Today's Racing Tips: Lady can land a win for in-form Howard at The Curragh

Yarmouth, 14:20 - Back Oliaku @ 1/12.00

5 (5)

Oliaku

• J: Kieran Shoemark
• T: Michael Bell
• F: 3-

• SBK 6/5
• EXC 2.66

This looks a weak maiden, with March Of Time and Starship Lily appearing to be the main dangers, and the fact that the former holds an official rating of 63 gives an indication of the standard Oliaku needs to overcome. Starship Lily has the assistance of Oisin Murphy in the saddle, but she finished second in what looked a modest race at Wolverhampton last time, so there is a case for taking a chance on Oliaku despite her 17-month absence.

Oliaku made her sole start over this course and distance in May last year, when sent off the 11/102.11 favourite. She ran green that day but still managed to finish third, and the form has a potentially significant angle given that the winner, Staya, is now rated 101. That suggests Oliaku may have bumped into a very useful rival on her debut, rather than simply failing to deliver on her short price.

She returns from a fracture, so there is an obvious risk attached to backing her after such a lengthy absence. However, connections clearly saw plenty of potential in her when paying 275,000 guineas for her at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale.

If she has retained her ability and is fit enough to do herself justice on her return, she could have too much class for these rivals in what looks an excellent opportunity to get her career back on track.

Curragh, 16:45 - Back Lady Mary Heath @ 22/123.00

13 (15)

Lady Mary Heath (Ire)

• J: C. D. Hayes
• T: Aidan Anthony Howard, Ireland
• F: 000-47390

• SBK 22/1
• EXC 5.7

Lady Mary Heath is an interesting option at a big price, despite coming into this race on the back of a disappointing effort.

That latest run came on her first start for four months, so it is possible she needed the outing, and she remains relatively unexposed in handicaps. There are enough positives in her earlier form to suggest she could be capable of outrunning her odds if bouncing back here.

Rain would be no concern, given that she showed she could handle testing conditions when finishing fourth on her handicap debut over a mile at the Curragh on heavy ground. She was a 66/167.00 shot that day, running off a mark of 64, and subsequently finished less than half a length behind the winner when third over seven furlongs at the same venue, again off 64. Those efforts suggest she is capable of being competitive at this level, and she gets the chance to exploit a slightly lower mark of 63 here.

There are also encouraging signs from the stable. Aidan Howard has recorded two winners from his last five runners, with two others narrowly beaten, suggesting his horses are in good form at present.

Chris Hayes takes the ride, and his 12% strike rate for the yard compares favourably with the stable's overall figure of 7%. While Lady Mary Heath needs to leave her latest effort behind, her earlier Curragh form gives her a credible chance of making an impact at a price.

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