Racing preview and best bets – Yurika.R

Racing betting tips: Thursday August 15

1pt win Refuge in the 3.45 Beverley at 9/2 (General – min 9/2)

0.5pts e.w Gift of Raaj in the 4.20 Beverley at 14/1 (Bet365 1/5 1,2,3 – min 12/1)

1pt e.w Lil Guff in the 5.00 Windsor at 8/1 (Hills, Unibet 1/5 1,2,3,4 – min 7/1)

1pt win Chief Mankato in the 7.30 Windsor at 3/1 (General – no lower)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Mick and David Easterby are following a tried and proven path with REFUGE, who was a C&D winner under Jo Mason earlier in the summer having run unplaced on softer ground with apprentice Lewis Chalkey doing the steering four days earlier at Catterick. Refuge again ran below form on softish ground at Hamilton on Tuesday with Chalkey riding, and without his usual cheekpieces, and the gelding is again turned out quickly on more favourable ground, and with cheekpieces and Mason utilised.

Given he won off a 7lb higher mark last season, Refuge’s current mark of 63 shouldn’t be beyond him, and he’s got a good draw to work with here. The only concern would be if there was more rain, but the going was good to firm on the first day of this meeting, and I’d be surprised if it rode much slower.

4:20 Beverley – Class 6 (0-65) Handicap 2m32y

An open looking race where chances can be given to a few, but GIFT OF RAAJ looks to be building up to something and with a professional jockey taking over from a 7lb claimer after another eyecatching effort at Redcar last week, today could be the day.

He won at Newcastle back in November and immediately lost his form, finishing down the field on his next two starts and looking like something was amiss, and it was much the same story on his turf reappearance last month, finishing tailed off. Since then he’s looked a bit more like his old self, taking the minor honours in a pair of 1¾m handicaps at Redcar, on both occasions looking like the step back up to two miles was required. Now back below his last winning mark, a win looks around the corner, and odds of 25/1 looked too good to be true this morning.

5:00 Windsor – Racing League Race 22 (0-85) 5f21y

LIL GUFF was right back on song at Sandown two starts ago, winning by a cosy half-length despite finding trouble in the run, and was turned again at Ascot the following day. The chances are that simply came too quickly, but she wasn’t disgraced in a race that has thrown up a couple of winners, and three weeks off since then should have refreshed her. She now gets to race off her revised mark of 81, which is 2lb lower than when carrying a fixed penalty at Ascot and she looks very fairly treated on balance.

Second in this race last year, she’s probably been lined up for this and the booking of Oisin Murphy, who has a record of 231 on the daughter of Twilight Son, looks significant. Stall 1 isn’t the big advantage it was in days of yore, but it’s still a decent draw with the rail immediately on her right.

7:30 Windsor – Racing League Race 27 (0-90) 6f12y

CHIEF MANKATO (Nap) lost his way after a winning start for Charlie Hills last spring but caught the eye starting out for Jack Channon in the 5f handicap on the Tuesday of Glorious Goodwood. That trip is short of his best, and this was his first try, so he can be forgiven for being unable to go the pace, but he still fared best of those drawn high and will be seen in a better light back at six furlongs. His new trainer has impressed with his handling of handicappers to date, and this return to the venue of his debut success on similar ground looks a smart piece of placing.

Published at 1010 BST 15/08/24

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