If it is quality you are after then look no further than Newbury’s eight-race card on Saturday. The Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes (4.00) headlines a competitive afternoon of action that also features two Group 3 events.
Watch all the action from Newbury (1.10-5.05pm) via live streaming when logged into MansionBet, along with every race from the UK and Ireland.
Racing Post tipster Tom Collins previews Saturday’s action at Newbury exclusively for MansionBet.
1.10 Newbury – Sir David Sieff EBF Novice Stakes
The experienced Gaius sets the standard in division one of this novice courtesy off a mark of 79, but it would be disappointing if he fended off a field full of well-bred rivals. Dubai Poet may be the best of them for trainer Roger Varian, who has a 16 per cent strike-rate (8-50) with his two-year-olds at this track in the last five years. This son of Lope De Vega finished fourth in an above-average maiden on debut (four subsequent winners) and is sure to improve for the run.
Selection: Dubai Poet @ 5/4
1.40 Newbury – Heatherwold Stud Handicap
Despite giving weight away to all of his rivals in this 7f handicap, Diocles Of Rome is the horse to beat for the in-form Ralph Beckett yard. This four-time winner seems to come into his own in the autumn and has endured a similar preparation as last season. He was heavily punted into 11/2 joint-favourite for this race last year but was set too much to do. Rated just 1lb higher this term, it may be a case of second-time lucky.
Selection: Diocles Of Rome @ 12/1
2.15 Newbury – Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes
Khaadem smashed the course record over five furlongs at Doncaster ten days ago in the Listed Scarborough Stakes. Dropping to the minimum trip clearly helped the Shadwell-owned five-year-old return to something like his best form and given he beat subsequent July Cup and King’s Stand winner Oxted on his sole start at Newbury, Khaadem is hard to oppose as he bids for back-to-back successes.
Selection: Khaadem @ 4/1
2.50 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes
Al Aasy is fancied to provide Shadwell with another Group-race success on the card. The William Haggas-trained runner bolted up in the John Porter and Aston Park Stakes at this track earlier in the season before suffering narrow defeats when upped in class. He may lack match practice after a two-month break since undergoing a gelding operation, but Al Aasy stands out on ratings and has assured stamina.
Selection: Al Aasy @ 4/6
3.25 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Handicap
Charlie Fellowes will be looking for a new stable star after the retirement of Prince Of Arran and he may have just found one in Injazati. This stoutly-bred son of Night Of Thunder proved he handles cut in the ground when third on his first two outings (good to soft) in races that have worked out well. He hasn’t had to come out of third gear to post two clearcut victories and a revised mark of 91 remains fair.
Selection: Injazati @ 13/2
4.00 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes
Coventry Stakes sixth Dhabab has dominated the Mill Reef market since it went live earlier this week, but he has plenty to prove after a sole maiden success in the spring. There could be an upset brewing and although Maglev’s recent form has come in a conditions race and a handicap, he appears to have the class to step up to Group 2 level. The William Haggas-trained juvenile bumped into subsequent sales race scorer Harrow last time at York and doesn’t have much to find with the protagonists here.
Selection: Maglev @ 15/2
4.35 Newbury – Sir David Sieff EBF Novice Stakes
Division two of this novice event appears weaker than the opener and Koy Koy should be able to get off the mark at the third attempt for leading trainer Andrew Balding. Purchased for 58,000gns as a yearling, Koy Koy learned plenty in a good race at Salisbury on debut before travelling like a good thing at Ascot when last seen. He couldn’t quite get on tabs with 2/5 favourite Saga that day but shaped as if he is a winner in waiting and this is the perfect opportunity.
Selection: Koy Koy @ 11/8
5.05 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap
Recent maiden winner Tall Order will be fancied to follow up off a mark of 82, but he certainly won’t be missed in the market. One runner who could be overlooked is In The Breeze given his last-time-out disappointment at Newcastle when he finished just 12th of 14. He stopped quickly on that occasion but his prior form on turf suggests his mark of 81 is more than fair and I’m happy to put his recent defeat down to his inability to handle Tapeta on his first all-weather start.
Selection: In The Breeze @ 12/1
*All odds correct at time of writing.
