With a busy days racing in the UK and Ireland, our horse racing tipster covers the first day of the Ascot King George Festival and Sandown’s Pete Tong music night.
1.50pm Ascot: Pearl Of Wisdom
Two-year-old Pinatubo filly, Pearl Of Wisdom was unfancied on debut at Newmarket two weeks ago, going off at 22/1. For the first half of that debut race she justified that price, being far to keen.
But she calmed from then on and came through from the rear to challenge from two furlongs out. She didn’t have enough left after her early exertions however and had to settle for fourth. She will improve for that run and should settle a lot easier, allowing her to win and confirm the form with the fifth from that race Miss Facinator.
2.25pm Ascot: Tactician
Three-year-old colt Tactician was unremarkable in his first two career starts in May coming fifth on both occasions. He was much improved on his third start last month at Goodwood however. Upped significantly in trip to 1m6f, he was well backed and justified that support by taking the lead inside the final furlong and running on well to win fairly comfortably.
He made his handicap debut at this venue two weeks ago. Once again he made good progress late, moving up through the field and having every chance to win. But on this occasion he was just denied by a head and had to settle for second. Upped almost another two furlongs today he is a proven stayer who will relish the extra distance and should notch his second career win.
7.05pm Sandown: Naasma
Five-year-old Mare Naasma was steadily progressive last year with five top three finishes including one victory. Unfancied in her seasonal reappearance at Windsor at the end of April, she nonetheless massively out ran her 25/1 odds. She tracked the leaders throughout the race before taking the lead inside the final furlong and just holding on to defeat favourite Allonsy, who has been favourite in all four of her subsequent starts, winning two of them.
Naasma has not been able to win since that upset but has placed on two of her three subsequent appearances, the recent being an amateur female jockeys race at Epsom last week. She stayed on well and wasn’t to far behind second but was not match for winner Gordon Grey who had been in great form and was paired with Megan Jordan who holds an impressive 20% strike rate. Naasma has been a very consistent type who is open to further improvement, with the extra distance here today likely to help, she is well worth another shot.
8.45pm Sandown: Never Dream e/w
Three-year-old gelding Never Dream was a complete non entity in his first three career starts last year coming second last each time. However he has been better as a three-year-old winning on seasonal return, which was also his handicap debut at Goodwood June 6. He sat just behind the leaders before taking the lead inside the final furlong and staying on for victory.
Second at Salisbury next time out his most recent run was at Lingfield just over two weeks ago. Again looking to set up just in behind the leaders but something was not right. He very quickly started to lose his position and continued to drop back through the field not beating a finishing horse. Jockey understandably after the race talked about how he was never travelling correctly. Therefore it is worth putting a line through that performance. His prior form would suggest he is more than capable of winning again off this sort of a mark and is a nice price to do so.
