Yarmouth, 2 August 2026: Tips & Selections

Yarmouth, 2 August 2026: Tips & Selections

A compact Sunday card at Yarmouth with good to firm ground throughout. Three featured races, a small-field handicap that has a clear form angle, and a novice stakes where the market isn’t telling the full story. Silvestre De Sousa and Marco Ghiani both know this track well and are worth following when pitched up here.

2:35 — Bodhi Solutions Front Runner Handicap Stakes (1m3½f)

Three runners, so no each-way market worth touching. This is a straight win call, and the form angle points firmly to Shadow Brigade at 7/4 (BoyleSports, LiveScore Bet).

George Scott’s yard has been in decent nick over the last fortnight, three winners from 14 runners, and Shadow Brigade arrives on the back of a win, rated 81, heading this field on official marks. He has already shown he handles good to firm without issue, which matters enormously at Yarmouth where the ground can play fast and unforgiving. Darragh Keenan takes the ride and has had experience of this track recently.

Brighton View at 6/5 is the danger. William Knight has a solid 15% course record here and an A/E of 1.05, meaning his runners at Yarmouth return profit. Marco Ghiani, also strong at this track, takes the ride. Brighton View’s second last time out is a genuine positive.

But Shadow Brigade’s rating advantage holds up in a field of three, and Scott’s form with the yard running well tips the balance. Take the 7/4 win-only.

3:08 — Juddmonte EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (7f)

Nine runners in a two-year-old novice over seven furlongs on quick ground. The market has compressed around two horses and, unusually, I think both deserve their price.

Keep Grating heads the market at 5/4 (BoyleSports) with Richard Hannon in excellent form over the past fortnight, 11 winners from 61 runners. Joe Leavy takes the ride. Keep Grating has shown consistent placed form in three starts, running 6-3-2, and that progression on quick ground looks genuine.

The alternative at a bigger price is Javelot Each-Way at 11/1 (Betfred) for Marco Botti. De Sousa takes the ride, and his 19% course strike rate at Yarmouth is the best of any jockey on this card. Botti has two winners from 13 over the period, the yard is ticking over, and a debutant at double-figure odds with De Sousa up and a trainer who places horses well deserves respect. Nine runners, three places at 1/5 odds, and 11/1 on Betfred makes this a genuine each-way play.

Main selection for a win is Keep Grating. Hannon’s stats, the progressive form line, and the good to firm ground he clearly handles make him the most straightforward call in the race. Javelot fills the each-way slot at the big price.

4:08 — Bodhi Solutions Constructing Champions Handicap Stakes (1m)

Six runners, two places at 1/4 odds. A tight handicap with form to unpick.

Okiru Each-Way at 5/2 (BoyleSports, LiveScore Bet) catches the eye despite the winless recent sequence. Tom Marquand aboard, 18% course winner at Yarmouth, and Archie Watson’s yard has sent out two winners from 19 runners recently. Crucially, Okiru holds a rating of 71 against an official mark of 64, suggesting the assessor has him well-treated. He has run over a mile on good to firm before, he draws stall one which is a clean enough position, and a second two starts back shows he can hit the frame. At 5/2 with two places on offer, the each-way play looks solid.

Guest House at 7/4 is the market leader with De Sousa booked. The jockey’s Yarmouth stats are excellent, and a third last time out keeps him honest. But trainer George Margarson has sent out no winners from eight in the last fortnight, which is a flag worth noting.

Daretobedifferent at 7/2 is rated highest in the field but her last two efforts have been poor, and 23 days off doesn’t automatically sharpen a filly who has gone backwards.

Okiru’s handicap angle is the sharpest in the race. Take the each-way at 5/2.

Today’s NAP

Shadow Brigade — Bodhi Solutions Front Runner Handicap Stakes (2:35, Yarmouth)
Odds: 7/4 — BoyleSports (others: 15/8 Betfred, 7/4 LiveScore Bet)

George Scott’s yard has been in form over the past two weeks and Shadow Brigade returns off a win carrying the top rating in a three-runner field. He handles good to firm without concern and, in a race this small, his official mark advantage over Brighton View and Mr Bollinger is the clearest edge on the card. Mr Bollinger’s trainer Michael Bell carries a poor 14-day strike rate of one from 22, and that context only strengthens Shadow Brigade’s case at 7/4.