Ruban and Sharaakah among tips for Kempton and Newmarket
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Kempton tips: Ruban ready to rock
Ruban can take advantage of a drop in the weights and ease in grade to land the 1m handicap on this evening’s card at Kempton (17.50).
The Stuart Williams trained seven-year-old is on a losing run of 14, having not scored since landing a class 3 contest at Chelmsford back in March 2015 off a mark of 78.
However, the gelding has run well in some competitive affairs, including when a fine fifth of 19 to Rene Mathis in a class 2 contest at Goodwood off 79.
Ruban is now able to race off a reduced rating of 73, 5lb lower than when last victorious, and drops down into class 5 company for the first time since winning a maiden at Southwell nearly two years ago.
It gives the son of Dubawi major claims from a handicapping perspective, and he comes into the race on the back of an eye-catching effort last time out over 7f at this venue, when staying on late to finish a close-up ninth.
That was Ruban’s third run back from a break and he should now be spot on to do himself justice and will appreciate the step back up to 1m, over which he has notched both his career successes.
Lobster Cocktail looks tasty in finale
In the 1m 3f handicap that brings proceedings to a close (21.20), Lobster Cocktail looks to have been found a nice opportunity to open his account.
Ed Walker’s colt ran with promise on debut when a not knocked about eighth of 13 to Frenchman at Lingfield, and went on to shape better than the bare result suggests in hot races at Haydock and Newmarket, won by the now 92 and 100-rated Lusory and Wilamina.
The three-year-old was allotted an opening mark of just 56 on the back of those efforts but failed to shine off it when a well-beaten 11th of 13 on handicap debut at Redcar over 1m 1f.
However, he has since run very well to finish third at Wolverhampton and Ffos and caught the eye last time out at the former, when staying on strongly to be nearest at the finish and beaten just 1 3/4 length into fifth after being given plenty to do.
It was an effort which suggested his time was near, and Lobster Cocktail has bagged the plum draw in stall one and should be up to winning a race of this nature off his current lowly handicap mark of just 54.
Kempton tips
17.50: Ruban (NAP)
18.20: Archer’s Arrow
18.50: Cinders
19.20: Anfaass
19.50: Golden Wedding
20:20: Jammy Guest
20.50: Canford Belle
21.20: Lobster Cocktail (NB)
Newmarket best bets: Sharaakah can show rivals the way home
Sharaakah has some strong form to her name and looks to have been found a nice opening to notch a first success of the season in the 1m handicap on today’s card at Newmarket (17.20).
The Ed Dunlop trained filly showed progressive form as a juvenile, winning a maiden at Newmarket before going on to chase home the very useful Nemoralia in a competitive 19-runner handicap at York.
Sharaakah was also far from disgraced on her final start of 2015, when staying on to finish a never nearer 5 1/2 length seventh of 12 to First Victory in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at this venue, and its was a run which suggested she may well have more to offer as a three-year-old.
Superb effort in Sandringham
That view was confirmed when the daughter of Roderic O’Connor finished a fine 1 1/4 length third of 21 to Persuasive in the ultra-competitive Listed class 1 Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot off a mark of 93.
Sharaakah backed that up with a solid third in the Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown off an official rating of 97 and is now able to race off 93 again in what looks a weak class 2 contest for the grade.
This is arguably the easiest task she has faced all season and, with James Doyle in the saddle, Sharaakah can take advantage to land the spoils.
Newmarket best bets
13.30: Kassandra
14.00: Alapinta
14.30: Tap Tap Boom (E/W)
15.05: Rummani
15.40: Dreamfield
16.15: Stradivarius
16.50: Ghayyar
17.20: Sharaakah (NAP)
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