7.00pm Newmarket Tips & Betting Preview 04/08/2017

This is a Class 3 handicap raced over a 1m 2f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Brorocco continues to run well for Andrew Balding and should be in the hunt, but it’s very hard to look past the potentially useful GAME STARTER. This son of Dubawi finished second on debut in November at Redcar and returned in June to a Newmarket maiden despite obvious inexperience. He was pushed along from an early stage but still had enough to win cosily, giving the impression far more was to come. A step up to 1m 2f should suit him down to the ground and an opening mark severely underestimates his potential. Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride and he should be very tough to beat.

1 NAYEL – Richard Hannon’s runner arrives here on the back of a disappointing run at Ascot in a Class 3 handicap last time out. He was beaten 11 lengths that day and struggled off a 5lb higher mark in a tougher grade. Whilst this is a Class 3, this looks slightly easier than his last assignment so he’s not without hope although he remains on a mark of 90 and others look slightly better treated on these terms.

2 BROROCCO – Looked to have a big season ahead of him when winning a competitive Class 2 handicap earlier this season but he’s not replicated those efforts since. He was beaten a length at Yarmouth last time out having broken slowly and been far too keen in the early stages. He’s been left on a mark of 89 and needs to do more to convince that he’s going the right way having seemed to have found his level for the moment.

3 BREDEN – Linda Jewell’s runner ran a big race off a near 2-year layoff earlier this season when finishing second in a Class 3 handicap. His next start may have come too soon after that run and he will be better today for a small break although the ground looks to have gone against him with his best performances on good and fast ground. Best watched on that basis.

4 GRAPEVINE – Has been dropped a pound following a 3-length defeat at Sandown early last month. He has his sights lowered here and he may go close today given he’s only one pound higher than a solid placed effort in a similar race to this earlier in the year. He has form on Good to Soft which is a major positive and William Buick is booked to ride so there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful about his chances in this.

5 FARQUHAR – Arrives here on the back of some poor performances recently including a last of 16 effort last time out. He’s down another 2lbs today and he’s now back down to a pound below his last winning mark but that came back in October 2014 and he hasn’t looked like the same horse off a long break. He would be of interest with market support but there are far more reliable prospects in this. Opposed today.

6 VISITANT – Has been in good form this season with two victories and a placed effort from four starts. He bumped into a useful sort last time out at York having been well-supported and he steps up into Class 3 company for the first time today. He has something to find with a few of his younger rivals on these terms but he remains on a mark of 85 which looks fair and he should improve again for the David Thompson stable.

7 DR JULIUS NO – Steps up in trip to 1m 2f for the first time today following a length defeat over a mile last time out. The step up in trip could suit having lacked a shade of pace over shorter although that may have due to the smarter opposition he faced. His last success came in a Class 4 handicap at Wolverhampton and there may be some value in opposing him today.

8 GAME STARTER – Unexposed son of Dubawi who improved on a promising debut back in November at Redcar to win a maiden at Newmarket in June. He was pushed along from an early stage but won cosily in the end, looking as though he’d improve markedly for the run. This step up to 1m 2f looks perfect for him and an opening mark of 90 severely underestimates his potential. Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride and he looks unlikely to be beaten today.