Saturday 11th April 2025
2.00 Newbury: Dubai Duty Free Stakes: Kicking things off for me this Saturday will be the 2.00 at Newbury and this is the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes over seven furlongs. I’m going with Mountain Breeze here for Charlie Appleby and William Buick who’s currently a 9/2 chance in the betting. Simmering sets the standard here on the back of his Group 1 form from last time, however, the Appleby charge could just have the fitness edge on him here having won twice over at Meydan in January and March. He proved he was a smart horse himself last term having placed in Group 2 and 3 company and I’ll take a chance on him being the one who’s most tuned up here. Mountain Breeze – 9/2 (Each-Way)
2.15 Ayr: Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle: It’s over to Ayr for my second selection of the afternoon and the 2.15 which is the Scottish Champion Hurdle, a Grade 2 handicap over two miles. I’m strong on the chances of Ethical Diamond here for the Grand National winning duo of Willie & Patrick Mullins. He was a ten-length winner of a maiden hurdle on his penultimate start before running a fine race in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month, finishing fourth of sixteen and just three and three-quarters of a length behind stablemate Kargese. He’ll contest this off just a pound higher mark and he should give a bold showing off top-weight. Ethical Diamond – 10/3 (Win)
2.35 Newbury: Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes: My third selection comes back at Newbury and the 2.35 Group 3 Greenham Stakes contested over seven furlongs. I like Rashabar here for the team of Brian Meehan and Sean Levey. He won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last year at a huge price and proved that was no fluke by finishing a close second in back-to-back Group 1s in France on his latest two starts. He sets the standard here on the back of those runs and is clear on ratings, if he’s anywhere near his best he should be tough to beat here within Group 3 company. Rashabar – 10/3 (Win)
2.55 Ayr: UK Greentech Glasgow Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle: Next up for me will be the 2.55 at Ayr and we move back into handicap company with a Class 2 mares handicap hurdle that’s contested over three miles and half of a furlong. I’ve come down on Rockola Vogue here for the team of David Killahena & Graeme McPherson who’s the mount of Kielan Woods. She was a half-of-a-length winner on her latest outing which came at Musselburgh last month in what was her second start within handicap company. She’ll contest this off the same mark and given how she kept on strongly to the line last time this step up in trip should suit. She could well progress again. Rockola Vogue – 6/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several Firms)
3.12 Newbury: OLBG Spring Cup Handicap: The feature race of the afternoon at Newbury comes up at 3.12 and this is the Spring Cup which is a competitive Class 2 handicap that’s ridden over a mile. I’ve tried my hand with two selections in the race, the first of which comes in the form of Cogitate for Charlie Hills and Hollie Doyle. He won here as a novice last summer and is still relatively unexposed as a four-year-old. He made an encouraging return to the track at Kempton back in November when finishing fourth of fourteen and a length and three-quarters behind the winner, and can go well here off the same mark if he gets some luck in the run. My second selection is a more experienced runner in Classic for Richard Hannon and James Doyle. He contested many competitive handicaps last term and ran well in several of them and he’ll contest this particular assignment off a pound lower than his last winning mark. He was gelded over the summer and could run a big race in this. Cogitate 10/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several Firms) & Classic – 11/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several Firms)
3.35 Ayr: Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase: The final race I’ll be looking at on the day is the Ayr feature which is the Scottish Grand National, a Premier Handicap Chase that’s contested over a distance of four miles. I’ve had two selections in this race also, with the first of which being Rock My Way for Joe Tizzard and Brendan Powell. He’s been progressive this term over fences and was last seen when finishing second to Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month. He’ll contest this off just a pound higher and novices have done well in the race in previous years. My second selection comes in the form of Sail Away which would be a very significant winner in the Trainer’s Championship for Dan & Harry Skelton. He stayed on well last time out at Warwick over three miles to finish a neck second to The Doyen Chief and despite being raised three pounds he’s still four pounds below his last winning mark. If he gets the trip he could run a big race at a nice price. Rock My Way – 11/1 (Each-Way) (6 places – Several firms) & Sail Away – 16/1 (Each-Way) (6 places – Several Firms)
