Racing tips: 5lb claimer Harry Davies could land a few at Newmarket

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Some decent enough racing for the midweek with a fair few cards on show. I've kept it simple and picked two from the Newmarket July course, both ridden by the hottest apprentice jockey around at the moment, Harry Davies, who is superb value for his 5lb claim.

Newmarket 2:00

 Trainer: S Woods

Jockey: Harry Davies (5)

Form: -21232

As the recent form figures suggest, EIGHT OF DIAMONDS is a very consistent horse, and you'd have to say he's been unlucky on a couple of occasions of not going one better and enhancing his record to more than just his one win from 11 runs.

A small fielded race, but a race which looks strong for the grade. At the time of writing Eight Of Diamonds is the market favourite, but I could see some of the others getting supported and as a result pushing Eight Of Diamonds on a drift. He is probably a little too short in the market, so I would welcome a drift (obviously not too much which would give out bad signals).

On a few occasions this season he has travelled like a horse who is ahead of his handicap mark. I feel like he has to be delivered late on, so young apprentice Harry Davies will have a job on his hands, but he is a more than capable rider and also claims a valuable 5lbs. Effectively this horse is 2lbs well in as he's expected to go up to a mark of 70, but with Harry's 5lb claim that means he is 7lbs well in.

S Woods is a shrewd trainer and is very good at placing his horses, shown by his 31% SR this season from 71 runners (22 wins). The jockey booking of Harry Davies does suggest they are confident about him winning this. Fingers crossed.

Newmarket 2:35

 Trainer: T J Kent

Jockey: Harry Davies (5)

Form: -32213

A 2lb rise in the weights for a very good 3rd placed finish in a competitive York handicap looks perfectly fine, and a mark of 81 is definitely within reach for DEVASTE. Where I thought the first selection was too short, I think this horse is too big in the market and should be probably priced up at around half of his current price of 5/2.

This race looks like a decent race for the grade with every horse entering it in good form, but the horse who could be a fair amount ahead of his handicap mark is Devaste. The run at York where he was towards the rear for most of the race was very eye-catching, to say the least. He made up good ground in the final 2f on the stand's rail with the eventual winner, and it looked to me that a stiff track could bring out more improvement. He was ahead of Lethal Levi in that race at York, and I can't envisage a reversal in that form as Devaste is better off at the weights with Harry Davies taking off 5lbs.

There could be a fair amount of pace in this race, but when I normally think that, the complete opposite happens. Leap Abroad likes to lead, and he would more than likely be the front runner unless something else takes him on. I hope they do take him on and make a strong gallop out of it as I think that will suit my horse. I think Leap Abroad is the biggest danger to Devaste. He has gone up 8lbs for his recent win, but he did it in good style and at a stiff track, so needs to be respected.

Hopefully Harry Davies can get us off to a flyer with a quick double for himself and us.

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