4.00pm Redcar Tips & Betting Preview 30/05/2017

An open looking five furlong sprint, a competitive Class 4 handicap, read on for our experts tips and runner by runner guide to the 4.00pm at Redcar.

IN SUMMARY: A number of front runners here so there will be no hiding place over this fast five furlong trip. That will suit Foxtrot Knight who has been a little disappointing since dead heating with Black Grass at Ripon, but the strong pace is exactly what he needs. Bashiba may run into a place as he has done off slightly lower marks in recent times but ROSINA looks the way to go. She won first time up as a juvenile, starting last season in Listed company. She was placed twice off this mark at the back end of last season and looks a really solid each way pick.

1 BASHIBA – Nigel Tinkler’s six year old has generally been progressive through his career. He won over this course and distance back in July 2014 off a mark of 54, finding himself now rated 87. He won off 80 at Doncaster last year and boasts places off both 85 and 86 so the mark may not be beyond him yet. He has struggled to find an extra gear late on this season though, including here last week and that suggests that he is a shade vulnerable off top weight.

2 FIRST BOMBARDMENT – Still three pounds above his last winning mark, despite his runs thus far in 2017 not being anywhere close to his best. His best run of the season came when Patrick Vaughan was on board, but he was still behind Bashiba on that occasion and shouldn’t reverse placings, despite being on four pound better terms. He does however wear a tongue tie for the first time and this may perhaps allow a stronger finishing effort.

3 BLACK GRASS – Very progressive in 2016, climbing a stone and a half in the weights, successful on four occasions, including once over this course and distance. He dug deep to make a winning return at Ripon before flopping badly in a first time visor. That headgear is swiftly removed so the poor run is easily excused. Will need another career best to score but that is possible as he’s still lightly enough raced and his front running style is often the place to be over this trip at Redcar.

4 ROSINA – Won three times as a juvenile before suffering a sophomoric slump in 2016. She did at least end her campaign with a couple of smart efforts, including when beaten less than a length by Wentworth Falls (dual winner since) from this mark at Nottingham. It will be interesting to see if the market suggests she is ready to go first time up this season (won on two year old debut) as she is just two pounds above her last winning mark and looks a very solid each way option.

5 JUST US TWO – Both career handicap wins have come off this same mark of 80, which makes him of immediate interest for ‘Sprint King’, Robert Cowell. The second of those was on the Tapeta at Newcastle in March but his form since has left plenty to be desired. This is a little easier than last time out at Goodwood and on a track that should suit his run style, he is certainly deserving of plenty of respect.

6 FOXTROT KNIGHT – Dead heated with Black Grass when the pair met at Ripon earlier in the season, he finds himself five pounds better off at the weights now, taking into account jockey’s claims. Not handicapped out of things off just two pounds higher by any means and although his recent efforts haven’t had quite the same sparkle, he will get a good strong pace to run at here which is crucial for him to perform at his very best.

7 ROYAL MEYZAN – Sole handicap win on turf came off a five pound higher mark than this back in August 2015. That was a 33/1 shocker in the midst of a run of fourteen races, where he was never sent off shorter than 11/1. He was never able to get competitive back from a break at Newmarket last time but he has always been one to improve as the season progresses, likely to need this as well before he gets competitive later in the summer.

8 LYDIA’S PLACE – Was ideally placed to score at Beverley two starts ago, tracking a strong pace before pouncing inside the final furlong. She was nowhere near that level of form over this course and distance last week when behind the re-opposing Bashiba and that leaves her with more than enough to prove in this company now.

9 DESERT ACE – Just one pound higher than when successful at Ripon last September, he again ran well at that track when probably doing too much in front behind the dead heating Black Grass and Foxtrot Knight on his 2017 return, He again ran with credit when fourth at Musselburgh last time (ahead of Lydia’s Place) but connections appear to not have been so enthralled with the effort as they reach for the headgear now. First time blinkers on such a free going type sounds a note of caution and he could well just end up setting this up for one of the closers.

10 ECONOMIC CRISIS – A nine time winner from eighty five starts, she does the majority of her best work at Hamilton and Musselburgh. Yet to win off a mark this high and with a moderate record when fresh, she would live up to her name for the majority of punters here if she were to score on her first outing for Colin Teague.

11 EXTRASOLAR – Bounced back to form at a lower grade than this the last twice, running on well to hit the frame at Catterick. Those were both over a six furlong trip and all four of his wins over this trip have come on a turning track with an uphill finish. Looks likely to find himself outpaced on this flat five with a number of front runners in opposition, he is best opposed with cheek pieces refitted after running horribly in them the only time they have been tried so far.