Horse Racing: Invest in Raincoat to Make Trip Pay Off

There was no disgrace in Raincoat's effort to be second to Authorized in the Dante Stakes at York and he can underline the worth of that effort by taking the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly (4.35) today. Raincoat had earlier hammered Dubai Twilight in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and the runner-up's performance in finishing third to Zaham in a hot handicap at Newbury was advertised further with Zaham winning at Epsom yesterday.

At a more mundane level, Silver Hotspur is one to take note of in the 4.50 at Brighton. He has not been out since a modest run over a longer trip at Southwell in February but he looked a sprinter when trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam last season and Michael Wigham may have found the key to him in dropping him to five furlongs again. The stable had a winner at the Sussex track last week.

Course specialist Ivory Lace looks much more at home over seven furlongs these days and has the chance to shine over that distance in the 2.50 after a run over six at Folkestone. The Steve Woodman-trained mare has registered three wins and two placings in her last five outings over this tricky switchback course.

Tony McCoy has a fine strike-rate on the rare occasions he rides for Evan Williams. The jockey has partnered seven winners from his last 11 rides for the Welsh trainer over three seasons, so I have no hesitation in nominating his mount Lilac as the day's best bet in the 4.40 at Hereford.