4.35pm Newmarket Tips & Betting Preview 13/07/2017

A five furlong sprint strong on both quality and numbers, four places currently available make this a great puzzle for the each way punter. Read on for our expert tip and preview.

IN SUMMARY: Ice Age is the most solid of those towards the top of the betting, the step down to this trip could well suit this point and shoot type. Jumira Bridge is likely to be popular but looks like a sixth furlong would suit sooner rather than later. Mont Kiara is an interesting outsider, showing some of his best form here, he just failed to win the vote from SOIE D’LEAU who won this race last year. The heavy rain Tuesday night will have taken the sting out of the ground, he is a huge player at a big price from just a four pound higher mark.

1 MONSIEUR JOE – Last win came a year ago over this course and distance in a conditions race. He is still a pound above his last winning mark in a handicap, not seen at his best in any 2017 outing. Has the ability to get involved but will need to step up considerably on his form this season to do so.

2 POYLE VINNIE – Not the easiest to win with, he often finds little off the bridle. His last turf win was two years ago from a mark four pounds below his current level, that triumph coming on soft ground, The recent rain will have taken the sting out the ground, but he is no more than a place proposition from this mark.

3 GO FAR – Still a pound above his highest ever winning mark, a victim of his own consistency this season. He was placed on the Rowley Mile in May, but that, like the majority of his best form has all come over six furlongs, has a bit to prove dropped to the minimum trip.

4 KING OF ROOKS – Sent off favourite for the Norfolk and Molecomb at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood respectively as a juvenile. He suffered a sophomoric slump last season, showing nothing like his best form, now making his 2017 debut for the yard of Henry Spiller. Has more than enough to prove and is hard to consider as a winning prospect.

5 ORVAR – Placed from this mark on both starts in 2017, connections reach for cheekpieces for the first time in a bid to squeeze a little more from him. Those were both Class 3 contests, so more is needed even if the headgear has the desired effect at this level.

6 JUMIRA BRIDGE – Still looked a little unfurnished when runner up over this course and distance last time, hanging in the closing stages. There should be more improvement to come given how lightly raced he is compared to the majority of these, but his performances this season have looked of a horse who needs a step back up in trip, may find a few of these too sharp.

7 SOIE D’LEAU – The 16mm of rainfall on Tuesday night will been perfect for this horse, who has shown his best when able to get his toe in a little. That isn’t to say he can’t win on quicker, as he took this very race in 2016 on good to firm from a four pound lower mark. He hasn’t quite achieved in 2017 what looked likely last back end, when winning off 96 at Doncaster, but he has a huge each way chance on his very best.

8 A MOMENTOFMADNESS – Trailblazing frontrunner, anyone who is leading him up in the early stages is going too quick. He has shown smart placed form this season, most notably when fourth in the ‘Dash’ on Derby day. He missed the kick and as a result he was held him up on the all weather last time, tactics that saw his unbeaten record on sand ended. Should be allowed his head again here and play catch me if you can.

9 TOMILY – A regular eye catcher, as at Sandown the day before the Eclipse. He rattled home from last into fourth at the line, but it is becoming a regular feature with him, struggling to justify the impression he makes. Will get the strong pace he needs here, but may once more be staying on when it’s too late to grab a place.

10 OH SO SASSY – Just 1/19 on turf (4/8 on the all weather) that win coming on quick ground from a five pound lower mark. She made a solid return from two pounds higher over this trip on the Rowley Mile in a lesser contest, flopping twice since on good to soft. On a workable mark on her best, she will need the ground to dry out completely to get competitive.

11 SHAMSHON – A neck in front of Tomily on Friday, he has slipped to a mark five pounds below his last winning one. Has an each way chance if he is able to back that effort up with a quick turnaround, 0/4 so far in his career when racing again within ten days.

12 ICE AGE – Has shown career best form this season from the front over six furlongs. Well supported into favouritism at Windsor last time, he was just run out of it in the last half furlong, having taken them along. This will be the first time in his career he has tried five furlongs, but the speed he has shown to lead over six, coupled with first time headgear, make him an intriguing proposition.

13 COMPAS SCOOBIE – Runs off a ten pound higher mark to the one he began the season on, put up two pounds each time for a pair of runner up efforts of late. He has stayed on well over both five and six furlongs, but in a similar vein to Tomily, shaping well, but doesn’t always get going until it’s too late.

14 MONT KIARA – Won over six furlongs on the July course last season from a six pound higher mark, placed over this trip here on good to soft earlier that campaign. This year he has shown little in the way of sparkle, but a return to this track may produce a better performance, looks an interesting outsider.

15 TOP BOY – Just 1/44 on turf and 6/71 overall, he is a difficult horse to win with. Has run well here in the past, including when placed in this race last year, needs more from a slightly higher mark but the quicker they go in front, the better it will suit him.

16 FOXY FOREVER – Enjoyed a very profitable 2015, but high points in his form since have been few and far between. He showed up far better last time out at Sandown, moving well from a wide draw before finishing third. That was only a Class 4 race though, so much more is needed at this level, despite a very tempting handicap mark.