Star power fancied to win the day at Leicester
By Josh Luckhurst, Press Association
Star Velocity can continue her rise through the ranks for Ralph Beckett to land the British EBF Novice Stakes at Leicester on Wednesday.
Unraced as a juvenile, the three-year-old daughter of Zoustar outran her 28-1 odds to gain a credible third on the all-weather at Southwell in June before winning on her turf debut when stepping back to the minimum trip at Ffos Las last week.
She was short odds in Wales and while she had to endure a fascinating tussle with Queen Sana, she eventually came out on top.
The Jim and Fitri Hay-owned filly will benefit hugely from that hard-fought success and looks the pick in this four-runner contest.
Zen Diva could earn a double on the day for the Kimpton Down handler when aiming to complete a hat-trick in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap.
Owned by Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, she has yet to taste defeat as a three-year-old following a seven-furlong victory at Ripon on her reappearance in May before supporting that with an equally-impressive triumph by five and a half furlongs at Salisbury.
Although she has another 6lb to contend with, she is certainly enjoying her racing and it is worth nothing she is a half-sister to the teak-tough Shouldvebeenaring, who progressed with racing and eventually ended up in Group Ones.
David O’Meara has an interesting newcomer with Freshwater in the opening Download The Raceday Ready App Restricted Maiden Stakes at Catterick.
Bearing the red and white silks of Cheveley Park, who bred and own the Twilight Son juvenile, the hope will be she can one day follow in the hoofprints of stable star Estrange.
There will be a long way to go to even get close to Estrange’s achievements, but a winning debut for her connections in North Yorkshire is not out of the question.
At Lingfield, Asuka can build on his recent performance after a mammoth absence to secure the Free Race Replays On atthreraces.com Novice Stakes.
George Boughey’s four-year-old was promising as a juvenile, winning by four and a quarters lengths on debut at Newmarket in August 2024, but that was the only time he was seen on the track for 23 months.
He made a return, in the hands of Billy Loughnane who rode him on his first start, at Wolverhampton last month and narrowly went down by a nose. Asuka, who is a half-brother to Boiling Point, is definitely open to improvement.
Over the jumps at Worcester, Dan Skelton’s Iwanttobreakfree can progress from a promising third on his bumper debut when he lines up for the Colin Jones Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
WORCESTER: Race 1: 14.55 A Little Something, Race 2: 15.25 Regal Renaissance, Race 3: 16.00 Iwanttobreakfree, Race 4: 16.30 Penzance, Race 5: 17.00 Media Mogul, Race 6: 17.30 Little Ledgend, Race 7: 18.05 Back To Cali.
CATTERICK: Race 1: 15.07 Freshwater, Race 2: 15.37 Hamdani Mokhater, Race 3: 16.10 Kings Merchant, Race 4: 16.42 Riddikulus, Race 5: 17.12 Hibernate, Race 6: 17.42 Miss Rainbow.
LEICESTER: Race 1: 19.20 Star Velocity, Race 2: 19.50 Buckland Belle, Race 3: 20.20 Liveinthelight, Race 4: 20.50 Ricardo Phillips, Race 5: 21.20 Zen Diva, Race 6: 21.50 The Tunguska Event.
LINGFIELD: Race 1: 19.10 What’s The Plan, Race 2: 19.40 Tiny Riot, Race 3: 20.10 Romidijo, Race 4: 20.40 ASUKA (NAP), Race 5: 21.10 Stormy Music, Race 6: 21.40 Oh So Audacious.
ALL TO COME: Freshwater (Catterick, Race 1) and Asuka (Lingfield, Race).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za