INSURGENCE ON THE RISE
Insurgence can bounce back from a lacklustre effort last time by winning the Club188 Exclusive Offers Handicap at Sandown tomorrow.
James Fanshawe’s charge had made strides on the all-weather, winning three of his four starts, including when victorious in a competitive heat at Kempton last month.
However, switched to turf at Yarmouth at the end of June, Insurgence struggled to make the same kind of impact, trailing home an eight-length fourth of five runners.
Racing over a mile that day, he perhaps did not enjoy the most favourable of positions on the track and just ran out of gas in the final furlong.
Switching back to seven furlongs, Insurgence is worth another try on turf.
Heartwarming had to settle for second on her racecourse bow at Sandown last month but can step up on that in the Club188 Hospitality EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes back at the Esher track.
A half-sister to Heartache, she ran a bit green to be beaten less than a length, with winner Kurious subsequently running a creditable race in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
Employer is the pick in the Bet & Watch At 188bet. co.uk Handicap at Leicester after a close-run thing last time out.
He was beaten just a length into third at Yarmouth but hardly helped his cause by hanging across the track, so if he can chart a more direct route, he has more to give.
Oasis Fantasy lost out by just a neck on his most recent outing but the Tom Cribb Handicap appears a good opportunity to get his head back in front.
The seven-year-old has not struck gold in over two years, but he has been placed on his three most recent starts, which offers hope of a return to form.
Jfoul is worth a try in the Smith & Graham/Love Property Nursery Handicap at Catterick, despite making hard work of winning at Chelmsford.
He ran with the aid of a hood but will be without the headgear here, which is an intriguing decision from Saeed bin Suroor.
The Newmarket trainer should also be on the mark at Lingfield, with Mokhles in the Oilfield Offshore Underwriting Handicap.
He posted his best effort yet when second on his most recent start and is reasonably treated for his handicap bow.
Meanwhile, Robbie Power has admitted defeat in his race to be fit for the Galway Festival, which starts next week.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning rider is still recovering from an operation on an old shoulder injury.
He was last in action at Punchestown on June 13, winning aboard Jack Fiasco for trainer Jessica Harrington.
Power tweeted: “Unfortunately I won’t be back in time for @Galway_Races. Just saw my surgeon and while the shoulder is recovering well, Galway is coming a week too soon.”