Paul Kealy's play of the day at Newmarket

Artistic Star

2.55 Newmarket

I'm expecting the Ralph Beckett yard to spring into some any time soon and reckon Artistic Star might be worth a small bet on his first run in a turf handicap (2.55).

Seventh in the Derby and third in the King Edward VII Stakes during his three-year-old season, he has been seen only three times since and hasn't really troubled the judge. However, it wasn't a bad run when he was fourth in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes on his sole turf outing in 2024.

Two all-weather outings have followed. He beat only two horses in the first of them at Southwell and none in January when last of seven, although he wasn't beaten very far.

That's all very negative, but Artistic Star is by the world's greatest turf sire Galileo, whose progeny had far less success on all-weather surfaces, so he's worth another chance back on turf with his mark having dropped to 101.

Even that Gordon Richards fourth, admittedly over only 1m2f, is good enough to make him competitive off this sort of mark, and he shaped like he'd get further when plugging on at Epsom and Ascot as a three-year-old.

Artistic Star14:55 Newmarket

View Racecard

Jky: Rossa Ryan Tnr: Ralph Beckett

Racing Post+ subscribers can read more of Paul Kealy's tipping here:

'He's worth another chance back on turf' - Paul Kealy has two value bets at Newmarket   

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