2.30pm Newmarket Tips & Betting Preview 10/06/2017

We have two races to look forward to from Newmarket on ITV, with the Animal Health Trust Handicap the first of those, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

It looks as though there is no stopping the highly progressive OMRAN for Marco Botti, who has only four runs under his belt and has Frankie Dettori booked which is certainly an eyecatcher. He has stepped forward with each run for Botti, breaking his maiden at the second attempt in easy style before a good fourth on handicap debut in a competitive looking race at Newbury in April. Despite an awkward beginning on his latest start at Newcastle, he readily went clear and the handicapper has taken a dim view of that three length success, raising him 9lb which makes this tougher back up in class. That said, his progressive curve is unlikely to stop here and although more is required back on turf, conditions will suit and there is no better man that Dettori to get the best out of him. A shrewd 3,000gns purchase, he has already paid his way and more prize money looks on the way in this.

Lots of last time out winners make this a fascinating handicap and it looks to be a battle of the improvers, with Juanito Chico another who will be looking to kick on from his latest win for William Jarvis. He was seen only eight days ago when posting a career best to win an Epsom handicap comfortably, blocked in his run before charging down the outside to take victory under the booked rider Silvestre De Sousa. He looked to have something in hand that day and further improvement is very much likely from this lightly raced five year old, who will have conditions to suit with the rain holding off in Newmarket this week. This trip is seemingly his optimum and he has to be respected, as he looks to be the likely main danger to our selection.

Roger Varian’s string have been flying in recent times with the yard maintaining a 24% strike rate from their last thirty-three runners and he’ll be hoping that Ejaaby can enhance his tally with another victory in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum. A beaten favourite on his first two runs, he broke his maiden at the third attempt when hanging his way to a Wolverhampton maiden and he has been far from disgraced in two handicap runs thus far. His stamina gave out late on at Leicester on his penultimate start where perhaps he was posted too far back and a 5lb rise for that effort wasn’t enough to prevent him from going close over the six at the same venue twelve days ago. He clearly needed further that day and he gets that in this off the same mark, which means he’s entitled to be involved if he’s made further progress at home. That is likely for a yard in such good form and with conditions to suit, he’s another to consider.

Handicap debutantes are always intriguing proportions and Six Strings is no different for Richard Fahey, as he bids to follow up his maiden success last time out. He performed well in all three of his previous starts which included a ninth in the Super Sprint at Newbury before he went to Newcastle to break his maiden narrowly by a short head on his latest start. He starts off in handicaps off a mark of 87 which does likely require further improvement, but judging by his pedigree he could progress now upped to seven furlongs and he remains completely unexposed. He has certainly done enough to suggest he can be a potent threat in this company, so he deserves a second look.

At a much bigger price and at the bottom of the weights, Mutawakked could be over priced if coming back to his best for Brian Meehan. A winner of a Newbury maiden when holding on gamely at the six furlong trip, he has struggled in handicap company of late, with his best effort out of three runs being his penultimate start where he finished third at Bath, keeping on well but never able to challenge. He was well beaten at Newmarket on his latest start but the handicapper has given him a chance by dropping him two pounds and this step up in trip could suit him judged on his pedigree and previous efforts. He can go on any sort of ground and if his stamina lasts out on his first attempt at the seven, he has possible each way claims.

It’s rare to see a John Gosden horse so far at sea in the market, but Parfait does need more on his third start this season but isn’t one to give up on yet for top connections. Winning his maiden at the fourth attempt when making all after getting things all his own way out in front, he has run respectably in two handicap runs so far this season for Godolphin without hinting he was close to the boil. He was two lengths behind Ejaaby when only fifth at Leciester on his latest start and the cheekpieces will need to squeeze out more if he’s to be threatening the principles in this. He will appreciate conditions and he’s a likely place contender if the headgear does have the desired effect, but it’s more than likely he’ll find at least one too good in this.