Hi all,

There’s plenty for lovers of both codes to enjoy over the next couple of days. Newbury’s Greenham Meeting gets underway this afternoon as does Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting.  Sadly, there’s no racing on ITV afternoon which is a shame as both cards are strong and I have a few fancies on the Ayr card.

Inside today’s main piece I look ahead to the best of Friday’s action at Newbury.

The Dream’s Alive

I love this time in the flat season just before the first Classics of the season. The dreams of Derby & Oaks success are still well and truly alive. We know there going to be either fulfilled for the lucky few or shattered in most cases.

Over the next two days at Newbury, we’re going to see some nicely bred colts and fillies run. For them the dream is firmly alive.

Newbury

There’s an eight race at Newbury today. It’s a nice mix of handicaps and maiden/novice races.  The going was being described as soft, good to soft in places on Thursday afternoon. However, is forecast and there could be 5mm on Friday.

The big Newmarket yards are well represented in the 1m 2f Maiden Fillies' Stakes (2:40). With the likes of Charlie Appleby, the Gosden’s, Stoute and Haggas all having runners.

The Gosden’s have saddled the winner of the race four times since 2017 and they have a trio of fillies once raced fillies among the 17 runners.

Charlie Appleby won this 12 months ago and he relies Shining Jewel who shaped with plenty of promise on her racecourse debut at Nottingham in September.  The step up to 1m 2f should suit her and she holds an Oaks entry.

Appleby also has the likely favourite of the 1m 2f Darley Novice Stakes (1m 2f) in the shape of Military Order. The son of Frankel built on his racecourse debut promise when winning at Newmarket (1m) in October. A full brother to 2021 Derby winner Adayar was workmanlike in success last time but is bred to appreciate 1m 2f+ as a 3-year-old. He’s a best priced 25/1 for the Derby and an impressive win here will see those odds tumble.

2:05 – Dubai Duty Free Handicap (Class 3) – 6f

Seventeen have been declared at its treat for those punters who like to get stuck into a big field sprint handicap.

Gisburn won twice over C&D as a juvenile including on soft ground. No wins as a 3-year-old but he ran several good races to suggest he’s on a good mark.  Ran no sort of race when 3/1 favourite for a C&D handicap on his final start but he shaped nicely enough when a 4 ¼ length 4th of 19 to Aleezdancer at Doncaster on seasonal return.

Bernardo O'Reilly was a5½ length 5th of 19 to Aleezdancer on his seasonal return at Doncaster. He did the best of the hold up horses that day and should find things panning out better here.  A former C&D winner. He’s 1lb below his last winning mark and very much in the mix if the forecast strong pace materialises.

Tanmawwy won three time last season on a sound surface but was said to have not liked the tacky ground when down the field at Doncaster on his final start. In the mix if ready to roll on his seasonal return but the ground would be a slight concern.

Marshall Dan bounced back to winning ways over C&D (heavy) last autumn and returned to action with a solid effort when a length 3rd of 12 at Redcar 11-days ago.  At 6f he might need more testing ground, but he should give his running once more.

3:50 – Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap (Class 2) – 2m ½ f

Vino Victrix won at Goodwood over 2m last August and finished a 3 ¼ length 2^nd of 21 in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. That’s the strongest form on offer and if the ground continues to dry out he can win with Benoit De La Sayette back in the saddle.

Amanda Perrett & Jim Crowley & combined for a winner at Newmarket on Tuesday and they team up with Star Caliber here. The 5-year-old hasn’t won since his juvenile debut in 2020. Ended last season with a solid effort when a 1 ¾ length 3rd of 15 at Chester (2m 2 ½ f). First start for new yard today and isn’t handicapped out of it but he maybe better for the run.

Prince Alex a progressive staying handicapper on an easy surface as a 3-year-old. He posted a career best when winning a valuable handicap at Goodwood (1m 6f) as a 4-year-old.  Form tailed off after that win and only ran once last year. First start for a new trainer Tom Dascombe today (same ownership) but down to last winning mark. If the stable switch has revived him then he’s nicely treated.

Novel Legend ended his 3-year-old season in good form improving for the step up to 1m 6f+ Winning at Chester (1m 6 ½ f) and then finishing a neck 2^nd of 11 at Newmarket (2m). Continued his improvement when beating six rivals at Kempton (2m) 23-days ago. Found plenty for pressure last time and a 4lb rise in the weights doesn’t look harsh. Remains capable of better this season.

Friday Selection:

I decided to take on the short-priced Charlie Appleby runners in the Newmarket feature races and provided Victor Value subscribers with two winners in Garrus (9/1) & Indestructible (8/1).  After a tough couple of days at the Craven Meeting it was great to bounce back to winning ways.  Yesterday’s selection Havana Blue was caught in the closing stages and had to settle for second in the last at Newmarket. Hopefully some of you took the hint and backed Indestructible in the Craven Stakes.

I might regret not having Bernardo O'Reilly onside in the 2:05 but given there’s rain forecast I’m going with Gisburn.

Newbury

2:05 – Gisburn – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Friday bets.

John