Yarmouth best bet: Phone Tag can hit ground running for in-form yard

19:35 Yarmouth: Quinnbet Second to the Favourite Handicap (1 mile)

A quick glance at the market suggests this should develop into a two-horse race, and although Devoirs Choice heads the early betting, it appears to be Character Testing who carries the more impressive credentials to land a race of this nature.

After kicking off his career with four successive runner-up spots during the back end of 2023 (three of which were lost by under a length), Tom Clover’s gelding finally broke his duck with a tidy win on Southwell’s all-weather track in January, with winning jockey Jack Mitchell retaining the ride here.

The only factor against another success for Character Testing is his four-month absence from the track, and the same argument could be levelled at Phone Tag, who is returning from an even longer six-month hiatus. 

Suggested best bet: Phone Tag in the 19:35 at Yarmouth

Despite that, this capable three year-old-old has caught the attention of Tipstrr’s pundits, who saw enough promise during his juvenile campaign to suggest that the three-year-old can hit the ground running in a race of this nature.

A number of encouraging near misses during last summer were finally rewarded at Windsor in October, when he confirmed his promise and stamina over this one-mile trip, forging his way to the front in the closing stages to win by just under a length.

His five previous outings were all piloted by different jockeys, and that now become six in six with the notable booking of Benoit De La Sayette to take the reins.

Hugo Palmer’s yard has been in red-hot form so far this year, having saddled 22 winners and another 23 frame finishes from 99 runners that have accrued a tidy 100+ units of profit off the unsuspecting bookies.

• Tip advised by Rich Bets on Tipstrr