Sunday 18th May 2025
4.15 Newmarket: Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap: Kicking this Sunday’s ITV blog off at Newmarket will be the 4.15 which is a Class 4 handicap over five furlongs. I’m chancing Spring Bloom here for Robert Eddery and Tom Marquand. He was disappointing last time out at Windsor, however, I put him up on his penultimate outing where he finished second at Goodwood over six furlongs behind Chairmanoftheboard. He looked like the winner of the race before fading late on, which suggests the drop down to five here should suit him. He’s on his last winning mark and can put the Windsor run behind him here. Spring Bloom – 10/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – William Hill, 888)
4.45 Newmarket: Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap: Next up is the 4.45, a competitive Class 4 handicap over seven furlongs. I’ve come down on Waiting All Night here for Richard Spencer and George Wood. This represents an ease in grade for him, having contested Class 2 and Class 3 company at this track lately, and he didn’t run badly last time out when finishing fifth of fourteen. He didn’t see out the mile that day after racing keenly, suggesting this drop to seven could be what he’s after, and he’ll contest this off four pounds lower than his last winning mark. Waiting All Night – 10/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
5.15 Newmarket: Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap: My third selection of the afternoon comes within the 5.15, and this is Class 3 handicap action over a mile and six furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Sportingsilvermine here for James Owen and Hector Crouch. I put him up last time out where he bumped into one at Chester, but still ran a fine race finishing half of a length second. He won his previous two starts for this yard before the Chester run, and I think that there could be plenty more to come from him. Sportingsilvermine – 9/4 (Win) (NAP)
5.45 Newmarket: Sky Bet Proud To Support RoR Handicap: Moving onto the 5.45, and we’re up in grade now with a Class 2 handicap over a distance of six furlongs. I like Sixtygeesbaby here for Tom Clover and Jack Callan, who takes off seven pounds. He was an impressive four-length winner here in November at the back end of last season, and opened his account for this campaign at Doncaster last month, winning a thirteen-runner affair by a head. He should continue to progress, and the seven pounds coming off his back via the ride should be a big plus; another bold showing would be no surprise. Sixtygeesbaby – 3/1 (Win) (NB)
6.15 Newmarket: Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap: My penultimate selection of the day comes in the 6.15, which is also the penultimate race of the card, and this is a Class 3 handicap that’s contested over a mile and two furlongs. I’m siding with Mutaawid here for the team of John & Thady Gosden and the mount of Jim Crowley. He’s an unexposed sort, who should improve on his fifth-placed effort on seasonal reappearance at Goodwood earlier this month, where he didn’t get the clearest of runs. It would be disappointing if there wasn’t more to come from him. Mutaawid – 2/1 (Win)
6.45 Newmarket: Sky Bet Club Fillies’ Handicap: Signing us off for the evening will be the 6.45, and this is Class 4 handicap action over a mile. I’ve come down on Saariselka here for the team of Ed Walker and Oisin Murphy. She’s a novice winner who posted a fine effort when half of a length second of ten on her handicap debut and seasonal reappearance at Yarmouth last month. She’ll contest this off just a pound higher mark, and you’d like to think that she can continue to progress. Saariselka – 9/2 (Each-Way)
