials at Newmarket in the July Festival day two feature. Donnacha O’Brien’s filly came on for her Guineas second with an impressive win in a deep Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the older mares have a difficult task giving her weight in this. With good Rowley Mile form in her locker it’s a good bet she takes to the July Course well and she can see off fellow Irish-trained three-year-old A Lilac Rolla in style. (Ben Linfoot)
TELE RED – 7.50 Chester
Roger Varian’s handicap newcomer So Deuce is the obvious one here on the back of a clear-cut Leicester maiden triumph but he did only beat a 250/1 newcomer, who has been held in two subsequent starts, so it could be dangerous to get too carried away. Preference is for the experienced TELE RED, who seems to really thrive on racing which bodes well considering he showed he retains all his ability when second on his belated comeback at Pontefract last week. He’s only 3lb higher than when last successful, should come on for the recent run and will enjoy the cut in the ground. His prominent run-style may also help here as he goes back up in trip and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the selection caught the sizeable So Deuce a bit flat-footed at a key stage in the race. (Matt Brocklebank)
ARTHUR ROSE – 8.10 Chepstow
Trainer Clive Cox has found a really weak race in which to introduce ARTHUR ROSE to the handicap scene and it would be no surprise whatsoever to see her take a big step forward. The daughter of Blue Point has yet to be placed from three starts but she was relatively well-fancied (7/2) first time out at Wolverhampton in November and has faced some quite stiff tasks in a couple of Windsor novices since returning in the spring. Moving up another furlong looks potentially beneficial based on the last run and an opening mark of 56 may prove generous for this well-bred filly (her dam is a half-sister to Cox’s former Group 1 star Profitable). (Matt Brocklebank)
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