Round One Racing League Preview 2023 - Yarmouth Meeting

The first race of the 2023 Racing League season sees the Nursery Handicap over 5f and now sent into this sphere Desert Master can get off the mark for his career.

A horse that has showed plenty of good form this term without winning but now put into handicaps has a big chance to get off the mark.

Making his debut in April at Ripon finishing a close second behind the talented Ziggy's Phoenix, he then went to Nottingham on heavy ground and again had to settle for second.

Sent back to Ripon on rapid ground that he did not take to, he put up his only bad run of the season to date.

Getting back to slightly easier ground at Chester when finishing a narrow second to another smart type in Liv My Life for Richard Hannon, he was last seen over the same C&D when once again bumping into two smart types and settling for third.

Now handicapping off a mark of 74 on ground he handles better than most, he is worth sticking with.

Next up is the Class 4 Handicap over 6f and we are giving a chance to Crow's Nest for team Ireland and trainer George Boughey.

Seen four times this term making his debut at Windsor over 6f when bumping into a nice type for William Haggas on good to firm ground when finishing third.

The three year old gelding then made it back to back wins at Hamilton over 6f and Bath over 5f the later run under a penalty.

Last seen on handicap debut at Newmarket over 6f when narrowly beat back in third off a mark of 82, he runs off the same mark in this event and getting back to easier ground should help his chances.

A competitive Class 4 Handicap over a mile comes next at Yarmouth and Shahbaz for Frankie Dettori, Charlie Fellowes and Team East look to have a big chance.

A consistent horse towards the back end of last season when finishing a good second at Nottingham behind a nice type for Richard Fahey over 1m2f on soft ground, he then rounded out the term by scoring at Newmarket again on soft ground over 1m1f.

Upped to a mark of 88 for the start of this season when a good third at Newmarket over 1m2f, he then went to Ascot in. competitive handicap and although finishing sixth of seven was only 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner Maasai Mara and second Westerton.

Seen just once more this term off a mark of 87 when dropped to a mile and finishing a close third behind the six unbeaten Sparks Fly.

Getting back to soft ground over a mile again, he should go close.

A top event on the Yarmouth card is the Class 3 Handicap over 7f and we have picked out two selections that should run well.

The first selection is the Richard Spencer trained Waiting All Night who has been knocking on the door strongly of late and if in the same form will be in the mix here.

Two starts ago when dropped back to 7f at Haydock he ran the best race of his season so far when a half length third behind Paws For Thought.

Last seen at Newmarket on good to soft ground when finishing a neck second to Final Watch who has been running in decent races this term.

Watching All Night heads into this off just 1lb higher but with the talented claimer Adam Farragher taking off 3lb, he is actually 2lb well in on his last event.

One at a big price in the same event that will appreciate the return to soft ground is the ex Godolphin owned Yantarni who is now with Ian Williams.

A horse last season who was gelded and having been knocking on the door finally got off the mark on his first run since the operation at Newmarket in August over a mile on soft ground off a mark of 80.

Next seen in September when a close second to Ashky this time on the Rowley Mile off 5lb higher, he unfortunately finished the season on a poor note at Ascot when running no race at all.

Sold to Neil & Alfie Smith and given to trainer Ian Williams, it has been a case of dropping his handicap mark, running him on quicker ground than he likes on all three of his starts and he has not got involved on any occasion.

He looks to have been set up for this event, now running off just 2lb higher than his last winning mark and getting back to conditions that suit make him interesting at a double figure price.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon from Yarmouth sees the Class 3 Handicap over 5f and Sir Titus is the form horse to beat.

Second on his first start of the season at Beverley over 5f on good to soft ground, he was last seen off 1lb higher at Ayr when getting off the mark for the campaign.

Only racing off 3lb higher here, he seems to be in the form of his life and looks to have been saved for this event.

The final event on the first day of the 2023 Racing League sees the Class 2 Handicap over 1m2f and the Charlie Fellowes trained Cumulonimbus looks the one to beat.

A horse that has progressed massively over the last year since being gelded winning off a mark of 71 at Yarmouth over C&D in September last year and he now sees himself off 24lb higher.

Having won at Yarmouth he then made it back to back successes at Haydock again on good to soft ground and then finished last term at Nottingham off a mark of 83 when a close third behind Mr Alan.

Seen four times this term making his seasonal debut at Pontefract off a mark of 86, he slightly needed the run, but going up to 1m4f at Newmarket he got back to winning ways in a decent handicap.

Making it back to back wins when next seen at Haydock under a superb ride from the front to make every yard seeing off Live Your Dream who has since franked the form.

Last seen at Haydock again, this time in the competitive Old Newton Cup when a close third behind the well handicapped Wootton'Sun.

This event looks easier off only 1lb higher and having showed he handles soft ground, this gives him a big chance to get back to winning ways.