5.50pm Yarmouth Tips & Betting Preview 21/09/2017

A field of five go to post for this highly competitive handicap at Yarmouth on Thursday. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: The obvious and best choice is BIG TOUR, who was suited by the drop back to this trip on his latest start when winning at Chelmsford. He was well on top towards the finish and a four pound rise back on turf is very unlikely to stop him from going in again under Pat Cosgrave, who tends to do very well when employed by Saeed bin Suroor. The main danger is Noble Masterpiece who needs to settle better than he did at Kempton on his latest start now dropped back in distance.

1 MOUNTAIN RESCUE – Produced a career best effort when winning over today’s trip at Newmarket two starts ago, eased close home to a comprehensive success. Raised eight pounds, he was well held off this mark at Newbury though which is concerning, but a better effort here wouldn’t be any surprise and he couldn’t be entirely discounted for the placings. He does, however, look vulnerable for win purposes.

2 PASTORAL PLAYER – Came from the clouds at Epsom on his latest start to lead in the final stride, rushing off a very slow start to burst home. He’s now only a pound higher, but the strong pace that day helped him massively and it’s unlikely that the pace will slow as much as it did there in a five runner race here. He also has a 77 day absence to overcome and others are preferred, with softer ground not ideal.

3 THEODORICO – The drop back to seven furlongs has paid dividends on recent starts, winning at Thirsk three starts ago off a three pound lower mark. It does, however, look as though the handicapper has caught up to him, well held on his latest two starts. His latest start came in a similar race at Haydock and he never looked threatening, with the handicapper only relenting a pound. It’s hard to rule him out entirely, however others are easily preferred.

4 BIG TOUR – Has been tried over a plethora of trips thus far in his career, yet the drop back to seven furlongs played to his strengths on his latest start at Chelmsford. He showed a strong cruising speed before taking it up inside the final furlong, keeping on well to fend off the eventual second. He’s up four pounds in the handicap, but there should be more to come from him at this trip and a switch back to turf should suit. Saeed bin Suroor and Pat Cosgrave tend to team up to good effect and he should be a tough nut to crack.

5 NOBLE MASTERPIECE – Improving three-year-old for Sir Michael Stoute who gained his first victory at the fourth attempt in a course and distance handicap, winning with something in hand. That was only Class 5 though and he was far too free when only second at Kempton on his latest start, perhaps given slightly too much to do on that occasion. He’s five pounds higher here and upped in class, so he does have questions to answer, however there could be more to come.