Leicester best bet: Dashing Donkey in good shape to complete quickfire hat-trick

17:25 Leicester: Evening Races @leicesterraces 24th July Handicap  (7 furlongs)

The bookies are all over Come On You Spurs after the young filly backed up a close-up runner-up spot on season debut last month, with an eye-catching win over nine furlongs at Lingfield eight days ago.

She is expected to have more to come under the retained Billy Loughlane, although this significant drop in trip, coupled with a six-pound penalty, could put a question mark over her short price.

If such doubts materialise, then there are a few capable contenders ready to pounce, not least the in-form Dashing Donkey, whose promising first campaign has culminated in back-to-back victories over eight and seven furlongs respectively during the past five weeks or so.

Suggested best bet: Dashing Donkey each-way in the 17:25 at Leicester

It’s true to say that neither of those 12- and 14-runner handicaps had much depth in terms of quality, but much the same could be said for this 0-55 affair that should remain right in Dashing Donkey’s wheelhouse.

Both of those wins came at Yarmouth, and the fact that Hollie Doyle and William Buick were booked on those occasions gives an indication of Dashing Donkey’s connections wanting to give their filly every chance.

This time the equally capable Kieran Shoemark gets the nod, and the experienced jockey arrives in prime form, having guided six of his last 20 rides into the winner’s enclosure.

• Tip advised by Vrasidas on Tipstrr

With four places widely up for grabs (even as many as five in some quarters), should any of the five market leaders falter, then there could be room in the frame for one of the eight outsiders, all of whom were available at 25/1 or more at the time of writing.

Monkey Miss was a winner at Bath in May, but has struggled at the start recently, so it would need David Egan to coax a good break from the stalls before she could even think about replicating that success.

Arguably more interesting is the Dean Ivory-trained Pickled Pepper, who emerged from a seven-month break to show more promise in one three-year-old outing than she had in four juvenile efforts.

Although outpaced over six furlongs at Wolverhampton 10 days ago, the way that she plugged on to stay within four lengths of the winner was enough to suggest she should prefer the extra furlong here, and might just reward a cautious eac-way punt with a frame finish. 

 

Outsider punt: Pickled Pepper each-way in the 17:25 at Leicester

 

 

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