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Ocean can make Leicester waves

Written by Press Association | May 29, 2023 5:15:39 PM

Charlie Appleby looks the man to follow at Leicester, where Ocean Runner could put himself in the Royal Ascot picture if taking the opening Join Racing TV Now EBF Novice Stakes.

The two-year-old is from the first crop of his handler's former sprint king Blue Point who has made a fantastic start to his stallion career and Ocean Runner was not disgraced himself when starting out at Ascot earlier this month.

The expensive 625,000 guineas breeze-up buy was sent off the odds-on favourite for what looked a deep maiden at the Berkshire track and a race used by his handler to start off some of his top youngsters in the past.

Although turned over, there was plenty of encouraging signs following a sluggish start, and having only been beaten two lengths on ground that would not suit, Ocean Runner is given a second opportunity to prove his class on a sounder surface.

Impressive Act could quickly provide the Moulton Paddocks handler and his number one jockey William Buick with a double if building on a promising debut at York in the Every Race Live On Racingtv EBF Maiden Stakes.

A 650,000 guineas son of Dubawi, he is the first colt to make the track out of Fred Darling winner Dabyah, and chased home a smart operator in Dominic French Davis' Cuban Thunder for a silver medal when making his bow.

That rival is off to the Coventry Stakes next and it would be no surprise if this lad ends up joining him if progressing as expected.

Both of Menalippe's career victories have come over the course and distance of the Visit racingtv.com Fillies' Handicap and it would be no surprise to see another trip to the east midlands prove fruitful for James Ferguson's filly, while Musical Tribute has been knocking on the door in two starts this term and commands plenty of respect in the Watch On Racing TV Fillies' Handicap.

Zarga is the name to note at Redcar and looks to have a standout chance in the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Fillies' Handicap.

It is always wise to pay attention whenever trainer Sir Michael Stoute sends the horse box north with the master of Freemason Lodge holding a strike-rate touching 25 percent at the track. He could now have found the ideal opportunity for the daughter of Camelot to open her account following some eye-catching runs in defeat.

She bumped into some useful opponents in her three outings as a juvenile last term and looked in real need of the step up to 10 furlongs (2000m)when running on for third over a mile (1600m) at Nottingham on her return.

The handicapper has left her alone for that and she could make a mark of 74 count here.

Burglar could steal the prize-money in the Watch Irish Racing On Racing TV Novice Stakes if in the same form as when winning impressively at Lingfield on debut.

Things didn't go completely to plan when upped to 10 furlongs for his second start, but having been keen to post and showed plenty of keenness throughout the contest, he did well to still finish third.

He will have learnt plenty for that outing and although Stoute's Crystal Mariner looks a tough nut to crack, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Cracksman colt can gain some revenge for stablemate Lion's Pride who had to play second fiddle to that one recently.

It took Premiership until the 11th attempt to get off the mark but like London buses a second victory has quickly followed. Tracy Waggott has the four-year-old in rude health and he can reward the Spennymoor handler with further success in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap.

They race on turf at Lingfield and Hughie Morrison's Ascari has shown plenty of promise in three starts to appeal as an interesting handicap debutant dropping back to six furlongs (1200m) in the Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap.

Also on the card, Mark Loughnane's Triggered could notch up his fourth win in five in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap if transferring recent all-weather form to the grass. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings today. Here are the tips:

LEICESTER: 1.55 OCEAN RUNNER (NAP), 2.30 Impressive Act, 3.00 Menalippe, 3.30 Prophet's Dream, 4.00 Montelusa, 4.30 Musical Tribute, 5.05 Future Times.

BRIGHTON: 2.10 Big Time Maybe, 2.40 Bush Rose, 3.10 Romanovich, 3.40 Cape Cornwall Rose, 4.10 Sir Winston, 4.40 Deed Pole, 5.10 Wiley Post.

REDCAR: 2.20 Mapmaker, 2.50 King Harry, 3.20 Burglar, 3.50 Zarga, 4.20 Platinum Girl, 4.55 Premiership, 5.25 Enderman.

LINGFIELD: 5.40 Royal Dream, 6.10 Balgair, 6.40 Chriszoff, 7.10 Cinderella's Dream, 7.40 Triggered, 8.10 Ascari, 8.45 Yimou.

NOTTINGHAM: 6.25 Ivy Avenue, 6.55 Ardad's Great, 7.25 Al Muzn, 7.55 Blind Beggar, 8.25 Vitralite, 9.00 Sugar Candie.