15:30 Leicester
This is a really good looking five furlong handicap at Leicester, with some very nice sprinters lining up for what is a decent prize pot.
Jumira Bridge, trained by Roger Varian, is the only three-year-old in the field and has been running well this year. He was second last time out at Yarmouth in a similar standard handicap, and I think he may well have won the race if he hadn't met trouble inside the final two furlongs. He was forced to switch his racing line, and although he was staying on well after that, he had too much to do and failed by half a length. He has only been raised one pound for that run and being back on good to soft going again looks sure to suit him, so I think he is a big player in this.
Just Glamorous is the highest rated in the field, and although a lot of his recent form looks very poor, he has been running in Group races predominantly, including the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot which is a Group 1. He was dropped back into Listed company at Ascot last time out, where he won nicely on good to soft going. Therefore, although he has to carry top weight in this, he is a class horse and he should be there or thereabouts. He beat Mirza (who re-opposes here today) by over two lengths at Ascot and is only a pound worse off today, so should be able to confirm the form with him if he runs to the same level.
The Robert Cowell trained Goldream is another who has been running in Group races, and he finished mid-division in the King's Stand before being placed in a Group 3 at Sandown. I do have a slight reservation about him being as good on today's good to soft going, as he appears to be at his best on the firmer ground.
Henry Candy runs Vibrant Chords in this and he has had a winner and three second places in his last five races. A couple of those seconds were over six furlongs, therefore, he is surely going to be very strong at the finish if he can avoid getting outpaced through the early part of the race. He also appears at home on today's going and the booking of Ryan Moore for the ride is an eye catching one. He looks a little short of the class of a few of his rivals, but I think he has a chance to be competitive at the weights.
Today's selection
Jumira Bridge - 1 point @ 9/2