Soft-ground specialists: three horses who will relish conditions at Leicester on Tuesday

The ground is officially heavy, soft in places for Leicester's seven-race Tuesday card and here are three horses expected to thrive in the conditions . . .

Shark Two One

Race: 3.23 Leicester, 6f handicap

Officially rated 96 for Richard Fahey at his peak, Shark Two One has slipped to a career low mark of 54 and with track and ground in his favour could be primed to capitalise.

The son of Adaay won a 7f handicap on soft ground at Catterick last September from a rating of 55 before following up at this track next time.

He signalled that a return to winning ways could be imminent when a front-running third on good to soft ground at Thirsk last time, only giving best inside the final furlong.

Having posted a top-two finish in four of his seven starts on an officially soft surface, everything points to a big performance under jockey Lewis Edmunds.

Spotlight comment: Two wins over 7f in 2023; fair placed efforts this term; acts on soft; others appeal more

Shark Two One15:23 Leicester

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Jky: Lewis Edmunds Tnr: Jessica Macey

Sergeant Pep

Race: 3.53 Leicester, 5f handicap

Sergeant Pep lost all chance when rearing as the stalls opened in the Ayr Silver Cup last time and it looks best to put a line through that run.

The Middleham Park-owned four-year-old had previously been in the winner's enclosure as recently as July, where his victory at Haydock produced a career best Racing Post Rating of 89.

His official mark of 82 looks workable on that evidence, while his form figures on ground worse than good read 51313.

Spotlight comment: Lost lots of ground at the start in Ayr Silver Cup, but he's at home on soft going

Sergeant Pep15:53 Leicester

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Jky: Richard Kingscote Tnr: Clive Cox

Formerly trained in France by Carlos Laffon-Parias, Stressfree got off the mark at the third attempt for his current connections when landing a 1m2f handicap on heavy ground at Nottingham last October.

The son of Anodin had run some fine races in defeat this season before deservedly getting his head back in front at Chester last month, where he came with a swooping run to pass the entire field late.

It is no surprise that the victory coincided with his return to soft ground, as all three career wins have been achieved on a soft or heavy surface, and with conditions in his favour a 4lb rise looks unlikely to prevent another bold bid.

Spotlight comment: His three wins have come on soft or heavy ground, including at Chester on latest start