Newmarket Saturday Preview - 06/05/23

The first race on the second day of the Guineas meeting is the Class 2 Howden Handicap over 1m4f and we are giving a chance to the William Jarvis trained Cyrstal Delight.

A well bred son of New Approach who started his career off with Sir Michael Stoute running twice without winning but showing glimpses of form when third at Leicester over 1m2f and then fourth of 10 at Windsor over the same trip.

Sold and given to trainer William Jarvis, he got off the mark on stable debut in December at Lingfield when bolting up in a Novice Stakes over 1m2f.

Seen again in January of this year at Newcastle over the same trip he finished a good second behind the progressive handicapper Zealot.

Tried at 1m4f when last seen back at Lingfield when second behind the well handicapped Berkshire Breeze, he now returns to turf off a mark of 87 and he looks one of the more likely winners.

The second race of the afternoon at Newmarket is the Listed Ellen Chaloner Stakes over 6f and we have gone with the proven Gale Force Maya for trainer Michael Dods.

A winner on seasonal debut last season in a Class 2 Handicap off a mark of 98, she then ran no race when upped to Listed level at Newmarket and Haydock but got back to form next time in a Handicap off a mark of 99.

Sent into a Group Three at York she was a good third behind smart sprinter Flotus and then over the same course and distance landed the Sky Bet Dash Handicap off a mark of 104.

Seen next at Pontefract she was a good second in the Listed Flying Fillies' Stakes, but back at York in September got back to winning ways in a good Listed event, bolting up on this occasion.

In a rich vein of form she made it two wins on the bounce at Ayr in the Scottish Sprint Stakes off a mark of 107.

Finishing out the season at Ascot when running no race in the Group Three Bengough Stakes and then fourth in a Listed event at Newmarket behind some of her rivals on Saturday.

Having a decent record fresh, a fair record at this track and highly proven sprinter at this trip, she looked one of the more likely types to run her race.

Next at Newmarket is another tricky sprinting event with the Howden Handicap over 6f seeing a very competitive field go to post and we have dutched two against the field.

The first is the Roger Teal trained Blackrod who landed this event last year off a mark of 95, beating 16 other rivals with a bit in hand.

A smart sprinter at the back end of the 2021 season set him up perfectly for that event winning twice and finishing a good third in the 24 runner Ayr Silver Cup, however after his Newmarket win he fell off the wagon slightly.

Seventh of 26 at Royal Ascot in the Wokingham Stakes, he then ran two poor races to end the season in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon and Listed Garrowby Stakes at York.

Back this season when obviously needing the run at Kempton in a decent Class 2 Handicap over 6f, he should strip much fitter for that run and back at a track off only 2lb higher than his last winning mark he could go close.

Oisin Murphy takes the ride.

The second at slightly bigger odds is the Mick Appleby trained Juan Les Pins who now back at 6f can run his true race.

A winner of four straight races from June 2022 to August 2022, seeing his handicap mark go from 70 to a mark of 85, then went into a better race at Doncaster in September on soft ground finished seventh of 13 only finishing 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Sent to Ayr for his final run of the season on better ground he got back to form when running a cracker behind Summerghand and Commanche Falls to finish third of 24 in the Ayr Gold Cup.

Tried at 7f on his seasonal debut this term at Newmarket, it did not work out probably not staying the trip but back at his preferred trip of 6f on Saturday off only 1lb higher than his third at Ayr, he should go better than last time.

At 20/1 he looks a big each way player, especially with jockey Frederick Larson taking off a valuable 3lb.

Another big fielded handicap comes from Newmarket with the Suffolk Stakes always a tricky punting race but it does offer some nice value and this year we think that comes from the Jack Channon trained Majestic.

A horse that ran extremely well at the back end of last season with some nice placed efforts over a mile then turned that into a winning performance on his final run of the season when taking the 28 runner Cambridgeshire Handicap over course and distance off a mark of 86.

Sent to Doncaster for his first of the 2023 season he ran a cracker to finish fourth of 22 runners in the Lincoln Handicap over a mile.

preferring better ground than that of the heavy at Doncaster, he gets that on Saturday and off the same mark of 93 he can go well at a track he has performed well at.

The first Group race of the afternoon at flat racing HQ sees the Group Three Palace House Stakes and Twilight Calls for trainer Henry Candy holds some exceptional form.

A course and distance winner on his first run of last term in a Handicap at Newmarket off a mark of 94, he was then sent into better races and ran to a credible level.

Over the same course and distance in this race last year he finished a good fifth behind winner Khaadem, finishing less than two lengths behind the winner.

Sent into the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock he ran another superb race to only go down by a head back in second behind smart sprinter King's Lynn.

Upping his game on his final start of last term when stepped up to the Group One King's Stands Stakes at Royal Ascot, he only found one too good and that was the superb Australian sprinter Nature Strip.

He has been off the track for almost a year but having a decent record fresh and a winner over this course and distance already in his career, he should go close.

The feature event of the Newmarket card on Saturday is the first Classic of the season with the 2000 Guineas seeing 14 runners going to post.

We have picked out a win and each way selection and the first is the favourite Auguste Rodin who looks to be a serious animal for Aidan O'Brien.

A horse with a superb pedigree related to the multiple Group One winner Magical, he started his career off when second over 7f at the Curragh behind Crypto Force.

Seen three more times since that run he has gone unbeaten landing a Maiden at Naas in July and off the back of that went to Leopardstown and took the Group Two Champions Juvenile Stakes.

Last seen on heavy ground at Doncaster in the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes over a mile he made a mockery of the field to land the event by close to four lengths.

A horse who is versatile when it comes to ground could have a huge season and although maybe wanting further later on this season, he has shown enough to date to suggest he is the class act in this field.

At a bigger price is the Roger Varian trained Sakheer who is a more riskier selection with it unsure whether he does stay the mile, but if doing so could have a big part to play.

Second at Windsor on his career debut behind a nice type in Magical Sunset, he then went unbeaten on his two final runs both over 6f.

Getting off the mark at Haydock in a Novice Stakes when bolting up by six lengths, he then stepped up in class to the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and again showed bundles of pace to win easily.

Horses that have never ran over 7f or above and heading into the Guineas don't have a great record but from his pedigree it suggests he will get the mile and if doing so he could have enough pace to see off the field.

The penultimate event of the afternoon on Saturday from Newmarket is the Howden Insurance Handicap over 6f and the horse that takes the eye is Shaquille for Julie Camacho.

This is a very quirky horse who refused to go in the stalls when last seen at Newcastle but if going off this time he still holds bundles of ability.

A winner on career debut at York over 7f, he then went back over the same C&D in the Group Three Acomb Stakes and was totally outclassed finishing last of nine in a race that has produced some nice winners.

Dropped to 6f back at York in October he resumed winning ways taking a Novice Stakes under a penalty and then in December made it 2/2 at Wolverhampton in a AW Championships Fast Track Qualifier over 6f.

Second that day was Harry Magnus for Charlie Hills who has since franked the form and again, if going into the stalls he could be better than his mark of 94.

The final event of the afternoon is the Class 4 Handicap over 7f and Charlie Appleby fields Striking Star, who now handicapping could have a big say off a mark of 83.

A winner on debut for the yard at Sandown in September on soft ground over 7f, he then went into the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury and ran no race with the heavy ground going against him.

Making his seasonal debut this term in a Novice Stakes at Doncaster again on soft ground he ran a cracker under a penalty to finish second behind the impressive Theoryofeverything.

Handicapping on a better surface will be right up his street and he looks the one to be on.