Horse Racing Tips: Van the man to back at Newmarket

It’s the opening day of Newmarket’s Craven meeting on Tuesday and punters are in for a midweek treat with the ITV cameras in town for four live races.

My horse racing tips for the afternoon includes one in the Nell Gwyn at HQ, plus two on the undercard for a fascinating meeting.

13:50 Newmarket - Vantheman @ 11/1

Kevin Ryan has a good record at the Craven meeting, highlighted by his 33/1 victory in last season’s Abernant Stakes with Washington Heights.

Another Ryan-trained sprinter of that age group appeals in the 6f handicap that opens the card, and that is VANTHEMAN.

The unexposed son of Invincible Army enjoyed a productive three-year-old campaign at the minimum trip but this return to an easy 6f can bring about further improvement.

Vantheman’s two successes last term over 5f came on stiff tracks (Pontefract and Newcastle) and he can clearly go well when fresh as the Gosforth Park strike came on his return.

Expected to be revved up for this, Vantheman, who has winning form over 6f from his juvenile days and is Ryan’s sole runner on the card, looks a sprinter to keep on the right side of.

15:00 Newmarket - Persica @ 11/2

The early market for the Earl of Sefton is dominated by Ambiente Friendly and Ottoman Fleet, but there are reasons to oppose both horses with Persica.

Ambiente Friendly’s best form from the previous season came at 1m4f and he may be too fresh on his return, while Ottoman Fleet, who seeks a hat-trick in this race, doesn’t arrive in the best form and is vulnerable to something younger and less exposed.

Persica fits the bill as he was a fast-improving three-year-old last term who thrived on his racing and he should have tightened up from his return third in the Winter Derby last month, a race in which he didn’t appear to stay.

Stepping back to 1m1f should suit Persica, an eyecatcher when eighth in the Champion Stakes last autumn after doing too much too soon following a rapid move from the rear in the straight.

15:35 Newmarket - Nadra @ 7/2

Nardra looked a solid contender for last Saturday’s Fred Darling, only to swerve that race and instead be aimed at Tuesday’s Nell Gwyn.

It remains to be seen which of the two trials will be stronger, but Nardra appeals as a potential top-class filly who can serve it up the two who are shorter than her in the early betting.

Arabian Dusk looks a suspect stayer at 7f, while Verse Of Love may have been flattered by her debut success on the Rowley Mile.

Nardra needs to improve but dominated a 6f novice on her sole start at Haydock last autumn. Given the way she finished that day, she’ll have no issues with an extra furlong and her pedigree backs up that visual impression.

She is by Night Of Thunder and a half-sister to smart miler Make Me King, while her dam ran in the Musidora. She can make the step up.

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