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Horse racing tips: Epsom, Leopardstown and Hamilton – Thursday July 18
Today’s horse racing tips come from Epsom, Leopardstown and Hamilton. See our expert’s nap of the day, next best and other selections
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There are seven meetings across the UK and Ireland on Thursday, taking in four countries and both codes.
The action starts north of the border at Hamilton (2.20-4.55pm), one of five Flat meetings along with Chepstow (2.30-5.10), Leicester (2.40-5.25), Leopardstown (4.45-8.30) and Epsom (5.55-8.40). Jump racing comes from Killarney (5.02-8.15) and Worcester (5.40-8.55).
Our three tips include one for the day’s feature race, the Group 3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown.
Horse racing tips today – Epsom, Leopardstown and Hamilton
Jake Aldrich’s picks for Thursday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them.
- Nap: Miss Information (Epsom, 8.05) @ 15/8 with BetMGM
- Next best: Diego Velazquez (Leopardstown, 6.50) @ 2/1 with BetMGM
- Other: Moonspirit (Hamilton, 3.55) @ 11/4 with BetMGM
Odds, correct at time of publishing, may be subject to change.
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Horse racing tips: Epsom 8.05
MISS INFORMATION won at Chepstow six days ago and is expected to follow up here. Campaigned over six and seven furlongs as a juvenile, the daughter of Blue Point has improved in handicaps over the latter trip this year and ran out as easy winner of an apprentice contest at the Welsh course.
Racing off the same mark of 76 here, she can repeat the feat and, while that was a weak race, her previous run at Newmarket, where she finished fourth, reads well. The first and second have both filled the runner-up spot in Class 2 handicaps since and the sixth was a winner next time out.
Given her good form at the likes of Newmarket, Chepstow and Windsor, there must be optimism she will handle the unique undulations of Epsom. She represents the in-form combination of Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy, both operating at a 26 per cent strike-rate over the past two weeks.
Guiteau is likely to be her main market rival. She reappears under a penalty having won a handicap over course and distance quite comfortably last week. However, there must be a chance that this race comes too soon for her, given the rise in grade and her 237-day absence before that victory.
Selection: Miss Information @ 15/8 with BetMGM
Horse racing tips: Leopardstown 6.50
Coolmore’s DIEGO VELAZQUEZ is our selection to bounce back from a disappointing run at Royal Ascot in today’s Group 3 Meld Stakes over 1m 1f. He clearly wasn’t himself when sent off as favourite for the King Edward Stakes over 1m 4f at the festival, finishing 30 lengths adrift of the winner in 10th.
While his future may remain over longer trips, he should have little issue dropping back to this distance, with the return to Leopardstown in his favour given he won a Group 2 race here last year.
There were positives to take from his seasonal return, when he finished fourth in the French 2,000 Guineas. That form has been boosted by stablemate Henry Longfellow (eighth) pushing Rosallion close in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Puchkine (ninth) winning the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat.
A return to that level of form would be good enough for Diego Velazquez, even allowing for his 5lb penalty.
Selection: Diego Velazquez @ 2/1 with BetMGM
Horse racing tips: Hamilton 3.55
George Boughey’s MOONSPIRIT should be very competitive despite a small rise in the weights for her narrow win last time out at Beverley (1m 1½f, good). That form has since been boosted by the third, Blufferonthebus, winning on her next start at the same venue.
Moonspirit should be suited by the stiff finish and the drying ground here. The daughter of Kingman hasn’t reached her ceiling yet and is possibly open to more progress than her mainly older rivals.
Apprentice Tommie Jakes was on board for her last start and retains the ride, claiming a useful 5lb, while her trainer is operating at a 33 per cent strike at this track.
Selection: Moonspirit @ 11/4 with BetMGM
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