Saturday 17th May 2025
12.50 Newbury: Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes: We get things underway this Saturday with the 12.50 at Newbury, which is the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes over a mile and four furlongs. This year’s renewal has thrown up a competitive field of which I’m siding with the old boy Al Aasy for William Haggas and Jim Crowley. He was written off last time out at Sandown in the Gordon Richards Stakes against younger rivals, but managed to prevail regardless. I think there’s every chance he’ll improve from that outing, and he returns to what is probably his favourite track, as he has a fine record here. I don’t see any reason to suggest he won’t go well again around here. Al Aasy – 9/2 (Each-Way)
1.05 Newmarket: Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap: It’s over to Newmarket for my second selection of the day and the 1.05, which is a Class 3 handicap that’s contested over a distance of seven furlongs. I like Physique here for the team of Pam Sly and Jamie Spencer. He ran a fine race when he was last seen, which came over course and distance earlier this month, going down by just three-quarters of a length into second. He’s been nudged up a couple of pounds for that effort, but he remains on a mark which is still lower than his last winning one, and I think he can post a bold bid once again here. Physique – 4/1 (Each-Way) (NB)
1.25 Newbury: Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes: My third selection of the afternoon comes back at Newbury and in the 1.25, which is the Listed Carnarvon Stakes over six furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Ides Of March here for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He was a Group 3 winner last term and wasn’t disgraced at the Breeders Cup when finishing a four-length seventh of twelve in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. He returned to the track within Listed company at Navan last month and ran a fine race, finishing half of a length second to his very talented stablemate Whistlejacket. He’s got the best form on offer in this race, and I think he should take a lot of beating. Ides Of March – 7/4 (Win) (NAP)
2.00 Newbury: Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap: Next up for me will be the 2.00 at Newbury, and this is the London Gold Cup, which is a Heritage Handicap that’s contested over a mile and two furlongs. I’ve sided with Nebras here for the team of John & Thady Gosden who’s the mount of Hollie Doyle. He suffered a surprise defeat at short odds on his seasonal reappearance at Southwell in April, but put that run behind him next time out when finishing second behind the smart Godolphin prospect Alpine Trail in the Listed Newmarket Stakes earlier this month. That’s possibly the best form on offer here, and there should be further improvement to come from him. If he gets some luck in the run, he can post a bold bid here. Nebras – 11/2 (Each-Way)
2.35 Newbury: BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes: We move into Group 1 company in the 2.35 at Newbury with the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes taking centre-stage over a mile. Rosallian is the standout horse at the top of the betting here, and is the one they all have to beat. I’m going to try and take him on though, and I’m doing so with Tamfana for David Menuisier and Rossa Ryan. She’s a Group 1 winner herself when winning the Sun Chariot Stakes last August, and she ran well on her seasonal reappearance in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown, finishing a length and three-quarters behind Dancing Gemini. She’ll reoppose that rival here off better weights with her allowance, and she should naturally progress for her second run of the season. I think that she could go very well. Tamfana – 6/1 (Each-Way)
