Friday ITV Racing Tips & Preview

The prospect of the ground easing even further at HQ will delight connections of Amabilis who cantered through atrocious conditions to score handsomely at Ascot earlier this month. Her well being and ability to handle plenty of cut in the ground is already confirmed whereas MUFFRIHA (Best price 9-2) must answer one or two questions to win today. A five-month absence may be seen as disconcerting by some and it can’t have been the plan for her to be off the track since May, however she is with a handler extremely adept at fine tuning horses at home and some of her form in Meydan during the early part of the year was highly notable. If the selection can repeat anywhere near the level which saw her narrowly beaten by Irish Champion Stakes winner Decorated Knight in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta then she appears a huge threat to all here.  

There have been a number of instances in recent years where soft ground at York can expose even the brightest stars so it is perhaps unfair to write off Mori just yet for a sub-standard performance in the Galtres Stakes. Any horse can have an off day and she may be better judged on a fine run in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot when Coronet picked her off late. However, the York performance did coincide with her tackling easy ground for the first time and her conquer FLEUR FORSYTE (Best price 4-1) remains largely unexposed on a soft surface. The selection found plenty when required on the Knavesmire, impressing with her tenacity and attitude and, although some will feel it was a freak result with a horse rated 94 winning a race of that nature, I prefer to take the view she is improving at a rapid rate and can continue her ascension today.   

Many onlookers felt Doncaster’s May Hill Stakes won by Laurens at the Leger meeting was a strong renewal and NYALETI (Best price 11-4) has the opportunity to put that theory to the test today. In hindsight, the mile just stretched Mark Johnston’s durable filly a little last time, but she still ran with huge credit and appears to be taking her racing extremely well. This afternoon’s return to seven furlongs should suit a filly that likes to bowl along in front and she could be a hard horse to peg back if the far side rail is a good place to be.

Andrew Balding has been keen to treat BEAT THE BANK (Best price 5-2) like a proper horse this term, managing his campaign with restraint and patience, and that policy could pay off handsomely now the seasons enters its final third. The son of Paco Boy could well be fresher than most with some major prizes still up for grabs this autumn and I was extremely impressed with the manner of his Goodwood victory last time when he travelled with fluency on a soft surface before finding a change of gear to score in Group 3 company. The selection was produced sharp and well to score first time out this season at today’s venue so the two-month absence shouldn’t be an issue, neither will any further rain so he rates a decent bet to continue his progression.