US racing tips: Tom Collins takes on unbeaten colt in Belmont Park feature

Noble Thought
7.55 Belmont Park
2pts winSonneman
10.04 Belmont Park
2pts win

Irad Ortiz's lead at the top of the jockey standings at the current Belmont meet has been reduced to just two, but he's had far fewer rides than his nearest counterparts and is currently striking at 30 per cent at the track (18 winners from 60 rides).

He looks to have another strong book of mounts at the New York venue on Thursday, the best of which could prove to be Noble Thought, who drops down to 1m½f to contest the $57,000 claimer (7.55).

Mike Maker's seven-year-old is best over stamina-sapping tests around a mile and a half, but he has enough speed to make an impression over this trip, especially if he has a fast pace to chase.

The turf specialist last entered the winner's circle at Churchill Downs in November on an off-the-turf dirt contest, a race that was far better than the one he finds himself in today.

He has recorded form figures of 232 since then, the latest of which came in another dirt contest on the sloppy surface at Gulfstream. He made a big mid-race move but couldn't live with the reopposing Musical Heart in the stretch run.

That runner beat Noble Thought by over ten lengths a month ago but had an easy time on the front end (won't get that here) and is clearly much better on the slop than he is on the turf. The selection also gets a 2lb swing in the weights in his favour.

The switch back to turf will suit Noble Thought, who was considered good enough to run in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes last season and should thrive from his inside post.

Ortiz will also partner the unbeaten and promising Casino Grande in the feature $80,000 Easy Goer Stakes (10.04) for trainer Christophe Clement.

He looks a sharp individual who took a huge leap forward from his maiden victory to score in allowance optional claiming company here last time.

However, there will be no juice in his price and he bumps into a similarly-improving type in Sonneman, who should benefit from a decent early gallop and the step back up in trip to a mile.

The three-year-old son of Curlin looked green on his debut last year when eighth at Saratoga but performed much better the following month at the same track when runner-up to a useful prospect.

Trainer Mark Hennig then switched him to this venue after the summer meet at The Spa had finished and he ran out a decisive winner over a mile in last-to-first fashion.

Sonneman was given six months off after that before being stepped up to allowance optional claiming company. The drop to 7f clearly wasn't the ideal plan but he showed plenty of resilience and guts to run down a potentially useful rival in the straight to win cosily at the line.

He has been working well since, will prefer this track to the Hallandale Beach circuit and should benefit from the extra furlong and a half.

Place bets on international races with the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker accounts in the Accounts tab and then click cards to view the racecards