Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Newbury and Newmarket on Saturday. View selections below.
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WHAT ABOUT CARLO (2.25) will handle soft ground better than most in the Bet365 Stakes at Newbury.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding landed a competitive handicap over course and distance last October on good to soft and proved his wellbeing by running King Bolete to a neck at Windsor earlier this month. If all eight runners go to post What About Carlo looks a solid each-way wager.
Spark Plug sets a high standard after landing a Listed event at Sandown for Brian Meehan. Most of the gelding’s best form has come on a faster surface but he did run Ayrad close at Sandown (good/soft) last summer. He can improve on last year’s fifth to Scottish in this Listed contest 12 months ago.
Mount Logan’s third to Lord Yeats at Newmarket was another solid run but Roger Varian’s six-year-old is often undone by a change of gear at a crucial stage. He has more than three lengths to make up on Spark Plug on their running behind First Sitting at Goodwood in May.
Best Of Days beat The Anvil a neck to land last year’s Royal Lodge at HQ but returned from a 272-day absence to finish last in the King Edward Vi Stakes at Royal Ascot.
MAGICAL MEMORY (3.00) can make his class tell in the Bet365 Hackwood Stakes.
Charlie Hills has booked comeback man Frankie Dettori and Magical Memory ran really well on soft ground at York when outpointed by Tasleet.
Tupi, sixth to Tasleet at York, is a live threat on ground he will handle.
Hugo Palmer’s Koropick, winner of the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle, has a chance along with another three-year-old Eqtiraan.
Richard Fahey saddles five of the 25 runners declared for the Weatherbys Super Sprint, with MAGGIES ANGEL (3.35) looking his most lively contender.
Paul Hanagan gets the leg-up on the filly, runner-up to stablemate Dance Diva at Newmarket on good to soft ground.
Clive Cox and Adam Kirby teamed up to great effect with the brilliant Heartache in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and they rely on Goodwood winner Snazzy Jazzy.
At Newmarket, SERENADA (2.40) should go close in the BetBright Aphrodite Stakes, a 1m 4f fillies’ Listed event.
Roger Varian’s three-year-old finished behind one of today’s rivals Apphia when they both got a rear view of Coronet in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, Serenada paid the penalty for chasing a strong pace, while Apphia ran through beaten horses into fifth.
Isabel De Urbina finished sixth to Enabled in the Oaks and Ralph Beckett’s filly is one for the shortlist.
Skiffle is attempting to get her career back on track after finishing last to Somehow in the Dahlia Stakes. Charlie Appleby’s four-year-old was sent off second favourite behind Minding in last year’s Oaks, but weakened into fifth.
More Mischief edged out Chain of Daisies at Newcastle and Jedd O’Keefe’s five-year-old may do best of the older brigade.
Jumping enthusiasts can get their teeth into an interesting Market Rasen card and POKER SCHOOL (3.20) catches the eye in the Betfred Summer Plate Handicap Chase.
Ian Williams’ seven-year-old goes well fresh, scoring first-time out last season at Sandown. Poker School landed two competitive novice chases at Ascot, then at Kempton on Boxing Day when beating Two Taffs. Significantly, they are right-handed tracks, so he should be at home here.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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