Horse racing tips for Monday: Andy Stephens' best bets

The next Timeform Squiggle Committee (TSC) meeting promises to be entertaining. Al Aasy is the owner of a badge that no horse wants, but the TSC will no doubt review his status after his latest last-to-first victory in the Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes on Saturday.

The six-year-old was given an audacious ride at Haydock by Jim Crowley, getting up on the line to collar El Drama by a neck. Crowley did not so much count to ten, as casually amble to to 20 or 30 before finally smuggling his partner to the front a couple of strides from the line.

It was a lovely bit of horsemanship, but it takes two to tango and Al Aasy, not always renowned for rolling up his sleeves, also showed an honest approach to get the job done. Had to hesitated with his effort, or politely said “after you”, then it would have been a different story.

“Were you panicking,” Niall Hannity asked Crowley on Racing TV afterwards. “No, I’m too old to panic!” the jockey replied with a wide smile. “I could have done with them going a stride quicker. He’s a class horse and it’s done him good coming back to ten furlongs.”

Al Aasy has won seven of his past 13 races; not bad for a horse with a “questionable temperament”. Stiffer assignments seem certain to follow, perhaps without the burden of a squiggle. There’s nothing of Al Aasy’s calibre in action on Monday but I’m hoping Crowley can do us a favour at Kempton before his 20-day King George ban kicks in.

2.45 Kempton Park: Daarree at a general 7/2

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum’s colours are no often carried by horses rated in the mid 60s but Daarree has the scope to climb upwards from his humble starting point.

Unraced at two, he didn’t offer much in his first three starts this term, but he was a big eye-catcher on his handicap bow at Chelmsford last time, in a first-time visor, when staying on to be beaten about a length behind Abravaggio.

Being badly positioned turning for home was compounded by having to wait for a clear run. William Buick seemed to accept his fate a little way out but Daarree stayed on willingly for him and was gaining quickly at the line under considerate handling.

The form makes sense with the winner since following up in good style, and the fourth subsequently being a good second to a well-handicapped rival (pair clear) at Yarmouth. Daarree is only 1lb higher and his trainer, Owen Burrows, has since hit the target with six of his ten runners. Crowley has been on most of those winners and he takes over in the saddle before going on his enforced holiday.

4.10 Wolverhampton: Evenstar at a general 12-1

This George Boughey-trained filly trailed home well beaten in a 6f novice event at Ripon last month, but she got unbalanced and perhaps didn’t enjoy the soft ground that day, having had a wind op, on what was also her first start for seven months.

She is probably better judged on her previous efforts over 7f at Southwell and Chelmsford, which suggest a mark of 68 for her handicap bow is lenient.

Evenstar was a keeping-on two-length third to Ceanna (on level terms) at Southwell on her debut, and the winner is now rated 92. Too Much, the runner-up, who was half a length ahead of Evenstar, has since won and is rated 77.

Her next effort at Chelmsford, when beaten under five lengths into fourth, also reads well with three of the first four home rated 87, 83 and 80. Valkyrian (sixth) is on 73 and Marmara Star (eighth) has a mark of 65. Whichever way you look at it, Evenstar is loitering on a fair mark, at the least, with the return to 7f on the all-weather looking an obvious move.

4.40 Wolverhampton: White Mist at 8/1 with bet365

This grey filly missed a recent engagement at Yarmouth because she was in season, but it may prove a blessing because her best efforts have been on the all-weather.

Her third off a 5lb higher mark over course and distance in May has worked out well, at least for the level, and she also ran well when filling the same position at Kempton on her penultimate start, not least because she ran into traffic problems from off the pace.

She can easily be excused her latest effort at Chelmsford, as she got off to an awkward start, was obliged to race wide and didn’t get home upped to a mile.

Now on a career-low mark from an inside draw, a bold bid looks on the cards. Kaiya Fraser eases her burden by 5lb and he got on well enough with the filly at Kempton.

5.00 Kempton: Solution at 7/2 with bet365

Ralph Beckett chalked up 22 winners in July – the most winners he’s had in a month in Britain since beginning training in 1999.

The prospect of him having to wait another 24 years before achieving a new personal best is remote. Twenty-four days seems more likely because the Hampshire handler has already chalked up 16 more winners this month, with Mortlake, Kingdom Of Riches and Overactive keeping up his purple patch with commanding wins at Leicester on Sunday.

His three runners on Monday include Solution, who is an intriguing contender for this contest stepping up to 2m for the first time. The New Approach gelding is not an obvious stayer on breeding, but he’s looked an out-and-out galloper switched to handicaps on his past two starts over about a mile and a half, when finding one too good at Ffos Las and Windsor.

He will have disappointed odds-on backers last time, but he kept on dourly to pull five lengths clear of the third and can make amends now that his stamina is properly tested. Arcadian Friend is the obvious threat, although he’s got a 5lb penalty to carry for winning a non-event at Chelmsford last time.