Thursday tips: Frankie Dettori seeking Sovereign wealth at Salisbury on return to Britain

I had three winners in this column last week so I suspect that the “racing gods” will be watching a bit closer on Thursday, but I will give it a go on what I think is a pretty tricky day.

3.50 Salisbury – Elysian Fields:

This seven-times winner is having her third run of the year and should be absolutely primed for her best.

On her seasonal reappearance she was runner-up in the Listed Daisy Warwick Stakes before not seeing out the 1m6f at Chelmsford – a distance connections have tried her over five times and she blatantly does not stay.

Dropping back down to 1m4f and returning to Salisbury, where she has a course and distance success will suit.

Jockey Kieran Shoemark has a good record with Elysian Fields winning on her twice and was also aboard at Goodwood when second to Ajman Princess in May.

Although she carries top weight in this competitive fillies’ handicap the six-year-old daughter of Champs Elysees is a big, strong mare and carrying the weight should not be an issue. She is definitely an each-way play at 14-1 with Skybet for me.

4.20 Salisbury – Hathal:

One of the feature races at Salisbury every year, an eight strong, competitive field lines up for the Group Three Sovereign Stakes over a mile.

The in-form William Haggas saddles Hathal, who looks to be the pick of these given his Group Three Superior Mile win last year at Haydock. In his two runs this year he has been placed in the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot and the Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes at York, which is run over an extended ten furlongs.

Returning to a mile today will suit this son of Speightstown, as will getting the cheekpieces back on - his win in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup in 2015 was with this headgear. Most important of all is that Frankie Dettori, who has not ridden in the UK since the final day of Glorious Goodwood, comes back for this sole ride.

5.25 Salisbury – Pow Wow:

A relatively obvious play but the 9-4 is a fair price considering the fire power coming from the much sexier yards of Charlie Appleby, Sir Michael Stoute, Sir Mark Prescott, Ian Balding, and Michael Bell.

This son of top miler Medicean reeled off three straight wins in lower level handicaps when he was with Roger Charlton, but has since been sold and moved to Martyn Meade.

Pow Wow faces tougher competition on Thursday but is a perfect two for two at Salisbury and is the only course winner in the field.

A point to note is that ahead of his last race he reared over behind the stalls and here at the unique 1m6f start at Salisbury there are no stalls for him to worry about as the race is started by a flag.

7.06 Saratoga (Race 3) - #3 Thebigfundamental:

In this nine-furlong Optional Claimer Todd Pletcher has a very interesting four-year-old running in the shape of Thebigfundamental, who he owns with his father, Jake.

This son of Uncle Mo cost the Pletchers $550,000 as a yearling but did not begin racing until the spring of his four-year-old season. That said he has already chalked up two wins at Belmont and last time out ran third in an identical race to this at Saratoga, but that day he raced too freely and ended up getting run down in the final strides.

He had blinkers on last time and they come off on Thursday, which should allow him to settle and there appears to be no other speed in this race so he should get a relatively easy lead. It makes him very dangerous.

His morning line price of 9-5 is fair, and hopefully we will get that price as #4 Securitiz, who was in front of him last time, is back again, but this time the race set up suits Thebigfundamental.

Rachel Candelora's Thursday tips: (Prices correct at 7.30am)

3.50 Salisbury: Elysian Fields each-way at 14-1 with Sky Bet

4.20 Salisbury: Hathal at 15-8 with Paddy Power

5.25 Salisbury: Pow Wow at 9-4 with bet365 BetVictor and Sky Bet

7.06 Saratoga: Thebigfundamental