Sporting Life
Get today's Horses In Focus

Horses In Focus tips for Monday: Eye-catchers chosen by Timeform experts

By Timeform
Horse Racing
Mon July 07, 2025 · 6M ago

Find out which runners on Monday caught the eye of the Timeform reporters last time and were awarded the Horse In Focus Flag.

What is a Horse In Focus?

Every performance in Britain and Ireland is closely scrutinised by the expert race readers at Timeform whose tasks include identifying horses that shaped better than the result. Some of these eye-catchers will be awarded the Horse In Focus Flag.

A Horse In Focus comes in many forms, from a promising maiden winner to a veteran handicapper, but the common denominator is the same: the way the horse shaped suggests it’s likely to be something to back next time.

All of the day's Horses In Focus can be found within this article, which also includes a best bet selected by a member of the Timeform Sporting Life team.

The Timeform Flags also appear on the Racecards + section, available for Sporting Life Plus members, on Sporting Life racecards.

Monday's Horses In Focus

For more on each horse, logged-in readers can head to today's racecards and click the Horse In Focus dropdown.

Ayr

Captain Hanley - 14:00

2
4
Captain Hanleyt16
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-13| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR:  62
12/1

Orbital Chime - 15:00

9
11
Orbital Chimep16
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Hart| T: K Scott| OR:  69| D
17/2

Paper Doll - 17:15

4
10
Paper Doll9
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-12| J: Rowan Scott| T: T Davidson| OR:  64
7/1

Ripon

Sea Regal - 19:30

2
2
Sea Regal19
Age: 4|  Weight: 10-2| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR:  69| C
4/1

Worcester

River of Joy - 14:42

5
River Of Joy58
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR:  107
3/1

Nickelforce - 14:42

3
Nickelforce1
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-9| J: Mr Charlie Case(7)| T: B I Case| OR:  110| BF| D
7/1

Bluebella - 17:30

15
Bluebellat,p132
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-5| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR:  76| CD
5/1

Monday's Best Bet

SEA REGAL - 19:30 Ripon

2
2
Sea Regal19
Age: 4|  Weight: 10-2| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR:  69| C
4/1

SEA REGAL hasn't been with this yard long, but she ran her best race since joining when third over an extended mile at Hamilton last month.

She went like the best horse at the weights on that occasion, but was perhaps produced into the lead a little too soon, going on two furlongs out but then caught by a couple who came from further back.

Such tactics can be seen to good effect at Ripon, and with that form working out well, she appears to have excellent claims considering the handicapper has dropped her 1lb in the weights since.

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