STAR PREVIEW Fri: Star Sports Brighton Festival | Day Three

There was ecstasy and agony for preview readers yesterday, as Whisper ran out a smooth winner of the 10 furlong handicap when travelling smoothly and eventually being eased at the end.

Nothing went wrong for Caramelised, who didn’t get the pace he needed to run at before never getting a proper run in the Challenge Cup – and he’s worth another chance in a similar grade.

There was a good tussle between bookies and punters, with blows landed on both sides. Simon Nott has the story from the Star pitch yesterday, which you can find below.

SIMON NOTT Betting Blog: Star Brighton Festival Thursday

A big thanks to Joe Citrone for his help editing the previews this week, and to everyone who’s read them.

There have been some very tight finishes this week, so don’t forget to take advantage of our PIPPED offer – where you can get your win stake refunded up to £50 if you’re beaten by a neck or less!

And last but never least, don’t miss out on the tipping competition – just pick a horse in every race and nominate your NAP – We’ll settle your selections at a theoretical £1 level stake (£2 for the NAP) – and the three best tipsters to a £1 stake win a £123 free bet! The link to enter’s below.

https://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/friday-tipping-challenge-star-sports-brighton-festival/

Connections of Dare to Dream Racing have had a fine week – they had a winner in Bear To Dream and a close second in Street Parade on Wednesday here – and they could finish in style with Minhaaj in the starsportsbet.co.uk Handicap (1.20)

Michael Attwater’s five-year-old has come back to form over the last month or so and whilst she’s probably not the same horse who landed a Sandown handicap off 80 two years ago, the handicapper appears to have been kind by dropping her 2lbs for a very fair fourth last time.

The form of that race looks strong in this context, given that third placed The Defiant was fifth at Glorious Goodwood and then a very close third here on Wednesday, whilst third Q Twenty Boy had previously won at Goodwood in June. A repeat of that form here should give connections an excellent chance of another winner to celebrate.

The Novice Stakes (1.50) looks like a tight race on paper. Betweenthesticks has strong claims at the weights for Star Ambassador Silvestre De Sousa and Mick Channon whilst Whistle And Flute has shown the most ability by far, and Gottaifan showed ability on debut. However this isn’t going to take a huge amount of winning (not disrespect to anyone involved) and Outland Mission is a very interesting contender for George Boughey and Tom Marquand.

The Brighton Bullet Handicap (2.20) is the last feature race of the week and it’s understandable that Pink Crystal is popular here. The William Haggas/Tom Marquand combination has swept all before them this season and she was an impressive winner at Thirsk last time. However she’s been well found in the market and she’s now up 6lbs facing open competition, so it’s not impossible to take her on.

Recon Mission has refound his form of last – like a few of Tony Carroll’s charges – and he won twice in 2021 off higher marks than this, which is hugely encouraging given his narrow defeat of the reopposing Impeach (three time 6f handicap winner this year) at Sandown when last seen.

The pair were two and a half lengths clear of Street Parade – who was beaten a nose here on Wednesday – and a bold bid looks in the offing again.

Make it a Tony Carroll double by taking a chance on Endowed. He’s lost his way a bit since the spring but he was second in this last year off an 8lbs higher mark and is at his best when getting a really strong pace to run at. That’ll probabaly be the case again and 25/1 is too big too pass up.

The only way to end this preview is surely with a Tony Carroll selection (who else) in the last and there’s a lot to like about Hot Hot Hot, who was a winner here in June off a 3lbs lower mark before just finding things happening a tad too quickly in a classified stakes at Bath. She shaped as if the slightly longer distance here would help and Brighton’s finishing hill should also play right into her hands – whilst there should be a clear run down the outside from stall 9 for John Egan.

Tipping Contest Guide:

1.20 Minhaaj

Returned to form the last twice and handicapper possibly generous in dropping 2lbs for last time

1.50 Outland Mission

This may not take much mission and Marquand/Boughey combination notable

2.20 Recon Mission

Winner off higher marks twice last year and showed great attitude to beat Impeach last time

2.50 Shalafa

The combination of first-time blinkers and a drop back to 7f seemed to bring her best foot forward

3.20 Hidden Pearl

Too strong for next time out winner at Bath and 4lbs rise may not stop her

3.50 Unsung Hero

Looked as if ready for 1m last time and only four starts

4.25 Hot Hot Hot

Found things happening too quickly at Bath but return to this course should suit

WILLIAM KEDJANYI

RECOMMENDED BETS

BACK Minhaaj 1 pt win in 1.20 Brighton at 3/1 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Recon Mission 1 pt win in 2.20 Brighton at 5/1 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Endowed 0.5 pt each/way in 2.20 Brighton at 22/1 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Hot Hot Hot 1 pt win in 4.25 Brighton at 5/1 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

---

PROFIT/LOSS (AUGUST 2022): PROFIT 1.25 points
(Excluding ante-post recommendations CLICK HERE)

---

STAR PROMOTIONS