Alan Thomson’s Tips: Rocket ready for blast-off

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GLAMOROUS ROCKET (7.45) can defy a penalty in the sprint handicap at Lingfield this evening.

Ron Harris’s filly lived up to her name at Windsor on Monday, blasting from the stalls to come home unchallenged. Glamorous Rocket is perfectly drawn against the favoured stands’ rail and Oisin Murphy will want to jump out and grab pole position from the off.

Sir Mark Prescott has found a particularly soft race for TROUBLE AND STRIFE (5.40) on her handicap debut. She has shown promise in three runs and Sir Mark will be licking his lips at an initial rating of 58 now stepping her up to middle distances.

There is some terrific action at York where VOYAGER BLUE (2.45) should be difficult to peg back in the 7f handicap.

Jamie Osborne’s colt had to dig deep to repel the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Moqarrar at Chelmsford City and the runner-up ran well from an impossible draw in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. Voyager Blue had previously given subsequent dual winner Savannah 5lb and a sound beating in a Redcar maiden and has the early speed to overcome an awkward outside stall position.

At Newmarket, VAIN CITY (4.05) is well worth an investment. Mick Channon’s colt got off the mark in a Nottingham maiden 16 days ago, scoring easily after showing a smart turn of foot.

Godolphin’s Midnight Meeting was languishing nine lengths away in fifth but came out to hose up on Thursday. Three –year-olds have a good record in this all-age handicap, winning four of the last six renewals.

I’ll not get heavily involved at Newcastle but NATURAL SCENERY (2.05) has a chance to go one better than last year and lift the Northumberland Plate for the boys in blue.

Saeed Bin Suroor has kept the mare under wraps following a winter campaign in Dubai and Natural Scenery is 2lb lower than 12 months ago when denied by Higher Power in a tight finish. With most bookmakers offering five places, the mare is worth an each-way punt at odds of around 11-1.

Favourite Withhold incurred the wrath of the assessor after bolting up in the Cesarewitch last autumn but even a 12lb rise may not prevent him landing another gamble for Brighton chairman Tony Bloom.

KIMBERELLA (12.55) ran third in last year’s Betfred TV Chipchase Stakes and is back for another crack. He was beaten a nose by classy Sir Dancelot at Hamilton last time and continues in top form this season. Intisaab was runner-up 12 months ago and is another to consider in an open affair.

Recommended Bets

• Lingfield 7.45 – Glamorous Rocket (7-4, Paddy Power)
• Lingfield 5.40 – Trouble And Strife (3-1,bet365)
• York 2.45 – Voyager Blue (4-1, Paddy Power, Betfred, bet365)
• Newmarket 4.05 – Zain City (7-4, bet365)
• Newcastle 2.05 – Natural Scenery ew (11-1, bet365)
• Newcastle 12.55 – Kimberella (4-1, Ladbrokes, bet365)

Johnb's Saturday Tips

• Newcastle 12.20 – Hyperfocus 20-1 paddy power ew 1/5 odds 4 places
• Newmarket 4.05 – Casement 7-2 ladbrokes NAP
• Curragh 5.15 – Dee Ex Bee 9-2 paddy power NB
• Curragh 5.15 – Knight To Behold 22-1 bet365 ew 1/4 odds 3 places
• Curragh 5.15 – Dee Ex Bee & Knight To Behold (reverse forecast)

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