Monday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data featuring a trio with the Horse In Focus Flag

Kelso, 14:30 - Encouraging efforts suggest Starlyte is back in form

Starlyte is still searching for her first win this season but she has shown much more encouragement of late and can be considered back in form.

She was only in mid-division over two and a half miles at Newcastle on her penultimate start but Timeform's reporter noted that she 'caught the eye by the end kept to what is probably a barely adequate trip now after 3 months off, and she'll be of plenty of interest if stepped back up in distance next time'.

Starlyte was duly upped in distance but also raised markedly in class for a listed race and was sent off at 200/1 last time. Despite those long odds, Starlye finished fourth of nine runners and was beaten fewer than ten lengths, earning the Horse In Focus Flag to highlight she's likely to be of firm interest at a more realistic level. 

She's been found a more suitable opportunity here and comes out 5 lb clear on Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings based on what she showed last time.

Kelso, 16:00 - Unexposed Big Love likely to improve

Big Love couldn't get into a challenging position on his handicap debut at Wetherby last time but he stayed on well under mainly hands-and-heels, earning the Horse In Focus Flag.

Big Love got much closer than had seemed likely jumping the second last and was ultimately beaten fewer than eight lengths in fourth, producing his best performance yet while leaving the impression there could be better to come over longer trips. 

He ought to appreciate stepping up a couple of furlongs at Kelso and is the only runner in the line-up with the Timeform 'small p' to highlight he's considered likely to improve. He's still only a four-year-old and doesn't have many miles on the clock.

Newcastle, 20:00 - Anthropologist can follow up smooth success

Anthropologist was only denied by a head when runner-up at Southwell on his penultimate start and he went one better in style over this course and distance last month, winning with more in hand than the margin of a length might suggest.

Anthropologist was held up in a race run at just a steady gallop, which should have placed him at a disadvantage, and he still had more rivals in front of him than behind entering the final furlong. However, he picked up strongly when asked for his effort and ultimately scored comfortably under a confident ride.

The style of that success earned him the Horse In Focus Flag and suggests that a 4 lb rise in the weights could underestimate him.

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