There are seven meetings to kick off July on Friday. Our 3,745/1 Lucky 15 top tips are from three of the British tracks, Sandown, Doncaster and Newton Abbot.
Clearance (2.30 Newton Abbot)
The best race at Newton Abbot on Friday looks to be this class 3 handicap hurdle. There is a chance that decent flat performer Kolisi is still likely to progress off a mark of 105.
However, he is taken on with a course and distance scorer from earlier in June. Having won just once over hurdles previously, in a seller at Stratford in August 2019, CLEARANCE came good in relatively cosy fashion on his first start at this venue last time out.
Trainer Michael Blake won with his only other runner in the last two weeks, We’re Reunited on the flat, and a 5lb rise for his charge’s latest success does not look overly harsh. He is still rated as high as 75 on the flat, which would continue to give him leeway over timber.
His previous seven victories had all been in spells (back-to-back in January/February 2019, hat-trick in August 2019 and back-to-back in July/August 2010), so as this track looked to be to his liking, he could well complete a double once again.
Grand Central (2.55 Sandown)
The colours of Coolmore are on show at Sandown on Friday, but not for Aidan O’Brien.
GRAND CENTRAL is under the care of Clive Cox, but he is just as well-bred as any of those sent into training within Ballydoyle’s walls. Ryan Moore also takes the mount and the son of speedy juvenile Sioux Nation may be well up to winning this season.
His dam was a winner over 8.5f and there is a gentle blend of speed and stamina throughout Grand Central’s pedigree. This 7f trip should therefore be the ideal one over which to start him and Cox’s juveniles are operating at 18%. Just under half of their finishing positions have been in the first three.
Neither One Nation or Stormbuster inspired enough on their racecourse appearances so far and are with taking on. This intriguing runner is the one taken to do so.
Burning Cash (3.20 Doncaster)
Apart from on his debut, BURNING CASH has an excellent record over course and distance, including a useful victory last time out.
Paul Midgeley’s four-year-old was a close fourth in a Group 2 at this track and trip as a juvenile, having gone off at 150/1. Indeed, until his last run at three, when fifth in a York Listed race in May 2021, he had been contesting races in very useful company.
However, after a long layoff, he made a low-key return in handicap company at Musselburgh. That clearly blew the cobwebs away though, for he bounced back to a neck success here earlier this month.
The margin of victory probably did not do his win justice and a 2lb rise looks lenient. Further success here looks very possible and he can be expected to finish off the race well.
Fox Vardy (4.38 Sandown)
The ultimate name for a King Power-owned horse, FOX VARDY is a very decent price to get back to winning ways for the first time in over two years.
Though he may now be operating at below his peak powers, his first two runs for Ralph Beckett for very solid. His first effort at Lingfield saw him finish third at six, while he was placed from a tricky draw at Chester when his trainer reckoned he was unsuited by the track.
He was down the field at Goodwood last time, but that was on soft ground which has never been his preference. He now possesses a mark of 84, which is only 1lb above a 14-length success at Newmarket, his last victory.
He does keep on over this sort of trip and while this field is competitive, he is fancied to come out on top.