Ruban and Sharaakah among tips for Kempton and Newmarket

Ed Walker’s colt ran with promise on debut when a not knocked about eighth of 13 to Frenchman at Lingfield, and went on to shape better than the bare result suggests in hot races at Haydock and Newmarket, won by the now 92 and 100-rated Lusory and Wilamina.

The three-year-old was allotted an opening mark of just 56 on the back of those efforts but failed to shine off it when a well-beaten 11th of 13 on handicap debut at Redcar over 1m 1f.

However, he has since run very well to finish third at Wolverhampton and Ffos and caught the eye last time out at the former, when staying on strongly to be nearest at the finish and beaten just 1 3/4 length into fifth after being given plenty to do.

It was an effort which suggested his time was near, and Lobster Cocktail has bagged the plum draw in stall one and should be up to winning a race of this nature off his current lowly handicap mark of just 54.

Kempton tips

17.50: Ruban (NAP)
18.20: Archer’s Arrow
18.50: Cinders
19.20: Anfaass
19.50: Golden Wedding
20:20: Jammy Guest
20.50: Canford Belle 
21.20: Lobster Cocktail (NB)

Newmarket best bets: Sharaakah can show rivals the way home

Sharaakah has some strong form to her name and looks to have been found a nice opening to notch a first success of the season in the 1m handicap on today’s card at Newmarket (17.20).

The Ed Dunlop trained filly showed progressive form as a juvenile, winning a maiden at Newmarket before going on to chase home the very useful Nemoralia in a competitive 19-runner handicap at York.

Sharaakah was also far from disgraced on her final start of 2015, when staying on to finish a never nearer 5 1/2 length seventh of 12 to First Victory in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at this venue, and its was a run which suggested she may well have more to offer as a three-year-old.

Superb effort in Sandringham

That view was confirmed when the daughter of Roderic O’Connor finished a fine 1 1/4 length third of 21 to Persuasive in the ultra-competitive Listed class 1 Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot off a mark of 93.

Sharaakah backed that up with a solid third in the Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown off an official rating of 97 and is now able to race off 93 again in what looks a weak class 2 contest for the grade.

This is arguably the easiest task she has faced all season and, with James Doyle in the saddle, Sharaakah can take advantage to land the spoils.

Newmarket best bets

13.30: Kassandra
14.00: Alapinta
14.30: Tap Tap Boom (E/W)
15.05: Rummani
15.40: Dreamfield
16.15: Stradivarius
16.50: Ghayyar
17.20: Sharaakah (NAP)

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