4.30pm Salisbury Tips & Betting Preview 07/08/2017

A mile is the trip for the second division of this Class 6 handicap. Our runner by runner preview and our expert tip is below.

IN SUMMARY: CAPTAIN SEDGWICK showed much improved form when stepped up to this trip for the first time, last time out. With that win boosting her confidence, she can double her tally in what looks another weak contest. Babette is interesting on her handicap debut, stepping up to what looks a more suitable trip. She was never in the race over six furlongs here last time but still showed notable promise down the field. Nightswift and Love And Be Loved are others who are capable of playing a part in the finish.

1 PRINCE OF CARDAMOM – Scored twice on quick ground last July, two pounds higher still for the latter of those wins. Has run with a degree of credit on a much softer surface in the past, but he is going to need more if he is able to get his head in front for a third time now.

2 SMART MOVER – Has struggled badly since joining the Nicki Evans yard, slipping seventeen pounds in the handicap. She has been kept primarily to quicker ground in that time, despite two of her wins coming on a soft surface. Connections fit first time cheekpieces in a bid to get her back on track and from this low a mark, she has a each way squeak at a big price.

3 WINDSORLOT – Twenty race maiden, he showed a little more on his third start for Tony Carroll last time out, but that isn’t enough to think that he is capable of playing a hand in the finish here. He has no problems with this trip, but the majority of his best form came in Ireland when running on the all weather.

4 JUST FAB – Yet to score in seven starts on turf, she has landed just a sole Class 7 handicap on the all weather from a basement mark of 45. Her best turf run came on very soft ground at Redcar in a maiden so she may prove well enough suited by conditions, but there isn’t enough form in the book to be confident of her being able to play a major part in the finish.

5 ARQUUS – Should be capable of making more of an impression now that he steps into handicap company from maidens. He has beaten just six rivals home in that time, running his worst race last time out when faced with a soft surface. His half brother is a six time winner so there should be more to come, but he is going to have to step forward plenty to win this.

6 NIGHTSWIFT – Showed his first glimmer of form last time out on soft ground at Leicester. That was over a furlong shorter than this, staying on well close home to grab fourth. He may just be a late developer – now a five year old – capable of better after just seven career races. He is a pound lower now and if capable of stepping forward a little more has an each way shout.

7 BABETTE – Ex Godolphin, she was picked up for just £6,000 in the spring. She has had just the three runs for a mark, stepping up slightly on the last of those at this track over six furlongs. She was never close to being able to get involved on that occasion, shaping well down the field for the future. This is a weak contest in which she makes her handicap debut and deserves plenty of respect.

8 TAKE A DROP – Yet to get her head in front in thirteen starts, she ran her best race on her debut for this yard at Brighton last time out. She was faced with a tough task there against a 4/9 favourite, but ran the rest of the field ragged from the front, Has a chance if able to build on that run but the hood she wore there for her best run is now missing which is a concern.

9 SOCRATES – Has shown next to nothing in four starts on turf, his two best runs both coming on the all weather. Continues to slip down the weights and has experience here, but would be of more interest on an artificial surface.

10 LONDON GRAMMAR – Just a single win on the turf from thirteen starts, scoring in a Thirsk claimer last summer on soft ground. She only ran on Saturday at Lingfield, looking none too co-operative under pressure in the latter stages. Has the ability from this mark to make an impression but she is a risky proposition at present.

11 LOVE AND BE LOVED – An impressive scorer when winning at Chepstow on soft ground from four pounds lower at Chepstow in June. She possibly had the run of the race that day, racing on her own away from the main group but with no concerns over the ground or trip, she comes here with an each way chance.

12 HARBOUR TOWN – Very inconsistent, he has shown the odd glimmer of form, ten lengths behind Atty Persse in a Sandown maiden last season reads well in the context of this race. He again showed up well on his first start in 2017 having been gelded, but twice since has failed to beat a rival home. Connections reach for first time cheekpieces in an attempt to gain some more consistency but he is tough to support with any degree of confidence.

13 TALLY’S SON – Wasn’t beaten far from this mark at Ffos Las last time out, his first piece of worthwhile form. That was on a better surface than he may get here, but if coping with the softer ground, that run gives him an each way chance in a weak race.

14 CAPTAIN SEDGWICK – Improved for both the step up in trip and running away from good to firm ground last time out when belatedly breaking her duck. That should have done her confidence the power of good, this is a similarly weak contest once more so she can shrug off a six pound rise and continue her improvement.