Sunday 5th May 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (jordan_yates_)
1.50: Newmarket: William Hill Pretty Polly Stakes: My first selection of the afternoon on 1000 Guineas Day comes in the 1.50 at Newmarket which is the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes over a mile and two furlongs. I’m siding with Lunar Eclipse here for David Simcock and Jamie Spencer. She won on her only racecourse start to date which came at this track on a heavy surface back in November, and she looks to have significant potential. She was still green that day so should improve significantly and the step up in trip and sounder surface could bring out said improvement. Lunar Eclipse – 6/1 (Each-Way)
2.05 Hamilton: Apex Traffic Management Ltd Buttonhook Handicap: I’ve got one selection from Hamilton on the day and that comes in the 2.05 which is a Class 3 handicap over a mile and five furlongs. I like Capital Theory here for the team of Charlie Johnston and Joe Fanning. He’s been plying his trade on the all-weather on his last few outings and made his return to the track when fourth at Chelmsford last month. He should come on for that run here and strip considerably fitter, he’ll contest this off just two pounds higher than his last winning mark which came on good to soft at Ayr back in September. Capital Theory – 11/4 (Win) (NB)
2.25 Newmarket: William Hill Dahlia Stakes: It’s back over to Newmarket now for my third selection of the afternoon which comes in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes over a mile and a furlong. I’m chancing Astral Beau here who’s currently a 10/1 chance for Pam Sly and Shane Kelly. She was third in this race last year and has form behind the likes of Nashwa and Prosperous Voyage in some hot contests last term. She posted a very encouraging effort on her seasonal reappearance at Doncaster last month behind the smart Charyn in Listed company which should set her right for this. I think she can outrun her odds. Astral Beau – 10/1 (Each-Way)
3.00 Newmarket: William Hill Handicap: My fourth selection of the day comes in the 3.00 which is a Heritage Handicap that’s contested over a mile and six furlongs. I’m strong on the Godolphin runner New London here for the team of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He reverts into handicap company having previously contested Group events, most recently in Meydan in the Spring. He was second in the 2022 running of the St Leger and despite not quite living up to expectations since then a race of this nature should be well within his sights. New London – 4/1 (Win) (NAP)
3.40: Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes: The feature race and the big one comes up at 3.40 which is the Group 1 1000 Guineas Stakes for fillies over a mile. In this year’s renewal of the race, I’ve come down on Dance Sequence who’s another one for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. She’s arguably unlucky to not be coming into the race unbeaten, having gone down by just a neck in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes here last month to Pretty Crystal. That was her first run of the season so she should improve for it and she kept on all the way to the line, giving the impression that the step up to a mile will bring out more improvement. I think she can have a big say for the boys in blue. Dance Sequence – 11/2 (Each-Way)
Image provided by https://www.horseracingphoto.co.uk and is licensed under a Creative Commons
