Saturday Newsletter – 19th May

Saturday – 19th May 2018

 

A pleasing day at the office yesterday with ICE AGE doing the business at Newbury yesterday for EJ-H and Charles Bishop…..advised 11/1 and we followed that up with a nice EW BOG 12/1 place about Karen McLintock’s Rockwood who was running on well at the finish but never quite going to get there.

Back to today

Lockinge Day at Newbury with a big handicap going off at 15.00 Al Zubarah London Gold Cup Handicap – it’s a highly competitive affair as per norm and another race like the Victoria Cup last weekend at Ascot that can be used to pick up some future winners. Being from ‘oop North’, we’ll be keeping an eye on Mark Johnston’s, Poet’s Prince – he looked good at Chelmsford over the 10f LTO and does at least offer a bit of EW value, though not particularly well drawn in trap 11, he does have that excellent win/place ratio to offer something for EW players – hopefully we will be having a look at him in future events?

For those following our previously backed selections, Colonel Frank drops back to a previous winning trip in the 16.25 at HQ – Micky Quinn’s charge ran a nice looking sort of race on the Lincoln weekend and we’ll see how he goes in this. He’s also up against one of our last year winners in Hart Stopper – maybe needs a change of name following his namesakes howlers between the posts :)……he’s better at 6f and looks to be given a competitive run to bring him on with his first run for Stuart Williams. In all probability he is there to give some pace for the stable’s other runner, Suzy’s Connoisseur who is looking very well handicapped these days and likes to come from off the pace under Richard Kingscote.

Nothing for us to get involved with in terms of betting propositions and we’ll be looking outside of the Newbury and HQ for our bets today.

At Thirsk, our winner of 10 days back, Acclaim The Nation goes in the 15.20 along with a couple of other we have on our radar – there’s nothing like the 9’s we go last week but there’s a best ‘wipes yer face’ 9/2 about him to follow up that C&D win.

We’re staying with Thirsk for our member selection’s today……any FREE SERVICE MEMBERS looking to receive today’s selections……..just follow the UPGRADE link

 

BOL (Best Of Luck!)

ABW Team

Here’s today’s free Timeform and the assist for the Newbury card from the ‘speedmeisters’…..click on the highlighted link to take you through to your Betfair account……

1.50 Shalaa Carnarvon Stakes (Listed) (1) 6f

Timeform Top Rated:
125p 3. EQTIDAAR Sir Michael Stoute Jim Crowley
125 7. SHABAABY Owen Burrows Andrea Atzeni
124 5. MURILLO Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore

Analyst’s Verdict:
Several promising types on show and Breathless Times may well be the pick of them. Had things gone his way he probably would’ve completed the hat-trick at Lingfield when last seen in March and there should be more to come from this colt. Eqtidaar has to be feared but he’s unproven on ground this fast and Murillo, who showed up well for a long way in the 2000 Guineas, may emerge as the main danger.

2.25 Al Rayyan Stakes (Aston Park) (Group 3) (1) 1½m

Timeform Top Rated:
132p 1. CRYSTAL OCEAN Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore
131 2. RAHEEN HOUSE Brian Meehan Jamie Spencer
131 4. SECOND STEP Roger Charlton Andrea Atzeni

Analyst’s Verdict:
Even as things stand Crystal Ocean boasts by far the strongest form, but the Sea The Stars colt also possesses potential given his relatively low mileage. He got the better of a progressive, race-fit rival over an inadequate trip on return at Sandown and should have little trouble following up here. Second Step is marginally preferred to Raheen House for forecast purposes.

3.00 Al Zubarah London Gold Cup Handicap (2) 1¼m

Timeform Top Rated:
120p 2. MASAARR Roger Varian Andrea Atzeni
118 5. POET’S PRINCE Mark Johnston Joe Fanning
114p 10. COMMUNIQUE Mark Johnston Silvestre De Sousa

Analyst’s Verdict:
Masaarr is taken to follow in the footsteps of stablemate Defoe, who landed this prize 12 months ago before going on to better things. He left the impression that this trip would be right up his street when scoring over a mile at Doncaster a fortnight ago. Mekong possesses significant potential and is feared most, while Communique, Chief Ironside and Master of Wine are all promising types.

3.40 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) (1) 1m

Timeform Top Rated:
141 11. LIMATO Henry Candy Harry Bentley
140p 2. ADDEYBB William Haggas James Doyle
139 4. BEAT THE BANK Andrew Balding Jim Crowley

Analyst’s Verdict:
While this is by far his toughest assignment to date, the sky could be the limit for Addeybb. He built on his impressive Lincoln victory with a similarly authoritative display at Sandown and, ominously for his rivals, there should be even better to come. Rhododendron and Limato are both established top-tier performers and will offer stern resistance, while Zabeel Prince is an unknown quantity.

4.15 Olympic Glory Conditions Stakes (2) 6f

Timeform Top Rated:
104p 2. DAVE DEXTER Ralph Beckett Harry Bentley
99p 6. THE IRISH ROVER Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore
96p 4. MARIE’S DIAMOND Mark Johnston Silvestre De Sousa

Analyst’s Verdict:
The step up to 6f will suit Dave Dexter, who was doing his best work at the finish when third in what looked a useful event at Ascot last Saturday. He gets the nod ahead of The Irish Rover, who is capable of far better than he was able to show last time. Marie’s Diamond may prove best of the rest, though Barbill and Its The Only Way are clearly talented and Almufti is a likely-looking newcomer.

4.50 Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes (Listed) (1) 1¼m

Timeform Top Rated:
114p 4. CRYSTAL HOPE Sir Michael Stoute Andrea Atzeni
112p 7. STREAM SONG John Gosden Frankie Dettori
108p 6. SEA OF CLASS William Haggas James Doyle

Analyst’s Verdict:
It was hard not to be impressed with the way Crystal Hope did the job at Sandown and that form was franked when the runner-up landed the Musidora at York during the week. The daughter of Nathaniel possesses plenty of scope for improvement and she is preferred to Stream Song and Sea of Class.

5.25 Toronado Handicap (2) 1m

Timeform Top Rated:
125 4. SURREY HOPE Joseph Tuite Ryan Moore
124p 9. POUVOIR MAGIQUE John Gosden Kieran O’Neill
122 3. WAHASH Richard Hannon Frankie Dettori

Analyst’s Verdict:
There should be more to come from the lightly-raced Pouvoir Magique, who ended 2017 with a victory at Newcastle and he appeals as the type to make his mark in big-money handicaps this season. Surrey Hope is accorded plenty of respect and is next best ahead of Victoria Cup winner Ripp Orf and Commander Cole, who is entitled to come on for his recent comeback run at Thirsk.