Dave Nevison's Sunday tips: "This represents a strong chance of an overdue win"

Dramatic Star hasn’t been at his best so far in two runs this year, but his stable were going through an unusually cold spell at that point. However, the William Haggas team have certainly come alive at this meeting, so a better run is very much expected now.

The five-year-old ran really well to finish second in the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap at Haydock last season, and should have really won on his final start at Southwell last year when narrowly beaten. 

He has been dropped another pound since his last run, and Haggas applies cheekpieces for the first time here. This definitely represents a strong chance of an overdue win. 

Karl Burke’s filly looked an immense talent when beating Gstaad in the Prix Morny last season, and Venetian Sun then took a trip to Ireland for the Moyglare Stud Stakes, and got herself stuck in a pocket in a seven-horse race against three Aidan O’Brien-trained runners. 

She was staying on at the end of that seven-furlong contest and, in my opinion, showed she clearly stayed that trip. It is not conclusive, but I believe she will get a mile. 

Her dam was placed in Listed company over ten furlongs, and while her sire, Starman, was a six-furlong performer, his dam won over 1m2f, so there are definitely strands of hope in her pedigree. 

If she does stay, then I think there is a reasonable chance she can reverse the Moyglare Stud Stakes form with Precise in a more straightforward race. 

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Mount Ruahepu was running well off marks in the mid 70’s in 2024 and, based on his run of form since joining Iain Jardine, he could well be heading back up to similar ratings. 

He won nicely at Southwell last time out off a rating of 60, and a 5lb penalty would not have stopped him there. The drop down to five furlongs won’t be an issue for this strong-travelling type, and he should see this moderate bunch off.