Racing Tips – Top Tipster Steve Mullen’s best racing selections for Wednesday, August 2

GOODWOOD

1.50

FREDERIC will relish this marathon trip and looks a strong contender.

He is honest as they come and landed game wins at Carlisle and Pontefract before heading back to the Yorkshire track last time out.

It sounds strange to say a horse was crippled by trouble in running in a contest run over 2m2f. But he was forced to slam the brakes just as the pace was hotting up.

With these staying handicappers, once they stop it’s hard to get them going again.

That’s how it proved at Pontefract where he did well to finish just over three lengths off the pace. The winner that day — Akavit — is in the line-up but he’s out of the weights despite being hiked 6lb for that victory.

Frederic goes on any ground so if it’s still got some juice come off time, it won’t be a problem.

Hawkerland is another interesting contender after relishing the step up to 2m when winning at Chepstow last time out.

He was far enough in front to trot across the finishing line and the second home has won since. This is a fair step up in class but he has few miles on the clock and is clearly progressive.

Aurora Grey has yet to win on turf but she went mighty close at Newbury last time and stays all day. She’s a bit quirky so could well be suited by this track.

2.25

SECRET ADVISOR looks ideal for this.

He ran an absolute cracker in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last time out.

He was third despite being forced to race wide away from the main pace. Charlie Appleby’s three-year-old showed great heart and was closing at the finish.

He showed his liking for Goodwood when beaten half a length here two starts ago. He was just collared in the closing stages but kept going once headed.

Given how much he has improved since, he looks the one to beat.

Stablemate First Nation has been upped just 3lb for his excellent second behind Atty Persse in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out.

Although the winner has not franked the form, it still looks a good run where he might have finished even closer than three lengths away had he got his gap sooner.

Once the opening appeared, he had enough pace to nip through it — and that ability might come in handy at Goodwood where hard-luck stories are common.

2

3.00

DENAAR takes a step down in class and it could see him back in the winner’s enclosure.

He has found Group 2 company a little hot at Royal Ascot and Newmarket as the faster ground may not have suited either.

The last time there was a little bit of juice underfoot he won nicely at Newbury. That was over this trip and he has a solid chance at a big price.

Havana Grey doesn’t have the best of the draw but comes here in excellent form. He was a comfortable Listed race winner at Sandown last time and warrants this step up in class.

He likes this trip and will try to make a bold bid from the front.

The name Wesley Ward always strikes fear into British bookies when it comes to his two-year-olds.

His Happy Like A Fool was well backed when second in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot last time and there should be more to come.

3.35

CHURCHILL can get the better of Ribchester in what should be a cracking contest.

He won the British and Irish Guineas in great style and it was a major shock when he was turned over in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

That was such a drop in performance that he couldn’t have been quite right and it’s one to forgive. Maybe the very fast ground upset him and he can show his true form today.

Ribchester won’t go down without a fight and he won the Lockinge with plenty left in the tank last time out.

He saves his best for this distance and all ground comes the same to Richard Fahey’s star.

Lancaster Bomber can win the battle for third, even if he’s there to make the pace for Churchill.

2

4.10

EXCEEDINGLY DIVA has a fighting chance for trainer Marcus Tregoning.

She showed plenty of ability when second at Windsor on debut where she was in front until the dying yards. That was a solid start and shows that she handles this sort of track.

This is tougher but not impossible granted usual improvement.

Mushahadaat has the pick of the limited form on view after finishing second at Newbury on debut. But he has work to do from a poor draw in stall 20.

Lady Dancelot is better off in seven and was just behind her last time out. Of the newcomers, Mark Johnston’s Threading is one to look out for in the betting.

4.45

TITI MAKFI loves a tricky track so should be right at home. Given her liking for places like Chester and Hamilton, she should relish this helter skelter.

And it has been a stellar season as four wins on the bounce have seen her climb the weights.

She bagged a win on the Roodee, a couple at Hamilton and one at Sandown on different types of ground.

After another good run in hot company at Newmarket last time, trainer Mark Johnston is upping her slightly in distance and that could bring a little more improvement.

That July Course effort was against some useful colts and geldings so she should find life a bit easier in this fillies’ contest.

Lots of these are on the upgrade and White Chocolate rates a real danger. She chased home Titi Makfi last time and has been given a nice break since.

She didn’t get the run of the race there and he’s 5lb better off at the weights today.

Sagely is another interesting contender with Silvestre De Sousa teaming up with Ed Dunlop.

She was unlucky to be beaten just under a length at Salisbury last time after being forced to switch at a crucial stage. This trip should be ideal and she looks on a fair enough weight.

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5.50

MEDBURN DREAM will enjoy this drop in distance after not quite getting home at Windsor last time out.

He had earlier scorched in at Lingfield over just longer than this distance where he also relished the bit of give in the ground.

He likes to race up with the pace so should escape the inevitable traffic problems too.

Sun Lover has been knocking on the door this season with two seconds. He was beaten a head at Doncaster last time on the back of an excellent handicap second at York.

PERTH

2.15 Air Squadron

2.50 Argentix

3.25 Silver Duke

4.00 Mountain King

4.35 Pikarnia

5.10 Swingbridge

5.40 Rubbing Shoulders

REDCAR

2.00 Stormbringer

2.35 Sureyoutoldme

3.10 Le Deluge

3.45 Bit Of A Quirke

4.20 Hugin

4.55 State Residence

5.30 Yes You

6.05 Green Howard

LEICESTER

5.55 Yafta

6.30 Josh The Plod

7.05 Marie Josephe

7.40 Misty Spirit

8.10 Gaval

8.40 Belisa

SANDOWN

5.45 Sandy Shores

6.20 Milton Road

6.55 Westerland

7.25 See The Master

7.55 Great Court

8.25 Master Archer