3:33 Redcar \u2013 Nyman<\/a>
4:15 Newton Abbot \u2013 Makinbecon<\/a>
4:25 Curragh \u2013 Floresta<\/a><\/p>\n
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change<\/p>\n
In what I rate as a fairly average renewal of the Group Two Minstrel Stakes, EAST HAMPTON needs one key factor to show his best form \u2013 pace, pace and more pace! That is exactly what David Marnane\u2019s runner got when second in this race 12 months ago, being just edged out by Diego Velazguez. His last run in the Group Three Ballycorus Stakes can be safely ignored as he fell out of the stalls, and once his winning chance had been forfeited, Luke McAteer was fairly soft on him.<\/p>\n
Where threats are concerned, the old boy Big Gossey is at the top of the market, as he continues to churn out the performances at the ripe old age of nine. In fact, it is quite easy to make a case that his last run, which saw him win in a Listed race here at the back end of June, was arguably a near career best.<\/p>\n
That itself was an incredible showing, while his earlier win in the Gladness Stakes here on very deep ground over seven furlongs in March showed what a supremely versatile charge he is. Still, at around the 11\/4 on offer, I am quite happy to let him win.<\/p>\n
That said, the three-year-old Powder Blue has shown a high level of form, particularly on his last two starts in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, and then last time out in the St James\u2019s Palace Stakes when a five and three quarter lengths fifth to Bow Echo \u2013 in a field of six \u2013 in what turned out to be a rather rough affair. I think that the drop back to seven furlongs is in his favour, and I prefer him as the biggest danger to my \u2018value\u2019 selection.<\/p>\n
3:33 Redcar \u2013 Nyman<\/a><\/p>\n This is quite a deep race for a class five, 0-75 handicap, and the one thing you instantly recognise is that there is no obvious front runner in the field of seven. That will compromise the chance of Rajapour, who is set to run off his lowest ever handicap mark of 71, and has been knocking on the door at both Beverley three outings back, and then last time out at Pontefract, when a soft early pace played against him yet again. I think that the same looks set to happen here.<\/p>\n So at worst I am looking at a presser to play with here, and Roger Fell\u2019s charge NYMAN fits the bill. He has been running in slightly better class events than this and slightly worryingly bled from the nose the last time we saw him race here at the back end of May. A break will hopefully have fixed that problem, and now that he has been dropped to a mark of 75 \u2013 following his last win, which came off 78 \u2013 I expect him to be at the forefront throughout and make the most of his very fair rating.<\/p>\n With Criminal Shore a better horse on the all-weather, the biggest danger could well be the ultra consistent Amidst The Chaos, who put in yet another cracking run last time out at Doncaster when edged out by a nose by Mwafaq.<\/p>\n Despite just the seven runners in this low grade handicap hurdle, a solid pace looks highly likely, with the likes of Mi Sueno and Saucats set to line up. That is good news for the other five runners, all of which like to be held onto at the back of the pack.<\/p>\n Linden Lane was my first port of call now that he has finally been given some respite from the assessor. Rated as high as 103 some 13 months ago, a string of 10 consecutive defeats have resulted in his mark falling to just 89 here, and his last run when demolishing the final flight suggested that his turn was close at hand, along with losing his maiden tag of 14 runs.<\/p>\n The six-year-old may well be worth putting in a forecast with my selection, MAKINBECON, who has won on two of his last three starts here off marks of 75 and 80. Now 3lbs higher, the six-year-old remains on a pretty fair mark, and is hard to assess, as he travels well through his races in rear and then only just does enough when hitting the front.<\/p>\n Even though he is worse off at the weights with Saucats on their May form, I think he has plenty more left in the tank and is well worth following while still he\u2019s allowed to ply his trade at this lowly level.<\/p>\n 4:25 Curragh \u2013 Floresta<\/a><\/p>\n Al Riffa, a one-paced fourth of 11 beaten some 10 lengths in the Ascot Gold Cup, comes radically down in trip. In turn, you could easily suggest that this is his optimum set-up, and on the official figures, he has 7lbs in hand of his rivals here. It is for that reason he is the most likely winner if running to within a few pounds of his rating of 118.<\/p>\n However, there is little doubt that the bay is a better animal when there is a bit of \u2018give\u2019 in the ground, and these faster conditions bring him closer to his rivals on my private ratings.<\/p>\n The consistent Illinois has always been effective on all types of going, and he is indeed an extraordinarily flexible race horse, having won the Queen Alexandra over 2m5f at Royal Ascot last time out, and yet he ran stable mate Jan Brueghel to just over three lengths in the Ormonde Stakes over 13.5 furlongs. I fancy that Ryan Moore will try and boss this from the front and it may be an extreme test of stamina.<\/p>\n I have always thought that Trustyourinstinct would be suited by this trip, but his first run over this far is quite a deep test. So with Tennessee Stud also suited by some forgiveness in the turf, it is the filly FLORESTA who gets the vote. She has plenty to find on official ratings (107), but has been progressive this term, culminating in a fluent win in the Group Three Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse from Goodie Two Shoes. I think there is more to come from the daughter of Waldgeist, and unlike many of her rivals, a faster surface is no problem at all.<\/p>\n Paul Jacobs\u2019 Sunday Value Racing Tips<\/p>\n 3:15 Curragh \u2013 East Hampton<\/a> *All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change<\/p>\n Read MoreTap here for PP.com racing odds<\/a>The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling \u2013 Everything You Need To Know<\/a>![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Eliminator-10k-banner-991x624-1.webp.webp\"\/)
<\/a>4:15 Newton Abbot \u2013 Makinbecon<\/a><\/p>\n
3:33 Redcar \u2013 Nyman<\/a>
4:15 Newton Abbot \u2013 Makinbecon<\/a>
4:25 Curragh \u2013 Floresta<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1430x194-V2-1.webp.webp\"\/)
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