3.50pm Newmarket Tips & Betting Preview 22/07/2017

This is a Class 2 handicap raced over a mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: There is a lot to like about the chances of Zwayyan in this given he remains unexposed and has his ideal conditions today. However, he looks far too short in the betting and MASTER THE WORLD is an attractive bet against him. He’s shown an incredible level of consistency in some excellent handicaps and a 2lb drop in the weights could be enough to see him back into the winners enclosure today.

1 MASTER THE WORLD – Chases his first success since July 2015 having been trapped in decent handicaps by his prohibitive mark. He’s a consistent sort so the handicapper hasn’t had any need to drop him in the weights but he has finally shown some generosity by dropping him 2lbs for his eighth place finish in the Royal Hunt Cup. That gives him a real chance in this off top-weight and he should take all the beating if he can replicate his last run.

2 BOSSY GUEST – Mick Channon’s gelding has gone a long time without winning, last recording a success in April 2015. All three of his career successes have come over 6 furlongs so there’s a continued doubt about this trip for him although he did run well in the Spring Cup at Newbury back in April. He’s down 3lbs in the weights but he needs to do more for win purposes.

3 PRINCE GAGARIN (Non-runner) – Ed Dunlop’s runner returns to this stable having spent a short spell in the US last season. He won at Keeneland before struggling in a Grade 2 event and he returns to action in the UK off a 5lb lower mark. He has Listed form to his name and he still remains relatively unexposed although he’s probably going to need this run and he may be best watched today. The yard have a 13% strike rate at present.

4 EXAMINER – Has been raised 4lbs in the weights following a comfortable success at Salisbury last time out over a mile. That was a good performance having dropped down the weights slightly and he should follow that run up here in similar conditions. This is a joint-career high mark so he has questions to answer although Jamie Spencer is a positive booking and he comes here with fair form.

5 HIGHLAND COLORI – Andrew Balding’s runner has been on the decline of late, dropping several pounds in the handicap. He’s off 2lbs lower today which leaves him a pound below his last winning mark so there’s every chance he could bounce back to form although he doesn’t exactly find winning particularly easy of late. The yard are operating at a moderate 10% strike rate at present and the market may provide the best clues as to his chance in this.

6 RAISING SAND – Remains relatively lightly-raced for a 5yo and Jamie Osborne’s runner returns off a small-break having finished last of 15 at Newbury last time out. That followed a disappointing effort on his seasonal reappearance when he was pulled up so there is evidently something not quite right at present. The softer ground may be one excuse but something more serious may have been lurking and he’s best watched in this.

7 SECRET ART – William Knight’s runner has been dropped a pound for a disappointing effort at Sandown back in May. He finished tenth in a 12-strong field that day but he’s better than that and he’s worth his chance in this company having won a similar contest off a 4lb lower mark last summer. William Buick is an eye-catching booking and he could be popular in this so he’s worth consideration.

8 BALLARD DOWN – Makes his first start in Class 2 company today having shown some consistent form on the All-Weather throughout his 4yo campaign. He was beaten a neck at Chelmsford last time out and he’s only been raised a pound in the weights so he remains relatively well-handicapped. There could be further progression to come from him but this is a much tougher assignment and he has something to prove against some battle hardened handicappers.

9 MASHAM STAR – Races off an attractive weight in this with his 3yo allowance taken into account and Mark Johnston’s runner is likely to be popular. He’s excellent when going from the front and he’s just bumped into a couple of improving sorts on his last two runs. He’s back up to a mark of 101 which he has failed to score off previously but he’s on good terms in this and he will be tricky to peg back if getting an easy lead.

10 KNIGHT OWL – Finished third of nine in a Class 2 handicap at Ripon back in May and he’s been left on the same mark. That was his first run of the season so he’s entitled to come on plenty for the run although he remains 5lbs higher than his last winning mark and he’s not getting any younger now aged 7. The yard are operating at a 13% strike rate at present but that may not be improved by their runner today.

11 DREAM WALKER – Arrives here on the back of a disappointing run in a Chester claimer and that form is not enough to see him come out on top here. It’s no surprise to see him dropped 3lbs in the weights but that still leaves him above his last winning mark and he looks to be struggling at present. The ground looks ideal for him but he’s vulnerable to plenty of his rivals in this.

12 ZWAYYAN – Was pulled out of an engagement earlier this week due to the ground and William Haggas’ son of Pivotal looks to have found the soft conditions he relishes here. He scored by a neck in a Class 3 Haydock handicap last month and he’s been raised 6lbs for that effort which looks fair and he’s on good terms in this off a low weight. The yard are operating at an impressive 32% strike rate at present and he should go well in this with plenty more to come.

13 TEMPLE CHURCH – Lightly-raced 3yo who beat Raheen House last season in a Class 2 event at Newbury. He’s not shown the same level of form this year although he wasn’t disgraced in a couple of Listed French races and he may be better suited by a truly-run race today. The drop back in trip may inspire some improvement and he is also on a handy mark with his 3yo allowance taken into account. The yard’s form has picked up of late with a 17% strike rate in the past fortnight.

14 MACHENGO – Hugo Palmer’s entry is the least exposed of today’s runners with just three career starts to his name. He broke his maiden in a lowly-Class 5 contest at Wolverhampton in April but he couldn’t build on that at Newbury in May. He’s better than he showed that day and the step back down in trip to a mile looks to be a positive move so there are reasons to expect a better showing in this. However, he’ll have to improve to get the better of some of his rivals in this and others make more appeal.