Thursday racing

The 6.50 at Great Leighs saw our tip, Veloso, storm home to victory as we complete a great week of racing

Great Leighs

6.50 – With little in the way of recent form or particularly high figures on offer, this encounter looks to lack a little strength in depth. For that reason this one can go to Veloso who has been putting in decent performances of late.

Last time out he was always prominent in the race, he led well from over 2f out but was headed at the 2f marker. He then kept on gamely but could make no impression on the winner and was ultimately beaten by ¾ of a length. He lost little in defeat and demonstrated that he is still an unexposed sort with the potential to win races. He is proven over this course and distance, having won here previously, and should give a very good account of himself here again today. Of the rest Zuwaar is probably the best of a pretty bad bunch.

8.50 – This has the makings of a decent little maiden as a number of horses are quite closely rated. That said I think that this is likely to come down to two from the field. Charlotte Point has been running with credit of late with a couple of places in her last two starts. Last time out she was held up in touch and was going well. She then made her effort and bumped a rival over 2f out before chasing the winner just inside the final furlong. Unfortunately she couldn’t quite get close enough and was beaten into second by almost three lengths. It was a pretty good effort considering the contact at the home turn but her options may lie elsewhere now she has a handicap mark.

My tip goes to Catamarca from the John Gosden stable who was pleasing enough on debut in her last start. She was held up in touch in the midfield that day before making headway to chase the leaders over 2f out. She was then ridden, and kept on at the same pace from over 1f out to finish a creditable fourth. She didn’t find as much off the bridle as had looked likely at one stage, but she still looks like she will improve hugely from the race and should go well today.