UK racing tips – Sunday 9 July 2023

CHELMSFORD

Race 1 – INTINSO 2/1

INTINSO is another horse dropping class in the opening this novice stakes.

The Siyouni colt justified cramped odds with a clear-cut victory on his introduction at Newcastle in the autumn and made his reappearance in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket’s Craven meeting.

He raced too exuberantly to do himself justice on the Rowley Mile and was unable to land a telling blow, but he has been given plenty of time to recover and remains a high-class prospect.

Race 2 – EASTERN CHARM 5/4

EASTERN CHARM is expected to defy top-weight in this handicap outing.

With three juvenile outings in maiden and novice company offering little in the way of promise, she was able to enter the handicap arena from a lowly mark of 57 on her return at Yarmouth in April and won with something to spare.

She was beaten into fourth next time, but would have finished closer but for encountering trouble in running, and she made no mistake in a classified race last time when pulling six lengths clear.

Back handicapping off 62, she should take some stopping.

Race 4 – POTPOVA 4/1

POTAPOVA can make the most of having her sights lowered in the Champagne Collet Queen Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes at Chelmsford.
Sir Michael Stoute’s charge bolted up over the course and distance on her racecourse debut in the autumn of 2020 and has developed into a quality Pattern-race performer.

She impressed at Group Three level in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown last year, after which she finished a creditable fourth against the boys in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket.

Following that, she disappointed when a hot favourite for her first start of the current campaign at Nottingham, but conditions were extremely testing that day and given she also returned with an irregular heartbeat, that effort is easily forgiven.

She has performed far better the last twice, most recently being beaten just over three lengths into fifth place in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, and must have every chance of getting back on the winning trail in this Listed contest.

AYR

Race 4 – DUBAI SOUQ

DUBAI SOUQ is rated the best bet at Ayr this handicap test.

Saeed bin Suroor has saddled 10 winners from 45 runners at the Scottish venue, equating to a healthy strike-rate of 22 per cent.

The fact Dubai Souq is the veteran trainer’s only runner at the track’s latest meeting is a tip in itself and his form gives him a sound chance, too.

The six-year-old was a comfortable three-length winner in soft ground at Redcar in November 2021 when rated 82, but was well held in three outings last season.

Odds-on backers had their fingers burnt on his return from 11 months off the track in May, but he showed enough in finishing second to suggest his turn will soon come round again.

Race 5 – SPARKS FLY 9/4

David Loughnane’s SPARKS FLY can extend her remarkable winning sequence to six in this handicap.

While the filly’s all-weather form was nothing to write home about, she has not looked back since switching to the turf, rattling off five straight victories in little over a month.

She has already gone up over 30lb in the weights and the assessor is bound to catch up with her eventually, but the manner of her latest triumph at Chester suggested a 6lb rise is not insurmountable.

MARKET RASEN

Race 6 – RESTANDBETHANKFUL 3/1

RESTANDBETHANKFUL is tipped to record back-to-back wins at Market Rasen in this handicap chase.

The seven-year-old won three times when trained by Olly Murphy and made the most of a falling mark to register his first victory since joining Rebecca Menzies here little over a fortnight ago.

Champion jockey Brian Hughes keeps the ride and a quick double is predicted.