Value Bets – Saturday August 31st

Racing tipster James Boyle has picked out four selections from Saturday’s cards.

Last week was tough going at York! A few close-ish calls including a massive run from 25/1 selection Desert Skyline in the Ebor but ultimately nothing to shout about sadly. However, value punting is always an up-and-down endeavour and hopefully the upside will be on show again soon.

3:50pm Beverley – Shepherd’s Purse – 1pt win @ 25/1

Last time out form is not on the side of SHEPHERD’S PURSE who was beaten a long way at Ripon, but that came in a hot Class 2 affair (the Great St Wilfrid consolation) in which he never stood a chance of being competitive – added to that, 6f doesn’t seem to be his ideal distance nowadays.

Now back down to Class 5 company, he should be much more comfortable with the quality of his rivals and his sole run at this track in July wasn’t bad in hindsight, with the winner scoring twice since, the runner-up finishing second on both subsequent runs and the third was narrowly denied on Wednesday.

Ruth Carr’s 7-year-old is 3lbs lower in the weights to boot and with the strong pace he requires being likely to present itself, quotes around the 25/1 mark appear generous. Jamie Gormley has a solid record when turning out for the yard too; 3 wins from 21 rides, with a further 5 seconds and 3 thirds.

4:05pm Wolverhampton – Brandy Spirit – 1pt win @ 16/1

BRANDY SPIRIT remains a maiden after six appearances and has something to prove following a disappointing second handicap run when ninth of 10 at Ripon earlier this month. However, good-to-soft ground didn’t seem ideal and that track can catch many a horse out, so I’m inclined to forgive.

Just ten days previous, the son of Charm Spirit made a really encouraging handicap debut at York when running on late in the piece to grab fourth place and would have entered many a notebook as a future winner of a race over roughly a mile-and-a-quarter.

Being reunited with Joanna Mason is no negative either and it’s worth noting that probably the best performance produced by the horse came on debut at Newcastle on Tapeta. That was over a much shorter trip, of course, but the underfoot surface might spark him onto another level.

4:25pm Beverley – Calder Prince – 1pt win @ 8/1

Tom Dascombe doesn’t send too many horses to Beverley but boasts a good record here in the past five years with 7 winners from 29 runners. CALDER PRINCE clearly isn’t the horse he once was but may well add to his trainer’s list of successes at the track if a few things pan out in his favour mid-race.

From a simplistic point of view, he arrives on the back of a poor effort at Pontefract but stumbling from the stalls didn’t help matters and a mile on a stiff track isn’t his bag either. I’d take more promise from his previous outing when third at Haydock behind a horse who won again afterwards.

The second was somewhat unlucky not to land a Galway handicap since and the fourth did win next time, so the form looks good. This is a hotter event, no doubt, but back in trip to 7f and with first-time cheekpieces on, we could be set for a revival. If left alone up top, his claims will increase further.

7:15pm Chelmsford – Admirality – 1pt win @ 9/1

ADMIRALITY has proved very consistent since joining Roger Fell’s yard after a few seasons in Ireland and boasts strong credentials when it comes to landing this £100,000 heritage handicap following big efforts in even more valuable races at Ascot and Newmarket on two of his last three runs.

Most recently in the International Stakes at Ascot, the 5-year-old was first home of those who raced towards the far side having broke from the lowest stall but with the four who finished in front coming from gates 21, 23, 27 & 26, it’s safe to say that he wasn’t best positioned to show his true worth.

This time around, he’s positioned low again but on this turning track it can be advantageous, provided that he doesn’t get caught on the fence, and he has previously shown a liking for the All-Weather at Dundalk. I think he has all the attributes to come up trumps here and should be bang there late on.

If you’re looking for more racing tips then check out what myracing have on the horse racing tips page!

• • Who is James Boyle? Read his column Q&A here.
  • Click here to see the full spreadsheet of all bets.