2.20pm Salisbury Tips & Betting Preview 17/08/2017

A field of fourteen go to post for the second race of the day at Salisbury on Thursday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Mutineer arrives on the hat-trick but he has a double penalty and a return to turf won’t help his chances. That swings the vote to JACK OF DIAMONDS, who finally returns to the mile trip and has the headgear removed. A mark of 64 sees him well treated on his past exploits and Robert Winston is an eye-catching jockey booking. He will find conditions to suit and this race won’t take much winning, so he is touted to take an eighth career victory.

1 MUTINEER – Arrives here on the hat-trick for Daniel Kubler after taking victory at both Kempton and Wolverhampton, returning to the turf where he is rated higher. He has a twelve pound penalty here which makes hugely tough though, but he does he retain the services of Eddie Greatrex who takes three pounds off his back. Conditions will suit and he couldn’t be ruled out, but others are probably better handicapped.

2 ROLLING DICE – Six year old for Dominic Ffrench Davis who is better known for his exploits over hurdles, running two modest races at the two mile trips over timber the last twice. He was last seen on the flat at Windsor where he was virtually pulled up over the 1m 2f trip, returning to the mile trip today, which he won at in August 2014. He’s now six pounds lower than that mark, but he might not be up to that level anymore and others have far less to prove.

3 JACK OF DIAMONDS – Has been running over the middle distance in the main this season, struggling for form and well beaten on his last two runs. He now returns to the mile distance on a mark of 64, which sees him well treated on his past exploits. His headgear is now removed and this race won’t take much winning, with Robert Winston an eye catching jockey booking. Conditions will suit and he looks a big danger.

4 SPIRITUAL STAR – Consistent eight year old for Lee Carter who had form figures of 31222 since March until pulling up at Kempton on his latest start with something clearly amiss. Prior to that he was disappointing when throwing his chance away at the stalls at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start. He returns to handicaps off a mark of 73, which is a pound above his mark when second at Wolves and a repeat would see him in with a shout of the placings.

5 PICK A LITTLE – Michael Blake inmate who has been hinting that his time could be near on his recent starts, last seen at Brighton where he kept on well to only be beaten a neck. He’s been raised two pounds as a result, but Mitch Godwin retains the ride and continues taking five pounds off his back. Conditions will suit and he’s another to consider as the best of his previous form, he’s very well handicapped.

6 BARISTA – Took a ninth career victory when winning at Southwell under this ride in November and he’s now only three pounds higher than that mark after two poor performances the last twice. He was a long way behind Mutineer when running a strange race at Kempton on his latest start, breaking well enough but then dropping away to be detached, running on strongly late on to pass beaten horses. He has a lot to prove now and he remains risky to back.

7 KASSANDRA – Lightly raced filly for Amy Murphy who showed some promise in maidens for Richard Hannon but left that yard to join Murphy when well beaten at Windsor on handicap debut in April. She showed little and never left the rear quartet, with the handicapper giving her some chance by dropping her five pounds. Harry Bentley takes the ride which is a positive jockey booking, but others have far less to prove.

8 MCDELTA – Posted his best effort for some time on his latest start at Salisbury, keeping on well from a prominent position to finish third, beaten by four lengths. The handicapper has dropped him another pound which is helpful and now Josie Gordon takes over, which is an obvious plus. Conditions will be fine, but he finds winning very difficult and it’s hard to give him any more than place claims in his current form.

9 OLYMPIC DUEL – Won at Kempton back in April in empathic style but he’s failed to back that up since thanks to a five pound rise. He has struggled to beat a rival the last twice but the handicapper refuses to let him go and he remains on the same mark, with a return to turf not of obvious help as he’s always been better on the artificial surfaces. Tom Marquand takes the ride but others make far more appeal.

10 BETSALOTTIE – Last win came back in April 2016 and he’s had plenty of chances since, including on his latest start when sent off favourite at Lingfield. He weakened when asked for an effort and dropped to fifth and he’s only a pound lower here. He makes limited appeal as he’s had enough chances to get his head in front now and others are preferred.

11 BEATISA – Showed some promise in maidens for Ed Walker, finishing fifth on her final maiden run at Lingfield over the mile trip. A step up to the 1m 2f trip clearly backfired when she was well beaten at Ffos Las last month and she should be happier back at this trip, with the handicapper dropped her three pounds. Richard Kingscote takes the ride and she’s not one to discount yet, so she has to be considered.

12 MASQUERADE BLING – Has placed on his last three starts for Daniel Mark Loughnane but that has been the story of his career, close but not close enough. He made is seventeen races without a win when going down to an improver at Yarmouth and a repeat of that performance would see him bang there under Rob Hornby, but looking at his overall record it’s hard to get excited about his chances for win purposes.

13 ROCKET RONNIE – Another who finds winning difficult and his latest third at Wolverhampton is best not taken at face value as he was beaten to the tune of seven lengths. He has been dropped another pound in the handicap but that does little to raise his appeal under Luke Morris and he’s best watched once again.

14 SPARE PARTS – Inconsistent son of Choisir who is a ten race maiden, last seen at Brighton where he put in one of his better performances to finish fourth. He was still beaten a fair way though and despite a pound drop in the weights, he’s another who’s on the list to avoid today.