7.55pm Newmarket Tips & Betting Preview 18/08/2017

A field of eight go to post for the final race of the evening at Newmarket on Friday night. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: As long as the ground continues to dry up then Red Tea looks set to go close here with Lulu Stanford taking off a valuable five pounds. That said, DOWAYLA won comfortably on her latest start at Bath and a six pound rise is unlikely to stop her going in again under her in form rider Martin Lane. Saeed bin Suroor’s string have been in great form of late and, with conditions to suit, she can continue her upward curve here to take back-to-back victories.

1 RED TEA – Has a great record on faster ground for Peter Hiatt, winning three starts ago at Pontefract. Despite going up seven pounds, she was also a good second at Pontefract in July. She is up another two pounds as a result, but Lulu Stanford now takes the ride and five pounds off her back and she’s well worth her her claims. If the ground continues to dry up she has to be considered a big danger.

2 FLORENZA – Sprung a 40/1 shock on her latest start at Thirsk two weeks ago, making all in game fashion, only being joined on the line to force a dead heat. She has been raised six pounds as a result, however Jamie Spencer is up first time and she may not be done improving for the very much in form Chris Fairhurst team. She handles all types of ground and she looks a very big danger if in the same form again.

3 DOWAYLA – Daughter of Sepoy who posted a career best effort to comfortably dispatch her rivals at Bath in July, with the handicapper consequently raising her six pounds. She has similar conditions here and there is likely more to come from her, so a six pound rise seems unlikely to stop her going in again under Martin Lane. Saeed bin Suroor is in good form at present and she looks set to take all the beating.

4 BINT DANDY – Seems happiest at left-handed tracks for Chris Dwyer so, although she was only just denied at Brighton on her latest chance, she’s far from assured to follow that up here. She ran at Newmarket on her penultimate start, but she was well beaten and this is likely to be just as tough. She looks up against it here under Silvestre De Sousa and is best watched on this occasion.

5 LAWMAKING – Completely out of form this season until springing a 20/1 surprise over course and distance last month, with the handicapper raising him five pounds. He now goes up from Class 5 to Class 3 and he’s far from guaranteed to back up that victory considering how poor he had been prior to that effort. James Doyle takes the ride which makes him interesting, but he’s not one to rely on heavily.

6 PALMERSTON – Maintains a good record at the mile trip for Mick Appleby, though his form has dipped since a good win at Beverley in May off today’s mark. He had excuses on his latest start, but none for his penultimate sixth at Nottingham where he was keen early on. If managing to settle better on this occasion with Josie Gordon taking over the ride he’d have each way claims, but that isn’t a guarantee.

7 DEREK DUVAL – Lightly raced sort who has only run seven times, winning on two occasions, the latest of which coming three starts ago here over the seven furlong trip. He nearly followed up at York when second and the softer ground is a viable excuse for his modest run here off today’s mark. If the ground dries up enough to have ‘firm’ in the description he would have a good chance, but that isn’t guaranteed and his stamina isn’t proven for the mile either. Others are less risky.

8 ZYMYRAN – Has struggled in the main this season for David Simcock, well beaten on his last two runs over the 1m 2f trip. He does, however, return to the mile where he should be happier stamina wise and the headgear goes on to try to eke out more from him. A mark of 79 is lenient on some of his best form and, with Harry Bentley taking the ride, he’s a definite each way contender for an in form yard.