Friday 13th May - Review

A poor day on Thursday had seen us four points down, but we clawed back losses with a late winner at Newmarket on Thursday with Bolthole (WON 11/8 adv 9/4) followed early on Friday with Royal Musketeer (WON 15/2) back at HQ, Good Birthday could manage only third in the next, the split stakes on Miami Girl and Yahsat looked like paying off when the latter hit the front before conceding to a stable-mate, so we are ahead again with Heights Of Abraham (Hamilton 7:20) still to come.

Saturday 14th May

In Newmarket’s six-furlong handicap for three-year-olds, it would be easy to give another chance to Auditor (2:25). Some of his two-year-old runs suggest a mark of [87] shouldn’t be beyond him. Martyn Meade’s colt had an encouraging seasonal debut at Sandown last month after being off the track since July. He was disappointing at Chester last week on soft ground and drawn nine, where his trainer reported that the colt was unsuited by the tight track. It is worth writing off that effort and giving him another chance at a decent price. As a two-year-old, Haymaker remained a maiden after four starts, but recorded some decent placed efforts against some smart juveniles. He won at the first time of asking in his second season winning over seven furlongs on this course in a good time. He's been put up 6lbs for the win, but Harry Davies claims 7lbs. Lir Speciale won his maiden nicely to get off the mark at Doncaster last time out showing a smart turn of foot, and an opening mark of [82] could under-estimate his ability. The issue for betting is that I can’t advise all three, so I will go each-way with Auditor:

Newmarket 2:25 – AUDITOR – ½ point each-way @ 16/1 (several firms)

Newbury’s listed Carnarvon Stakes (1:35) looks a hot contest, with six of the nine runners holding Commonwealth Cup entries. I don’t have a view on it for betting purposes.

The London Gold Cup Handicap (2:45) is usually one of the strongest handicaps of its type pre-Ascot, and this looks another decent renewal. I usually want to take on the fav in such races, but I want to be with Israr. John Gosden’s colt won a valuable Doncaster maiden on his racecourse debut before getting beat in a Salisbury novice on soft ground next time out. His mare is the Oaks and King George heroine Taghrooda so he is expected to have bags of stamina. He ran promisingly on seasonal reappearance at Newmarket, where he was reportedly “burly enough in the paddock”. Israr is expected to come on bundles for that run and I expect him to progress beyond a mark of [87]:

Newbury 2:45 – ISRAR – 1 point win @ 9/2 (generally)

Nothing in the Lockinge Stakes (3:20), I hope Baaeed win impressively. Alcohol Free could out-run her price, she has the potential to put in a good effort after a poor one and Balding’s runners have been improving for a race this season.

Mark Loughnan appears to have found an ideal opportunity for Bookmark to resume winning ways in the apprentice handicap at Doncaster (5:33). The filly won twice last season, both in ten-furlong handicaps, and showed first time out that she retains the ability to be competitive off her current mark when third at Pontefract despite racing too keenly:

Doncaster 5:33 – BOOKMARK – 1 point win @ 9/4 (Power/Sportsbook)

I have to admit that I’m not 100% convinced that Qipao (Doncaster 6:05) wants ten furlongs but I am confident that she is well-handicapped on a perch of [83]. The filly won her first two starts as a juvenile but was highly tried in pattern races before finishing last of six in a fillies nursery at Town Moor on soft ground. She finished sixth again on seasonal debut at Musselburgh over a mile, where she didn’t have an ideal draw and was trapped wide most of the way. The form of the race is working out well, with the third and fourth winning since and the winner and fifth both placing in a Newmarket handicap. I like that has been dropped 1lb for that effort and if Qipao stays, she could be well-in here. The other three-year-old filly, Aiming High, looks the main danger off [74] she looks certain to benefit from a step up in trip on her handicap debut:

Doncaster 6:05 – QIPAO – 1 point win @ 7/1 (Bet365; 5/1 others - not fully priced-up)