Matt Brocklebank has the Thursday best bets with the Nap in action at Epsom.
Thursday selections
ATMOSPHERE - 20:05 Epsom (NAP)
ATMOSPHERE was shaping well on the all-weather earlier in the year, placing on all three starts, and he looks the one to be on with Oisin Murphy booked to do the steering on his return to turf at Epsom on Thursday. He does stay a mile but his record at seven furlongs reads a win and a second from just two attempts and I can see him tracking Musical Angel and likely main market rival Uppercase before being delivered fast and late by the champion jockey.
I’LL BE BACK – 15:25 Hamilton
I’LL BE BACK won’t be a big price but he leaps off the page at Hamilton, Karl Burke's unbeaten colt having conceded 7lb to subsequent handicap winner King’s Cavalry when making a fine start to his campaign in a Leicester novice back in April. Perhaps he comes with physical fragilities given that lightly-raced profile, but the son of Lope De Vega has looked really promising when hitting the track and his opening mark of 92 doesn’t look bad at all based on that Leicester win. Stepping up to a mile should bring about further improvement and, with no real pace on, he should take plenty of pegging back providing he copes with the quicker ground (watering at present).
MILITARY LEADER – 16:45 Thirsk
Harswell Ruby is technically 3lb well-in for the finale at Thirsk but she’s still yet to win a handicap from anything higher than 69 so could be worth opposing at the prices. The suggestion is MILITARY LEADER, who also technically needs a new career best to defy his current rating (70) but he has fewer miles on the clock after just six turf starts and could be happier back over a mile compared to the sharp seven and a half furlongs at Chester last time. The son of Dubawi doesn’t mind leading and I like the booking of PJ McDonald with this small-field project in mind.
CONNIE’S ROSE – 17:00 Chepstow
CONNIE’S ROSE has been a fantastic servant to the Grace Harris yard, winning 10 races in total and seven at Chepstow. She’s a seven-year-old now but still has plenty of early speed and almost made it eight course wins when beaten half a length (first of four who raced up the centre) over this track and trip last month. She’s since been below par at Salisbury but returning to this venue is a big plus and the underfoot conditions look ideal.
PHANTOM GOLD - 20:47 Worcester
Best bet at Worcester comes in the last with PHANTOM GOLD backed to open his hurdling account. A Newton Abbot bumper winner for Ben Brookhouse, he's gradually got the hang of things over hurdles since joining Jennie Candlish and looked on the verge of a breakthrough victory in this sphere when short-headed over two miles here at the start of the month. A 3lb rise in the ratings for that looks fair enough and as the winner - who was debuting for a new yard - was well treated on his old form and Phantom Gold looks an improving horse worth following while the going is good.
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