Captain Bob to Cruise Home at Yarmouth

7.20 Yarmouth – Captain Bob

Although he isn’t the most prolific of winners, Captain Bob has shown some promise in recent starts and looks to have a good chance of returning to the winner’s enclosure. The 5 year old son of Dark Angel has the services of Silvestre De Sousa, one of the top riders in the country. The talented Brazilian is extremely strong in the saddle and his determination can often coax tricky runners into putting their best foot forward. The horse has been competing in much higher grades in most of his recent starts and the return to Class 5 company over an insufficient trip last time out sparked a slight revival. Now he steps back up to 6 furlongs over a galloping course, Captain Bob should take another step forward.

Captain Bob has just two wins from 26 starts and those victories came back in the spring and summer of 2014. Both of those victories were over 7 furlongs. For most of this season, the horse has been competing in Class 2-4 company and has been running over 5/6 furlongs. From the way he has been finishing his races, a distance of 6.5 furlongs probably seems an optimal trip. Captain Bob’s mark finally dropped below 75 (now rated 71 and was rated 73 last time out) and he ran at Beverley over 5 furlongs. Was held up that day and finished really well, suggesting that the grade was more to his liking. The step back up in trip to 6 furlongs at Yarmouth should help and the horse is likely to sit midfield and will be strongly driven into contention late in the day by De Sousa. Odds of 3.50 really appeal.

Bet – 1 point win Captain Bob at 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350 with Bet365

7.40 Kempton – Thaqaffa 

Marcus Tregoning hasn’t enjoyed the greatest of successes in recent seasons, but he definitely a trainer of ability, and has some Group 1 victories to his name. Thaqaffa most certainly isn’t a Group performer, but his 3 year old could make up into a high class handicapper in time, and with a strongly fancied market leader in the form of Fly, he rates the bet at odds of 4.50.

On penultimate start Thaqaffa won a five runner contest at Beverley with something to spare.  Won by over 3 lengths despite pulling hard throughout the contest. Went off as the market leader next time out at Pontefract on the back of that effort, finishing a creditable third after again pulling hard. Has been fitted with the hood which should help the son of Kodiac use his energy more efficiently, and he has already shown an aptitude for racing in small fields. Drops to Class 4 company and should put up a good show.

The market leader is understandably the James Fanshawe trained Fly. Unbeaten in three starts, the daughter of Pastoral Pursuits could be a class apart from this field. However, she is returning from a 287 day absence and there is a concern that this field size may not be ideal. Has had to be scrubbed along in her previous runs and didn’t look like winning on more than one occasions, before she eventually consented to stay on strongly and get up late in the day. Any rustiness may be exposed on her comeback.

Bet – 1 point win Thaqaffa at 4.50Bet €100 to win €4507/2Bet £100 to win £450+350Bet $100 to win $4503.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$4503.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp450-0.2857Bet RM100 to win RM450 with Ladbrokes and Coral

Tips Summary

7.20 Yarmouth – Captain Bob
Wednesday 3rd August
Odds: 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350

7.40 Kempton – Thaqaffa
Wednesday 3rd August
Odds: 4.50Bet €100 to win €4507/2Bet £100 to win £450+350Bet $100 to win $4503.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$4503.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp450-0.2857Bet RM100 to win RM450