7.30pm Bath Tips & Betting Preview 21/04/2017

This is a competitive maiden over a mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Brian Meehan boasts an excellent 32% strike rate at Bath and INTERNATIONAL LAW should break his maiden tag today. He showed some decent form in two maidens last year and this Exceed And Excel colt should have progressed over the winter to win this. Manton Grange has a penalty to shoulder but shouldn’t be far away whilst Aware is another runner open to any amount of improvement.

1 EBEN DUBAI – 5yo son of New Approach who makes just his fourth career start today. He’s been beaten out of sight on three occasions and returns to action here off a near 2-year absence. He had to carry a weight-for-age penalty of a stone and it would be a huge surprise to see him win this on these terms. Trainer’s first runner here.

2 MANTON GRANGE – 6-race maiden although he’s run to a modest level of ability and he sets the standard off a mark of 75. He finished second over 7 furlongs in a Redcar maiden last summer and that form would give him the beating of a few of these but like Eden Dubai, he must shoulder a large weight-for-age penalty. Connections keep him in maiden company and whilst not without a chance, he is exposed to lightly-raced rivals.

3 ACT SWIFTLY – Racecourse debut today for this 16,000GNS yearling purchase and he’s related to winners in and around this trip. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see support for him in what is a poor maiden but the yard’s runners do better with experience and they are without a winner from their last 11 runners. Market support would be significant but handicap company is the likely target for this son of Requinto.

4 AWARE – Expensive yearling purchase at 90,000 Euros and he’s raced just once when beaten 9 1/2 lengths over a mile at Lingfield. This trip looks right for him at this stage and connections clearly feel there is more potential in him than he’s shown to date. Conditions should be fine here and he is related to winners around this trip so he’s in with a chance. Yard have an excellent 23% strike rate here and they’ve been in good form of late.

5 DESERT EXPLORER – Nice introduction to racing when a staying-on third at Kempton earlier this month. He has the benefit of race fitness over many of his rivals which should stand him in good stead but he’ll probably need further than this in time and a strong pace to aim at. The yard have a poor 6% strike rate here and others make more appeal in this.

6 GEORDIELAD – Half-brother to a nice sort and Jamie Osborne’s runner has a pedigree full of stamina. He’s by Geordieland and his dam’s sire was Danehill Dancer so he’s probably going to want further than this in time and the yard aren’t renowned for first time out winners. The stable have been in good form of late (2 winners from 10 runners) although they don’t excel here and stall 9 makes life tough.

7 INTERNATIONAL LAW – Twice-raced Exceed And Excel colt who did more than enough as a 2yo to suggest he’s well up to winning a race of this nature. He ran in two Class 4 maidens and was just touched off on his final start of last year finishing 1/2 a length behind Rosarno. He should be competitive here with normal progression and the Firm ground shouldn’t pose any issues. The yard thrive here with a 32% strike rate and he’s the one they have to beat.

8 ROMANOR – Sets the standard alongside Manton Grange here off a rating of 75. He has something at the weights with him on today’s terms and he’s run with credit over a mile at Yarmouth and Brighton as a 2yo. There should be more to come this year although the yard have only sent out one winner from 9 runners here at Bath. Ground shouldn’t be a problem and the hood is left on again today. Returns off a 199-day break.

9 FIENDISH – Only filly in the race and she’s been tried over a mile and a mile and 2 furlongs in her career to date. She’s got plenty of stamina from her sire but the drop back in trip to a mile shouldn’t be an issue having only been beaten a head over this trip at Chelmsford back in April. Likely to attract support and stall 2 is ideal. Likely to be prominent and may even take them along here and she would be dangerous with an easy lead.