A high-class eight-race card at Newbury (1.05pm-5.05pm) this afternoon includes a trio of group-races headlined by the Mill Reef Stakes at 3.25pm for the two-year-olds.
You can watch all the Newbury action – as well as every race from the UK and Ireland – via live streaming when logged into MansionBet. Our tipster has selections to help you through Saturday’s Newbury card.
1.05 – Heatherwold Stud EBF Novice Stakes Division 1 (7f)
Very hard to get away from MITHRAS in the opener despite the prohibitive odds. The Dubawi colt was very green in the early stages on debut at Sandown last month but finished strongly for fourth. The second, third, fifth and sixth all scored on their next start and it will be a shock if John Gosden’s charge cannot enhance that sequence. Newcomer Muhalhel makes sounds appeal on paper and could be one for an each-way play.
Selection: Mithras @ 4/7
1.40 – Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3, 5f)
Equilateral is the class act and drops from Group 1 company into this contest. He looks sure to go close under an in-form Hollie Doyle but this is just a week after his run in Ireland and a quick turnaround hasn’t always been to his liking. LAZULI was very promising when winning a Listed Sandown even in June and, while not as strong in two runs since, he’s the type to get back on track for Charlie Appleby.
Selection: Lazuli @ 9/4
2.15 Dubai Duty Free Handicap (1m2f)
Mark Johnston’s horses often tend to bounce back from a poor run – worst kept secret in racing! MAYDANNY looked a possible group-horse in the making with his swashbuckling success at Glorious Goodwood on first attempt at this trip. Soft ground was likely at fault when he flopped next time at York. It’s not going to be any kind of a shock if he quickly regains the forward momentum and he remains unexposed at the trip.
Selection: Maydanny @ 7/1
2.50 – Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes (Group 3, 1m3f)
Just four runners and Desert Encounter will attempt to win this contest for the third time in four years. He shaped nicely at Windsor last time and isn’t discounted, while Extra Elusive defied a penalty to win the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor on a ground-breaking afternoon for Hollie Doyle last month and bids for a hat-trick of Group 3s here. ELARQAM was disappointing at York in July but his Haydock run in June would stand him in good stead. Like Maydanny, he can bounce back for this yard and may be hard to peg back from the front.
Selection: Elarqam @ 2/1
3.25 – Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2, 6f)
A nicely-bred son of Frankel, King Power’s Fivethousandtoone was named in honour of Leicester’s famous Premier League win. On his breeding, such odds were never likely for him and he’s making good progress having opened his account at Newcastle last time. RHYTHM MASTER made a winning start at Haydock in July and made a decent fist of things behind a pair of Royal Ascot winners in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville on his second start. That’s a high standard he is setting with further progress likely.
Selection: Rhythm Master @ 9/4
4.00 – Heatherwold Stud EBF Novice Stakes Division 2 (7f)
Siam Fox sets the standard of those that have run, having finished second at Ascot a fortnight ago on debut. The 260,000 gns colt may go one better here but there are dangers aplenty. Beautiful Bertie and Tick Toch are potential improvers while newcomers Our New Buddy and ENSYAABY command respect. Marcus Tregoning’s son of Dark Angel is bred to be speedy but should go well, his price rose to £125,000 as a yearling and he’s given a chance to shine on first start.
Selection: Ensyaaby @ 18/1
4.30 – Heatherwold Stud Handicap (7f)
James Doyle is riding with confidence currently and boasts a 23 per-cent strike in recent weeks. He partners Hugo Palmer’s ALMUFTI in this wide open handicap. All three career wins have come on the all-weather but he has gone close in some strong turf handicaps at Ascot and Newmarket this season. A first-time visor is added now and he’s got decent claims, especially if the headgear has a positive effect.
Selection: Almufti @ 7/1
5.05 – Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap (1m4f)
Soft ground and a 1m6f trip may have been the undoing of Fox Vardy at Newmarket last time out. His earlier form this summer was very strong at this trip and it’s likely he can bounce back. He’s a worthy favourite on those previous efforts. CARDANO found only an easy winner too strong on his seasonal bow at Sandown last month. The form looks fairly solid and he remains unexposed now back up over 1m4f. The four-year-old has definite scope for further progress.
Selection: Cardano @ 11/2
*All odds correct at time of writing