Good Friday – 15th April
No bet advised on Friday
Saturday 16th April
A busy Easter Saturday with nine meetings across the UK and Ireland. Newbury’s first flat fixture of the season takes centre stage with three Group 3 races, including prestigious Guineas trials.
The Fred Darling (2:15) has more depth to it as a recognised trial for the 1,000 Guineas trial but doesn’t appeal as a betting medium. The Greenham Stakes (3:00) doesn’t include a runner that is lower than 20/1 for the 2,000 Guineas and looks even less of a trial after the performance of Native Trail this week. Richard Hannon targets the race, and he has two runners, but I prefer the chances of Lusail, despite the fact that
he has 2lbs to find with the principals, Angel Bleu and Perfect Power. Richard Hannon’s colt showed a liking for a sound surface when winning the July Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes both over six furlongs. It would be easy to put defeat in the Champagne Stakes down to a seventh furlong, but he had to concede a penalty all round on softer ground and it might be worth putting a line through the run, the winner ran well in
the Dewhurst. Lusail might not rate higher than some of his rivals here by the end of the season, but he is likely to be spot-on for this assignment, with Hannon having saddled two of the last four winners:
Newbury 3:00 – LUSAIL – 1 point win @ 9/2 (Bet365 & Hills)
The Spring Cup Handicap (3:35) is set to include all of the paced horses from the Lincoln: Saleymm, Rogue Bear and Irish Admiral, less than two lengths separated the trio on that occasion, Modern News and Teodolina also re-oppose. It’s easy to make a case for all of them, but I prefer the chances of Rogue Bear. Not a lot went right for Tom Clover’s gelding at Doncaster, hampered at the start then racing keenly on
what appeared to be an unfavourable part of the track, it was to his credit that he stayed on off a slow pace to finish third:
Newbury 3:35 – ROGUE BEAR – 1 point win @ 7/2 (several firms)