Saturday 18th May 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (jordan_yates_)
1.50 Newbury: Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes: This week’s Saturday Preview will start off at Newbury and in the 1.50 which is the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes over a mile and four furlongs. I’m strong on Desert Hero here for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. He was very progressive last term when winning a Group 3 and placing in the St Leger, and he returned to track with a fantastic run when a head second in Group 3 company at Sandown last month. He should come on a great deal from that outing and that makes him difficult to beat here. Desert Hero – 6/5 (Win) (NAP)
2.25 Newbury: Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes: Next up for me is the 2.25 at Newbury which is the Listed Carnarvon Stakes that’s ridden over six furlongs. I like Mister Sketch in this for Eve Johnson Houghton and James Doyle. He was second in the Mill Reef here last term and was better than his finishing position of sixth suggested on his seasonal reappearance here in the Greenham Stakes last month, as he was short of room at the business end of things. If he gets a clearer passage on this occasion I think he can have a massive say. Mister Sketch – 13/2 (Each-Way) (5 places)
3.00 Newbury: Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap: Moving onto the 3.00 at Newbury which is the London Gold Cup that’s a Heritage Handicap over a mile and two furlongs. I’m trying my hand with two selections in the race, the first of which is King’s Gambit for Harry Charlton and William Buick. All three of his starts have come here, winning one of those outings and the most recent coming when finishing a head second to Bracken’s Laugh last term, who has since franked that form markedly. He could be seriously progressive. My other pick is Individualism for Charlie Johnston and Joe Fanning. He’s still a maiden but has run with credit in each of his starts, most recently when second behind the smart Ice Max on his handicap debut last month. He’ll contest this off the same mark and I think he can go well. King’s Gambit – 4/1 (Win) & Individualism – (9/1) (Each-Way) (5 places)
3.15 Newmarket: Jenningsbet Britain’s Leading Independent Bookmakers Handicap: It’s over to Newmarket for my next selection which comes in the 3.15 which is a Class 3 handicap over the mile. I like Aalto here for the team of Ian Williams and Billy Loughlane. He ran a fine race on his seasonal reappearance over course and distance earlier this month, finishing second of sixteen and a length behind Crack Shot. He’ll contest this off just a pound higher and if progressing again he certainly enters calculations. Aalto – 9/2 (Win)
3.35 Newbury: Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes: I’m heading back to Newbury now for their feature race of the afternoon which is the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes over a mile. I’m siding with Inspiral here who represents John & Thady Gosden and is the mount of Kieran Shoemark. She got the better of main market rival Big Rock in the Jacques le Marois last August and I think she can hold that form here. I think the French raider will want a lot more cut in the ground than he’ll get here and with the weight allowance also in the Gosden mare’s favour I think she could prove tough to beat on this occasion. She signed off last season with three Group 1 victories in a row and she’s got a massive chance of adding another one to her tally here. Inspiral – 2/1 (Win)
3.50 Newmarket: Darley Fillies’ Novice Stakes: Signing me off for the day will be the 3.50 at Newmarket which is a fillies’ novice event that’s contested over a mile and four furlongs. I’m very big on Precious Jewel here for Charlie Appleby and Pat Dobbs. She seemingly bumped into a very smart filly on her racecourse debut here earlier this month when finishing second, and will likely come on a great deal for that run. It would be disappointing should she not follow up that effort by going one better on this occasion. Precious Jewel – 6/5 (Win) (NB)
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