4.20pm Redcar Tips & Betting Preview 31/05/2016

IN SUMMARY: Just Us Two still has some scope to improve and met some traffic when third at Thirsk on his latest outing, so it’s easy to understand why he’s been made favourite. However, he might need fast ground to be seen to best effect and, with rain forecast, he’s worth opposing. The old-timer CAPTAIN DUNNE (16/1 Each Way) is patently not the force of old but he put in a decent front-running shift when seventh on his latest outing and that performance can be rated better than the bare form. He’s 3lb lower now and, at the odds on offer, is worth supporting each-way. Bashiba returned to form when third to Rusty Rocket over C&D recently and, although not obviously well handicapped, might be capable of slightly better if the ground is slower today. Fredricka needs to bounce back from a disappointing performance but she ran well on her seasonal debut and also gets a mention.

1 Just Us Two – Still quite lightly raced and has run well on both starts this season, more recently when third at Thirsk (5f, good to firm) 17 days ago, where he didn’t get the best of runs; good chance on that evidence but any rain will reduce his appeal.

2 Lexington Place – Made quite promising seasonal debut when keeping-on fourth at Beverley (5f, soft); soundly beaten in two Class 2 events since then but will appreciate today’s drop in grade and is now back on his last winning mark; won’t mind what the weather does and can’t be ruled out.

3 Rusty Rocket – Ten wins from 65 career starts, the latest gained by a nose over C&D (good to firm) this month; will cope well if there’s ease underfoot this time but was comfortably held under a 6lb penalty on latest outing and even today’s 3lb higher mark may leave him vulnerable.

4 Fredricka – Failed to build on quite pleasing seasonal debut when a disappointing favourite at Thirsk this month but is another 1lb lower today and was a C&D winner last year; versatile ground-wise and is a big player if able to put that latest run behind her.

5 Captain Dunne – Smart in his prime, with career highlight his win in the Epsom Dash five years ago; well into the veteran stage now but ran better than bare form suggests when seventh at Thirsk (5f, good to firm) on latest outing and has been given a chance by the handicapper.

6 Landing Night – Ended last season on a low note and was last of 11 when returning to action this month but bounced back to form to strike at favourite course Catterick (5f, good to firm) 11 days ago; only been raised 3lb but this race looks more competitive and he’d probably prefer the rain to stay away.

7 Bashiba – Began season with two disappointing performances but his keeping-on third to Rusty Rocket over C&D (good to firm) a fortnight ago was much better; probably needs to produce a new career-best performance to overcome current mark but today’s slightly slower ground is in his favour.

8 Ziggy Lee – Absent since finishing down the field on soft ground for Peter Hedger in August 2014; been given some help by the handicapper in the meantime but entitled to need today’s outing.

9 Captain Bob – Better known for his exploits over 7f and seemed to find things happening too quickly when fitted with cheekpieces (now removed) and dropped to 5f for latest run; too well handicapped to rule out and some rain will help but he still needs to prove himself over this trip.

10 Ambitious Icarus – Best of five runs this year when third off 3lb higher mark at Leicester (6f, good to soft) last month; has done all his winning over 5f and is impossible to rule out but is often sluggish in the early stages and some of the others make more appeal.

11 Henley – Gained breakthrough win when making all at Musselburgh (5f, soft) last month, his third start for Tracy Waggott; also ran well when second at Catterick (5f, good to soft) and will be favoured by the forecast rain here but this race is more competitive and he’s 1lb out of the handicap.

myracing Forecast Prices: 3/1 Just Us Two, 7/1 Landing Night, Bashiba, Henley, 8/1 Fredricka, 10/1 Lexington Place, Rusty Rocket, 12/1 Captain Bob, 14/1 Captain Dunne, 16/1 Ambitious Icarus, 33/1 Ziggy Lee