The Lowdown: going updates, racecards, news and tips for today's racing

Today's news

• SPEED DATE: Charlie Hills has firmed up plans for his two sprinting stars, Nunthorpe winner Battaash and Stewards' Cup star Khaadem.
  
  
• TOP RACE: Archie Watson sends Coventry Stakes third Guildsman to the Curragh for the race of the day, the Round Tower Stakes (5.20), in which he reopposes the Royal Ascot fourth Fort Myers, one of three bidding to give his trainer Aidan O'Brien four in a row in the Group 3.
  
  
• FAMILY FORTUNES: O'Brien seems to like family outings to the races judged by the opening maiden (4.20) at the Curragh, which features last week's York International winner Japan's brother Mogul, the ride of Ryan Moore, and debutant Nobel Prize, who is a brother to Highland Reel and Idaho. Martin Stevens has all angles covered here.
  
  
• DOUBLE NEEDED: That is what Mark Johnston is looking for to reach 200 winners this year and he has four runners today with two at Hamilton. If it is not today then Saturday looks odds-on as the Middleham machine has 18 runners across six meetings.

Key links

Today's racecards
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Today's meetings

**STAR MEETING**
Curragh (first race 4.20)
Three Group 3s enliven another Friday evening in Ireland but it is the big betting race on the card, the Tote Irish Cambridgeshire, that has our attention. (6.50: racecard | preview).
Going Good to yielding on straight course; good on round course
Non-runners
SPOTLIGHT TIP: On A Session (6.50)

Bangor-on-Dee (1.50)
Going Good (GoingStick 7.4)
Non-runner 1.50 (7) Perfectly Honest

Thirsk (2.00)
Going Good, good to soft in places (from good to soft, good in places) (GoingStick 7.1)
Distances 1.00, 3.05, 4.15, 4.45 & 5.15 +20yds, 2.30 +30yds
Non-runner 3.40 (17) That's Not Me

Sandown (2.10)
Going Good to firm, good in places (from good, good to firm in places) (GoingStick 7.4)
Distances All races on round course +14yds
Non-runners 2.10 (4) Bartat, 3.50 (3) Riviera Nights

Wolverhampton (AW) (4.30)
Going Standard
Non-runners 5.05 (4) Roaring Rory, (6) Dandilion

Down Royal (4.35)
Going Good

Hamilton (4.55)
Going Good to soft, good in places (GoingStick 6.6)
Distances All races +5yds on Round course
Non-runners 4.55 (12) It's Not My Fault, 5.55 (8) Rosarno, 6.55 (13) Doctor Cross, 8.00 (5) Rego Park Lady

Newcastle (AW) (5.45)
Going Standard to slow

Today's tips

Richard Austen's top tip

3.50 Sandown
Visored the last two starts, winning well on handicap debut at Leicester and staying on well for third of 18 from out the back at Goodwood. Met trouble in running over two furlongs out in the latter event and this race is nothing like so competitive so big chance if he settles adequately.

Live Tipster
Gavin Beech is in the chair with the day's best bets and answering emails on Raceday Live.

Ten Second Tip
Joe Tuffin heads all over Britain with selections at Bangor, Hamilton and Thirsk.

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