Horse Racing Betting Tips: Mackaar may be the one for the red hot Varian stable

TRAINER John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori have teamed up to win the last four renewals of the Investec Blue Riband Trial (2.45pm) and will have high hopes of making it five on the bounce this afternoon with Turgenev.

The son of Dubawi looked all at sea on soft ground at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance and will undoubtedly be better suited by today’s sounder surface.

He looked a smart prospect when winning at Newmarket last year, but that’s two below par runs in succession and I’d rather look elsewhere.

Arthur Kitt is the highest-rated amongst these and warrants plenty of respect.

This is a big step up in trip though and whether he has fully trained on after such a hard two-year-old campaign is a niggling concern.

Aidan O’Brien saddles Cape Of Good Hope who is bound to be sent off short purely because of his connections.

The pick of his best form entitles him to be thereabouts, but he doesn’t look a world beater.

For that reason, I am interested in both MACKAAR and Massam with slight preference for the former.

The latter could be the value if allowed a soft lead from the front, but Mackaar holds an Investec Derby entry and Roger Varian’s horses are in good form.

The Great Metropolitan Handicap (3.20pm) looks as trappy as ever.

However, Glorious Goodwood winner SOTO SIZZLER caught my eye on his reappearance at Kempton last month.

The handicapper may just have given him a chance by dropping him 1lb for that run and 8/1 looks a nice each-way play.

POINTERS

Mackaar 2.45pm Epsom

Soto Sizzler e/w 3.20pm Epsom