6.40pm Bath Tips & Betting Preview 12/07/2017

Blink and you’ll miss it, the second race of the day at Bath is a five furlong handicap and is an interesting contest. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: A previous course and distance winner, FETHIYE BOY arrives on a hat-trick and should be too strong for this field under Ryan Powell. He was all heart and very game when holding on grimly at Sandown on his latest start and that was a tougher race than this. A six pound penalty does demand more but he is progressive and should have more than enough to beat off this field from the front. Now on a much reduced mark, it’s hard to rule out Union Rose if he’s back to form, but that’s far from guaranteed.

1 UNION ROSE – Ronald Harris’ five year old who has competed at a much higher level in the past, finishing fifth in a Class 2 event at York in May in a very competitive event. He is now ten pounds lower than that mark and is in a much less competitive event, so he’d have to be given huge claims in this under Fran Berry. The yard has hit form and with conditions to suit, you’d be hard pressed to not seem him in the top three if on form. That if however is a big one, as he’s impossible to predict.

2 DISCREET HERO – Showed some useful form as a three year old for Simon Crisford and he remains with potential this season. He was a good sixth in a big field event at Goodwood last July and although he ended his 2016 with a poor run at Ripon, he’s now a pound lower and this is considerably easier. Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride and the market will be your best guide to his fitness. Possible each way contender for an in-form yard.

3 GINZAN – Nine year old mare who is a course and distance winner, back to form on her latest start when winning a six runner event at Brighton in June. She was eased close home for a neck success and she is only up three pounds, so if she’s in the same form again she’d have to be given solid claims under Pat Cosgrave. Conditions are to suit and Malcolm Saunders yard is in good form, so a big run is on the cards.

4 FETHIYE BOY – Has won three times this season for Ronald Harris including once over course and distance. He arrives here on the hat-trick after a win over course and distance on his penultimate start before clinging on to make all at Sandown five days ago. That was a tougher race than this and although a six pound penalty demands progress, that looks very likely in this. He should be able to lead once again from stall five, so looks set for a big run under Ryan Powell.

5 TRICK OF THE LIGHT – Unexposed three year old who took his second win when storming away to win an extended five furlong handicap here back in June. He is now four pounds higher, but the drop back in trip is of little concern and he remains with potential for better for a trainer in red hot form at present. David Egan offsets his penalty with his five pound claim and he’s another to consider in a competitive field.

6 SHACKLED N DRAWN – Won off a pound higher mark back in May 2016 at Nottingham and he made an encouraging reappearance from six months off on his latest start. He was third in that race at Salisbury (won by Edged Out), though he was given the run of the race and that doesn’t look probable in this field with Fethiye Boy guaranteed to go for the lead early. Further improvement is needed and he looks unlikely to reverse terms with Edged Out, so he’s best watched.

7 EDGED OUT – Course and distance who got back to form on her latest start at Salisbury, winning readily by half a length and she holds Shackled N Drawn on that form. She has gone up three pounds but that is offset by Lulu Stanford’s claim and she looks to have a good opportunity to follow up if in the same form again for Christopher Mason. Should be on the premises and has to be considered.