Newbury Betting Tips
13:25 Sunway
14:00 Time For Sandals
14:35 Rashabar
15:12 Urban Lion
15:45 Crown Of Oaks
16:19 Opportunity
16:54 Sweet Reward
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Having finished placed in both the Irish Derby (¾ length runner-up to Los Angeles) and St Leger (promoted 1¾ lengths third behind Jan Brueghel) last season, SUNWAY is best forgiven his final start on account of his wide draw when midfield in the Arc at Longchamp in October.
He earns the vote to make a successful reappearance ahead of marginal top-rated Bahrain Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom, who himself could well have more to offer as a four-year-old. Bellum Justum, who backed up his solid book of domestic form when winning at Nashville in August, may emerge best of the remainder. At a price, Dallas Star could run well from the front as the only real confirmed front-runner.
A cracking renewal that has a very open look to it. Lowther runner-up, TIME FOR SANDALS, doesn’t represent a powerhouse stable, but there’s a lot to like about her physically, and the way in which she found a jolt of progress in each of her three juvenile starts suggests there’s more to come from her as a three-year-old.
Godolphin representative Mountain Breeze is feared most on the back of a productive spell in Meydan, with her yard having won this in 2022, while the classy Simmering is already a Group 2 winner, and 7f looks like her ideal trip. With Christophe Soumillon on-board, she looks a major player along with Ballydoyle runner Heavens Gate.
An interesting Greenham. The Brian Meehan-trained RASHABAR brings Group 1 form and gets the vote, but there are some colts of real potential up against him, and it wouldn’t be any surprise were the less exposed Chancellor and/or Jonquil to improve past him.
Last autumn’s easy Curragh maiden winner Saracen is another intriguing contender along with Rogue Allegiance, who also made a big impression when winning on debut. Meanwhile, Al Qudra won readily in the Middle East last time and won’t be an easy horse to peg back from the front with race-fitness on his side.
Jack Channon holds a strong hand with his representatives URBAN LION and Metal Merchant, both making plenty of appeal. The latter resumed in top form when taking this race 12 months ago, and though 6 lb higher this time round, he is not passed over at all lightly.
However, preference is for his up-and-coming stablemate, who had plenty left in the tank when striking on his reappearance on the all-weather in February. Classic, whose form on good ground at Newbury is rock-solid, is also shortlisted, along with Cambridgeshire runner-up James McHenry, who won first time out last season, and bottom-weight Cogitate, who likely has more to offer this term.
William Haggas won this last year with Economics and he saddles the very interesting CROWN OF OAKS, who made a highly encouraging start when a running-on third in a Newmarket maiden in the autumn. He picked up two Timeform flags for that run – ‘Horse In Focus’ and ‘Sectional’ – and is bred to improve further now up in distance.
Point of Contact fared best of the newcomers when third in a novice here last summer and is one of several who should relish the extra furlong here, a comment that also applies to Indian Spirit. King of Narnia was sent off a warm order on debut at Wolverhampton but was held back by inexperience and is another to consider in what looks like a tip-top renewal.
Often one of the best middle-distance maidens of the spring, and a number of these hold Derby entries, including OPPORTUNITY, who is the type to improve markedly on his promising start at Nottingham in the autumn. With James Doyle taking over in the saddle, he gets the vote over Ivatt, who tanked through the race when second at Newmarket first time up and looks a smart prospect.
The imposing Furthur has more to come for Andrew Balding, while the superbly bred Kenneth should uphold family tradition and be quickly winning races over what looks like the right trip. ‘Horse In Focus’ Bryant remains with potential in first-time blinkers despite a costly reverse at Wolverhampton in February.
A fiercely competitive closing contest in which it could be worth taking a chance on Jonathan Portman’s course regular SWEET REWARD, who wasn’t disgraced over C&D on his final outing last season and begins this campaign from an attractive mark (finished second in this last year from the same mark).
Top-weight Metallo has race-fitness on his side, so he heads up the dangers back on turf for the first time since his juvenile days, with Windsor winner Lone Piper and the race-fit Great Chieftain just a couple of others to consider, too.
Daniel & Claire Kubler have done well with their recruits from other yards, so any support for Londoner would look significant given he is stepping up from five furlongs to 10 on his first start for the stable.
Newbury Betting Tips
13:25 Sunway
14:00 Time For Sandals
14:35 Rashabar
15:12 Urban Lion
15:45 Crown Of Oaks
16:19 Opportunity
16:54 Sweet Reward
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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