Newbury Saturday Preview

Masaru

The first of eight quality races at Newbury is the Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary EBF Novice Stakes, with several of these unarmed. Therefore, we are siding with experience, and MASARU strikes the eye for Richard Hannon.

He was a debut winner at Windsor on GTF, and won with plenty in hand that day before being badly hampered in his subsequent start at York. He was a beaten favourite that day in a big field, and a drop to a class four contest will surely mean he will prove too good for these.

Champion Jockey Silvestre de Sousa is onboard, and he has recorded 12 winners from his last 55 rides. 

Pivioine 5/1

The first of seven quality races at Newbury is the Dubai Duty Free Handicap, and PIVIONE can succeed for the unstoppable partnership of Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy.

He won a Class 2 handicap at York last month, beating many of the opponents he comes up against today.

If he’s up with the pace, he will be hard to pass, added to the extra fact that the red-hot Oisin Murphy is on-board – he has 12 winners from his last 54 rides.

Mirage Dancer 6/4

This former Arc trial invites a mouth-watering clash between two horses from the same owner, Monarchs Glen and MIRAGE DANCER – who should edge out the latter on class.

Sir Michael Stoute’s 4yo colt won convincingly at Glorious Goodwood last time out and will be using this race as a potential stepping stone for a trip to Canada.

Ryan Moore – who celebrated his birthday with three winners the other day, is backing in form after winning both classics at the weekend, and can succeed here on a son of Frankel.

Marie's Diamond - 7/1

The feature race at Newbury is the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, a Group 2 event over 6f, and dropping in class, MARIE'S DIAMOND can bounce back from a poor run in France.

Finishing a distance ninth behind Pretty Pollyanna in the Darley Prix Morny, Mark Johnston's 2yo colt has been in final form this year as a whole, with three wins to his name - including an impressive success in the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.

He is a Group 3 winner, and placed in a Group 2 before, so has a good chance if bouncing back to his best.  Champion jockey aboard once more. 

Equilateral 7/2

The final group race of the day is the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes and Charlie Hill’s EQUILATERAL is certainly one to be considered.

Having disappointed at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup, he bounced back at Leicester when dropping back to a class 3 event.

Now back up to a class 1, he really needs to stamp his authority and put his name back in the hat as one of Britain’s best sprinters.

Coup De Gold

A very hard novice to work our way through, but one that could spring up a surprise is COUP DE GOLD.

He missed the break at Sandown on his racecourse debut, and despite stumbling badly 2f from home, he still finished fifth.

He was well backed that day, and could correct his greenness here. First foal of Astroglia (USA), he is racing against many making their debuts here so could take advantage of his experience and win at the second time of asking, for a trainer and jockey enjoying fine seasons.

What A Welcome

Next up is the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap, and WHAT A WELCOME simply cannot be ignored after an incredible campaign.

Held up last time at Ascot, he flew home under Joey Haynes on the outside to land the spoils, and to secure his seventh win in his last eight starts.

Patrick Chaming's 4yo is also a course winner back in August, and has dropped in trip since. Expect another late effort.

Jackpot Royale

The final race of the day is the Heatherwold Stud Handicap, and JACKPOT ROYALE looks to have a good chance of landing the hat-trick.

Trained by Michael Appleby – who is currently 2 from 25 in the last fourteen days, won well at Salisbury and Thirsk in his last two starts.

He is climbing the ways, but still should have enough in hand to make the frame.