Horse Racing Preview – Newbury – 22nd April 2017
Our horse racing preview comes from Newbury with selections across the card. Just the one winner yesterday with John Gosden’s Shutter Speed who looks a very nice prospect. We hit the bar on a couple of occasions also which was a little frustrating.
On to a packed Saturday of racing with all the selections coming from Newbury with the highlighted Greenham Stakes on the card.
13.55 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Group 3)
I would like to think Sir Michael Stoute’s Midterm will be hard to beat on his seasons reappearance. He did not show what he was capable of after winning over 8f on soft ground around here before going on to land the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown.
What went wrong is bemusing considering he was expected to win the Dante and gave a no show when finishing only fifth. He showed some kind of promise when running second in the Prix Niel at Chantilly, it was something to build on but once more failed to show up at Ascot in the Group 1 Champion Stakes.
The jury is still out on him for me, he has the potential to succeed in this pattern sphere. Will need to step up to the plate this year as I cannot see him going beyond to next season, but trainer and jockey have won the past two renewals.
John Gosden sends Muntahaa who landed last years Listed Chester Stakes, the turf form over the 12f has seen him fail, but did win his maiden on the all-weather at Kempton over the index, surely to improve for a yard that are banging in winners over the past week.
His run at Doncaster when behind an adversary here in Chemical Charge who was in receipt of 6lb for 3.75L, off level weights should see that form reversed, Champion jockey Jim Crowley steps up to the plate.
Muntahaa : 1pt each way @ 15/2 (BOG)
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14.30 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Fred Darling) (Group 3)
John Gosden’s Dabyah could be a tall order to overturn in this competitive renewal. The daughter of Sepoy won her first two starts as a juvenile which included a nine-length win over course and distance, signing off with a good third in the Group 1 Marcel Boussac at Chantilly.
I would expect her to show more now making her transition, this looks a stepping stone towards the first classics with an entry in the 1000gns, but she will be very short in the market and it’s made me look for value in the race with Richard Hannon’s Promising who is still looking for her first win of her career, but was not disgraced as a juvenile when beaten favourite in the Jack Berry House stakes and was just denied in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood on her last run.
She has the potential to come on this year, she is the daughter of Invincible Spirit and gets a passage towards the 1000gns in a couple of weeks. Richard Farley places last year’s Lowther Stakes winner Queen Kindly in to mix.
Promising : 1pt each way @ 11/1 (BOG)
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15.05 Newbury – JLT Greenham Stakes (Group 3)
Richard Hannon once more is well represented with Barney Roy who was impressive when landing his Haydock maiden by just under four lengths. The runner up Fujaira Bridge recently franked the form when winning a maiden at Ripon. Even the third Crowned Eagle went on to win next time out.
For me though I’m sticking with Stoutes Zainhom who won his maiden at York beating two current winners from that race in Dick Tracey & First Up.
His second in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Goodwood saw him finish two lengths behind Group 1 Saint-Cloud runner up Best Solution. The third The Anvil franked the form last month at Dundalk. The fourth Montetaire won the Listed Stonehenge Stakes thereafter. Some strong claims in this with two against the field, but the tentative vote goes to Zainhom who should be thereabouts.
Zainhom : 1pt each way @ 6/1 (BOG)
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15.40 Newbury – Be Wiser Insurance Spring Cup Handicap (C2)
A trainer that does not get the best of recognition is Martyn Meade who seems to have some really nice recruits to have a go this year with. Chelsea Lad looks one of them, two from three wins last season both coming at Newmarket which included a nice win in 0-90 handicap on the Rowley.
I am asking myself with form around headquarters why he bypassed this week’s Nell Gwyn meeting to have a crack at this. He is probably ahead of the current mark of 96, significantly Ryan Moore steps in for the mount.
I can’t see many dangers in the race, Donncha is probably the likely one to give him the most to think about. This is a good point to return after a good third in the Lincoln last Month.
Chelsea Lad : 2pts each way @ 5/1 (BOG)
Others on the card that have realistic chances would be Commander who runs in the 16.15, he is the son of Frankel and should improve from his eighth over course and distance as a juvenile. I like Simon Crisford’s Archetype at a price in the 16.45, is well related to 7f/8f winners and could give a good account of himself each way around 14/1.
The finale UAE King could be hard to beat for trainer Roger Varian. Looks to have potential if the penny drops with this Frankel Colt.
Commander : 16.15 Newbury – 1pt Win
Archetype : 16.45 Newbury – 1pt EW
UAE King : 17.20 Newbury – 2pt Win
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