Saturday 4th May 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
1.10 Newmarket: William Hill British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes: Kicking things off on Saturday for me will be the 1.10 at Newmarket which is a Listed event for fillies & mares. I’ve taken my chance with Dorothy Lawrence here who’s currently a 9/1 chance for Karl Burke and Neil Callan. She didn’t show on her seasonal reappearance in France when failing to beat a rival in Group 3 company, however, the ground was described as very soft on that occasion. There’ll likely be cut in the ground again here, but it shouldn’t be anywhere near as bad as that and she has won on soft before. She’s also got some solid form from last season in pattern company behind the likes of Relief Rally and Juniper Berries, and getting an age allowance off a lot of her rivals here I think she can make her presence felt. Dorothy Lawrence – 9/1 (Each-Way)
1.45 Newmarket: William Hill Extra Place Races Handicap: Next up at Newmarket it’s the 1.45 which is handicap action over a distance of six furlongs. I’ve come down on Charimanoftheboard here who represents Jack Channon and is the mount of Edward Greatrex. He progressed from his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster in March with a fine effort at Newbury last month when finishing a head second in a competitive handicap, being narrowly denied close home. He’ll contest this off the same mark and at a course that he’s gone well at previously he’s got every chance of going well here once more. He’ll also have no issue should the ground come up soft. Charimanoftheboard – 9/1 (Each-Way)
2.20 Newmarket: William Hill Suffolk Stakes: My third selection of the afternoon comes in the 2.20 at Newmarket which is the Suffolk Stakes a heritage handicap over a mile and a furlongs. I like Theoryofeverything here for the team of David O’Meara and William Buick. He’s an unexposed type and ran a fine race on stable debut here last month when finishing fourth of seventeen after a dwelt start, and only half of a length behind the winner. It’s very likely that he’ll build on that effort here and if that’s the case I think he can have a serious say, as he could still be on the upgrade. Theoryofeverything – 8/1 (Each-Way) (NB)
2.55 Newmarket: William Hill Palace House Stakes: We move onto the 2.55 from Newmarket which is Group 3 action over a distance of five furlongs. I’m strong on the Charlie Hills trained Mitbaahy here who’s currently a 16/5 chance in the betting under Jamie Spencer. He’s another who ran a fine race on his stable debut after being slow away, finishing fourth of fourteen in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes here last month. He should come on for that run and has joined a yard that excels with their sprinters, he’ll also have no issue should the rain come as he has recent form on soft ground having won the Listed Queensferry Stakes at Chester on his final run of last season. Mitbaahy – 16/5 (Win) (NAP)
3.35: Newmarket: Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes: The big one comes up at 3.35 which is the first classic of the season in the Group 1 2000 Guineas over the mile. City Of Troy will be all the rage here at the top of the betting, and there’s every chance that he could be the next big superstar of Ballydoyle. I’m going to have one at a massive price though against him and that’s the outsider of the whole field in Ten Bob Tony at 66/1 for Ed Walker and Saffie Osbourne. He won here at the Craven Meeting last month on his seasonal reappearance beating the useful Boiling Point who came out and won a listed race here on Friday. This requires a massive step up for him on that form, however, a lot of those behind City Of Troy lack in course form and would also have question marks over potentially soft ground whereas both of those would bo no issue for Walker’s charge. Ten Bob Tony – 66/1 (Each-Way)
4.15: Punchestown: Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase: It’s over to Punchestown at 4.15 for the first of my two picks from there and this is a Listed handicap chase over three miles and half of a furlong. I’m chancing the English raider here Blackjack Magic for Anthony Honeyball and Rex Dingle. He’s a smart chaser on his day and comes into the race having been given some time off since a fall at Kempton back in February. He does have some strong form to his name from this season, which came when winning the Grade 3 Badger Beer handicap at Wincanton back in November, getting the better of Threeunderthrufive on that occasion. He’s only three pounds higher than that success here and if he returns to that level of form he can be involved. Blackjack Magic – 12/1 (Each-Way)
5.25: Punchestown: SBK Gold Trophy Handicap Hurdle: Signing me off for the day will be the 5.25 which is a Listed handicap hurdle over two miles and four and a half furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Ocastle Des Mottes here who’s currently a 10/1 chance in the betting for Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins. He was disappointing again at Aintree last time out when well-fancied, however, he was held up way off the pace that day presumably to try and help him settle. He did run well at Cheltenham prior to that when finishing fifth in the Martin Pipe, and I do think there could be a useful horse in there. If he does settle here and returns to the form of that Cheltenham run I think he could play a part at a decent price. Ocastle Des Mottes – 10/1 (Each-Way)
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