Newbury takes centre stage on Saturday afternoon with their Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge the key race on a busy afternoon across Britain and Ireland.
Frankie Dettori could be in for a big day and he partners class miler Palace Pier in the main event for John & Thady Gosden.
Watch all the action from Newbury (1.15pm-4.45pm; seven races) via live streaming when logged into MansionBet, along with every race from the UK and Ireland, and read on as our tipster provides race-by-race analysis.
1.15 – Conditions Stakes (6f)
Newcomers Al Shibli and Honky Tonk Man will be worth monitoring for market confidence, they represent very capable yards, while once-raced winners Dairerin and Dukebox are potential improvers. That said, Musselburgh winner THE GATEKEEPER improved on that debut effort when second since at Ascot and Mark Johnston’s Excelebration colt sets a good standard here. He’s capable of adding to his tally.
Selection: The Gatekeeper
1.50 – Carnarvon Stakes (Listed, 6f)
TACTICAL boasts the best form and he had subsequent 2000 Guineas fourth Naval Crown behind in second when winning a Listed Newmarket handicap last month on his comeback. That was over 7f but he also bagged the Group 2 July Stakes over this trip last summer and he’s not short on pace. He can bag this despite conceding 3lb to Creative Force. He’s already a dual distance winner at Newmarket this season and is clearly progressing, while he holds the likes of Spycatcher on form. Happy Romance was a Listed all-weather winner recently and is a contender.
Selection: Tactical @ 15/8
2.25 – Al Rayyan Stakes (Group 3, 1m4f)
Al Aasy won the Group 3 John Porter over C&D last month and did so with lots in hand. That form has however been knocked about since and 2019 St Leger scorer LOGICIAN is taken to get back on track. He had his problems last year and surely wasn’t himself in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at York in October when his unbeaten record went up in smoke. John & Thady Gosden’s smart son of Frankel may get himself right back on track and kick-start a fine afternoon for Frankie Dettori.
Selection: Logician @ 15/8
3.00 – BetVictor London Gold Cup Handicap (1m2f)
Look out for some possible Frankie-factor multiples here. HIGHLAND ROCKER comfortably dismissed a subsequent winner at Ripon last month and his earlier all-weather runs were very promising. He goes into handicaps here with plenty scope for improvement. Tamborrada is 3-3 already for Charlie Appleby and a major contender too, while Bay Bridge, King Frankel and Dubawi Sands are all last-time-out winners. This is very competitive on paper but Dettori might be the key man.
Selection: Highland Rocker @ 5/1
3.35 – Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Group 1, 1m)
PALACE PIER was the leading three-year-old miler in Europe last season and his easy success in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown three weeks ago was an ideal start to this term. This of course is going to be a far tougher test but he’s got bags of talent and looks set for a really big summer. The Kingman colt is holding the aces for Dettori and the Gosdens. Having thrived at this distance on his comeback in Ireland last month (Listed race) Lope Y Fernandez could be the danger but Safe Voyage has a really excellent record first time up and ended last season in the form of his life, so he’s one to consider for each-way purposes.
Selection: Palace Pier @ 8/13
4.10 – Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes (Listed, 1m2f)
This Fillies’ Listed event is brimming with potential. Six once-raced winners line-up, with two of the remaining trio victorious once from two attempts. At A Pinch – one of two for John & Thady Gosden – was fifth in a really strong C&D maiden last month behind stablemate Gloria Mundi. Less than a length split the first six home and Rab Havlin’s mount got anything but a trouble-free run having been held up. A’shaari came up shy in this grade on reappearance but could well bounce back. ARISTIA made a fine start winning over C&D last month in a pleasing time and she gets a slender vote.
Selection: Aristia
4.45 – BetVictor Handicap (Str, 1m)
Path Of Thunder had just one forgettable run in 2020 but the Godolphin gelding shaped very well at Meydan in the spring and could get himself back on track this summer. This is a hugely competitive finale – Overwrite, Repertoire and Fantasy Believer all have their claims – but PLANTADREAM is the selection for Jim Best and Ben Curtis. He was in good nick on the all-weather in the winter and his record fresh is positive, so he may well take advantage of his 4lb lower rating on turf here.
Selection: Plantadream
*All odds correct at time of writing.