4.30pm Salisbury Tips & Betting Preview 30/04/2017

This is a Class 3 handicap over 1m 6f see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: There’s plenty to like about the lightly-raced THE TARTAN SPARTAN and he can win this. He ran a pleasing race on his seasonal reappearance to finish third and he showed more than enough ability so suggest he can score off this mark having run in Group and Listed company last season. Yorkidding can follow him home for the Mark Johnston stable although this marks looks stiff enough.

1 YORKIDDING – 3lbs higher than his last winning mark which came in a competitive Class 2 handicap at Newmarket last August. He returns off a seasonal break today which shouldn’t be an issue given he’s run well off a break in the past and he should be dangerous again now dropping in grade. He does have to shoulder top-weight here and this is a career high mark but he’s impossible to rule out.

2 THE TARTAN SPARTAN – Lightly-raced sort making just his sixth career start to date. He finished 2 lengths behind Carbon Dating on his seasonal return earlier this month but he had run well in Group and Listed company previous to that and he deserves his chance off this mark. The ground should be fine and he’s a fascinating runner in this for the stables first runner here. Well-treated with a small weight-for-age allowance.

3 GLARING – 2 wins from 20 career starts and he’s been hurdling this winter which will have kept him fit as he returns to the flat. He was well-beaten off 4lbs higher in a tougher race than this over C&D back in September and this is a more realistic level. He’s only achieved one victory in 16 flat races although this is the lowest handicap mark he’s yet to face. Certainly not without a chance but others make more appeal at the weights.

4 SUNBLAZER – Without a victory since completing a hat-trick of wins on the All-Weather back in February of last year. He’s beginning to slip down the weights and is now 6lbs lower than his last winning mark so he’s certainly on a fair rating. This is weaker than his last two races on the All-Weather although he is better on the sand, having only recorded one of his 7 flat wins on the turf. He is the yard’s first runner here.

5 MARK HOPKINS – Was only seen on two occasions last season and he couldn’t get involved on either start. He was sent off at 7/2 and 13/2 so there was plenty expected of him but he could only finish out of the back in each race and that makes him an un-certain prospect here. He may have had one or two issues which have kept him off the track and he arrives here off a 2lb lower mark. Would be interesting with market support.

6 PARIS PROTOCOL – Returns to action off a 239-day break having been well beaten in a Class 2 handicap at Ascot last September. That was a disappointing run and the handicapper has dropped him 2lbs to today’s mark of 88 which leaves him with something to work with. He’s yet to win in handicap company and his sole success came in maiden company but he’s the choice of Ryan Moore and the yard are in good form of late.

7 GREAT AND SMALL – Galileo filly who’s been raised 10lbs for a decent effort in Listed company at Ascot last September. This will require a good effort off a break now up in the weights but his yard do well here with a 15% strike rate at Salisbury and they have sent out winners in the past fortnight. Her sole victory came in maiden company and the percentage call is to oppose her given she may just need this run off a break.

8 ALLUMAGE – Another lightly-raced sort who returned off a long break at Kempton last month having been off the track for over a year. She’s been given some time since which is positive to gather herself again and connections will be hopeful that there will be more to come now off a 3lb lower mark. She’s not the safest of propositions here and requires some faith following her infrequent racecourse appearances.

9 PLYMOUTH SOUND – Steps up in trip to 1m 6f today having been slowly developed over further. He’s without a win since his racecourse debut back in July 2014 which came over 6 furlongs and he looks to be held by the handicapper at the moment having never quite been able to threaten the winner. He’s down another pound and the visor is applied for the first time so there are some positives to his profile and market support would be significant.

10 MEDBURN CUTLER – Beaten by a well-handicapped rival at Newbury in October by 3 lengths and he deserves respect for that run, having been beaten by just 3 lengths. That came over 2 miles and the step down in trip shouldn’t be an issue although he has looked better over that slightly longer trip. His best form has come on Soft and Heavy ground so today’s Good to Firm conditions might be a significant issue. Best watched here.

11 COTTON CLUB – Experienced handicapper who races off an 11lb lower mark than on the All-Weather. He’s technically well-in having won off a mark of 82 over an extended two miles at Wolverhampton last season but that came in a much weaker race than this and his overall form needs plenty of improvement to get involved here. He’s vulnerable to all of the lightly-raced sorts and others make more appeal today.