4.30pm Redcar Tips & Betting Preview 04/05/2017

A field of nine go to post for the penultimate race of the day at Redcar on Thursday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Gilgamesh has been progressive of late with three straight victories but has been raised another 4lb and faces more experienced opposition this time around, so it looks worth going with David O’Meara’s FIELDSMAN. He reappeared last season with a good success at Newmarket off today’s mark and he was far from disgraced on his last two starts where he was midfield in two competitive handicaps. Conditions are to suit and the fact he goes well fresh is a big plus, so he looks likely to take a main role under 3lb claimer Shelley Birkett and is respected.

1 FIELDSMAN – Won well on seasonal reappearance last year at Newmarket off today’s mark, keeping on well to snatch the race when with George Scott. He didn’t however go on from that when well beaten on most of his starts, posting his best effort at Ascot when sixth in a listed race for Lady Amateur riders. Has left George Scott since his latest run at Newmarket and makes his debut for David O’Meara today and if back the form of his win, which looks likely, he’d have to be considered a big danger. Clearly goes well fresh and conditions are to suit, so all signs point to a good run.

2 MOHAB – Has too many zeros against his name to be confident on his chances and he was well beaten on seasonal appearance last month, weakened out of a prominent position at the two furlong poll when asked for an effort. His only win came back in Maiden company and he’s yet to threaten in handicaps, though his mark has gone down 12lb since he started out in handicaps in late 2015. Regardless, he’s risky and others make far more appeal on the balance of his recent form.

3 SAKHEE’S RETURN – Ran some good races last season including a third at Ascot in July when ahead of Fieldsman and he made a very pleasing return at Doncaster on his latest start when finishing third in a big field handicap with the tongue tie enlisted. He remains on the same mark and should have come on for the run, so has to be considered a big contender with Rachel Richardson more than worth her 3lb claim.

4 SHAMAHEART – Won twice here last season and although he has been finishing midfield of late, he has been far from disgraced and wasn’t beaten far on a number of occasions. He came home in fifth on his penultimate start at Newcastle before benefiting from the switch back to turf when seventh here over C&D, only beaten around three lengths in a blanket finish where he was staying on strongly. Down another pound in the handicap and his each way claims are obvious once again.

5 SLEMY – Last win came back in June at this trip at Musselburgh but he has shown very little since then, well beaten on both his starts this season for Ruth Carr. He showed very little when last seen at Catterick and he’s almost impossible to put forward on that basis, with conditions identical in this and his mark only let down a pound. The yard is in good form which is a plus but he’s too risky for us at present.

6 GILGAMESH – Progressive three year old who has now won three times in a row, winning on handicap debut at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start under and heels. Raised 4lb, he scored again over the same C&D when staying on strongly to win narrowly and has been raised another 4lb as a result. Comes up against some wiser rivals this time and likely to need to raise him game again, but that looks very likely and he should make his presence felt under Jamie Spencer.

7 DEANSGATE – Consistent sort for Julie Camacho but has proved impossible to win with after fourteen runs, placing a total of five times thus far. He made a pleasing return at Newcastle on the all weather when finishing forth and staying on well, but that didn’t represent any improvement from last seasons runs and his profile as a whole is not at all progressive. Likely each way contender but he looks exposed and will likely find at least one too good.

8 TAILOR’S ROW – Has placed five times since a debut with at Chelmsford in May 2016, finishing second for the forth time on his latest start when beaten by Gilgamesh at Wolverhampton on his latest start. He has a 7lb pull at the weights but that rival has improved since and that probably only just levels them out on balance. He’s become frustrating and needs improvement from somewhere to be winning this, with his profile offering little hope he can progress. Each way player but that’s likely the biggest chance he has.

9 TAI SING YEH – Only two runs under his belt for Charles Hills, showing promise on debut when fifth at York despite a far from easy passage and he backed up that performance when winning at Lingfield over the seven furlong trip two weeks later, making all nicely. Makes his handicap debut off a mark of 80 which does demand more but he’s completely unexposed and could improve drastically. Each way claims but may just find one or two too good in this.