It’s a busy Monday of flat racing with live coverage from Bath, Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton on Sky Sports Racing.
3.45 Lingfield — Top-rated El Matador heads the field
El Matador goes into the Tia Giggle Gallop Handicap (7f) as the top-rated contender. Owned by Valmont and trained by Ralph Beckett, the Hector Crouch-ridden gelding has two wins from six starts and sits on a mark of 87. He showed early promise with two wins in his first three starts last year but lost form late in the season; gelded over the winter, he arrives less exposed and expectations are higher this term. Tiger Crusade, a veteran with 10 wins from 57 starts, could be the main threat—he disappointed last time but has dropped to his last winning mark. King’s Vanity and Silver Trumpet look the best of the rest.
3.00 Bath — Well-bred newcomer Undercover Affair debuts
David Evans introduces an interesting debutant in the Silvershine Turf Services Support Bath Maiden Stakes when Undercover Affair lines up. The Havana Grey gelding is out of Secret Romance and is a full brother to Group performers Rosy Affair and Cuban Mistress, giving him a strong pedigree to recommend. Evans has a good record with first-timers, so Undercover Affair is one to watch. Evans also runs Dandyman Dan and Downloadmylife, the latter hoping to build on a green effort in the Brocklesby. Global Success, who helped force the pace and finished fifth here 10 days ago, could progress, while Richard Hannon’s filly Leucothea makes her first start for an in-form yard.
6.30 Wolverhampton — Epictetus meets several course winners
Epictetus, once fifth behind Ace Impact in the Prix du Jockey Club, tackles the Country And Western Raceday – 28th June Handicap and faces a clutch of experienced course winners. The Kingman colt has drifted from the heights after his 2023 Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes success but has been running respectably at a lower level for the Osbornes and should be considered as an each-way option. Big Sip, Echalar, Jez Bomb, Lordsbridge Blu, Newfangled and Renesmee all possess course wins, making this a competitive and potentially tricky handicap to solve.
Best of the rest
11.25 Bordeaux — Al Shaqab’s Frankel colt for trainer Fabre chases a first victory.
2.45 Lingfield — Travel Agent bids to overturn a 4 lb rise in the weights.
3.30 Bath — Alvin and Comic Strip appeal on a clear-class advantage.
5.00 Bath — Zoustellar attempts to follow up his Yarmouth success.
5.20 Lingfield — Youthful King and Son Of Man go head-to-head.
6.00 Wolverhampton — A half-sister to Listed winner Novakai makes her debut.
8.00 Wolverhampton — Forever Perfect runs carrying a 6 lb penalty.
Expect competitive fields and plenty of on-track action across the three venues as Sky Sports Racing brings live coverage throughout the day.