Newmarket and Pontefract Thursday Tips by Dave Stevos
Newmarket and Pontefract Thursday Tips For ITV4 Races
The Ayr Western Meeting was a disaster punting wise. Nastase got mugged close to home but it was downhill after that. The draw bias that was evident on Friday at Ayr had disappeared on Saturday and that was a big negative for our Silver and Gold Cup tips. None of the rest of our selections hit the frame on the day and it was one to forget. The Cambridgeshire meeting kicks off on Thursday with ITV4 showing 6 races live. Dave Stevos has previewed them all, check out his Newmarket and Pontefract Thursday tips below…
Newmarket Thursday: 1.50pm – Nursery Handicap (Class 2)
It is a day of small fields at both Newmarket and Pontefract with only one race having over 7 runners. Only 5 go to post in this 8f nursery handicap and it is interesting to see Frankie and Bin Suroor reunited. Dettori is on Last Sunset for the Godolphin trainer and he is the 7/4 favourite. He is 122 so far from 3 starts and he was only beat a neck at Ascot last time (8f gd/sft). That run was franked by the 3rd who hosed up on her next outing. His other two runs came on the all-weather at Kempton, including his debut win (7f st). An opening mark of 84 could be workable and he looks the one to beat.
One that looks very interesting now upped in distance to a mile is Olympic Theatre. Trained by Michael Bell, Hayley Turner takes the ride on this son of Mayson. This gelding is a maiden after 4 starts, placing on 3 of those. He was beat 3L in a decent race at York last time (7f gd/fm) and his best work came at the finish. The three horses in front of him did the form no harm next time, especially the 3rd who was beat a head at the Curragh in a very valuable sales race. This horse’s dam was a 12f winner so the step up in trip should suit on pedigree too. At odds of 11/2 Olympic Theatre is the e/w pick.
Newmarket and Pontefract Thursday Tips: Olympic Theatre e/w @ 6/1 NB
Pontefract: 2.05pm – 3yo+ Handicap (Class 3)
Another small field with just 7 declared for this 10f handicap. It looks an open enough heat and the one I’ll be taking a chance on with his stable in serious nick is the Nigel Tinkler trained Archie Perkins. This 5yo son of Arcano is in off 82 here with Faye McManoman taking off another 5lb. he was beat just a head on his second start this year off 85 (3lb claimer rode) so he is clearly handicapped to be competitive, if on a going day.
Archie Perkins ran his best race since that near miss last time at York. Sent off at 50/1 he shaped pretty well and he finished 7th of 17, just under 6L behind the winner. His last run at Ponte was poor but the 12f trip stretched him. However, he was 4th on his only other visit, staying on well over 8f. 10f is his optimum trip and he handles ground ranging from good to soft to good to firm. Tinkler decided to come here instead of carrying top weight at Redcar on Wednesday so hopefully that decision pays dividends. At odds of 18/1, Archie Perkins is worth backing each way.
Newmarket and Pontefract Thursday Tips: Archie Perkins e/w @ 18/1
Newmarket: 2.25pm – EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2)
With fillies going to post for this 6f heat it is the only 3 place race of the day on ITV4. The one I like for each way purposes is Caspian Queen for Moore and Hughes. This 3yo daughter of Sepoy has been running well without threatening the judge on her last couple of starts. She kept on pretty well behind Stormy Girl last time in a Listed heat at Pontefract (6f gd/fm). She was given too much to do by Paul Mulrennan but she stayed on for 5th, 5L behind the winner Stormy Girl.
Stormy Girl re-opposes here and Caspian Queen is 12lb better off at the weights. That surely gives her every chance of getting closer to the Menzies filly and hopefully turning the form around. Caspian Queen was 4L behind Glamorous Anna at Goodwood on her last handicap start (5f gd) and she was denied a clear run. That effort came off 90 and she is now a pound lower. At odds of 10/1 with 4 places on offer from Skybet, Caspian Queen is the e/w NAP of the day.
Newmarket and Pontefract Thursday Tips: Caspian Queen e/w @ 10/1 NAP (4 places)
Pontefract: 2.40pm – William Hill Handicap (Class 2)
At odds of 7/1 I think Amazing Red is worth backing in this 12f contest. The Ed Dunlop trained 7yo is in off 95 here and on his best form that is a very nice mark. He has yet to hit top form this term but he ran a nice enough race when 4th in a Listed heat in San Sebastian on his penultimate start. He was beat just 2L earlier this season off 97 at Newmarket (14f sft) so he is handicapped to be competitive at the very least.
The booking of David Allan is a big eye-catcher too. He is 3/4 when riding for this owner and he finished 2nd on the other ride. Amazing Red won his maiden on his only previous run here so he handles the track and he drops back to the distance of his last victory. Good ground will suit too (handles soft) and at 7/1 the son of Teofilo is the each way selection.
Pontefract Tips: Amazing Red e/w @ 7/1
Newmarket: 3.00pm – Tattersalls Stakes (Group 3)
The first Group race of the Cambridgeshire meeting this week is the G3 Tattersalls Stakes. Only 6 will fight it out for the £40k purse and La Barrosa heads the market for Appleby, Buick and Godolphin. He looked a nice prospect when winning his debut at Ascot (7f gd). The form was boosted by two of his rivals winning next time out and the son of Lope De Vega should improve with that effort under his belt. Pitching him into stakes company looks a good move and once the ground isn’t too quick he should go very well.
Yazaman arguably brings the best form into the race, finishing runner up in a pair of G2s behind Tactical. Qaader has it to do if he is to turn the form of their meeting at Newmarket around. Ventura Tormenta has disappointed since winning a G2 at Chantilly and he needs to bounce back. Dark Lion has come up short on previous tries at stakes level, while Albadri’s debut win has not worked out. This is not a betting heat for me with just 2 places on offer. Qaader is probably a shade overpriced but not enough to warrant a bet. I’ll be sitting this one out.
Newmarket and Pontefract Thursday Tips: No Bet
Newmarket and Pontefract Thursday: 3.35pm – Rose Bowl Stakes (Listed)
The last live race of the day on ITV4 is this Listed 16f heat for the stayers. Mildenberger has raced solely on the all-weather this season but he handles turf too. He was less than a length behind Nayef Road at Newcastle on his last outing (16.5f st) and his last turf start saw him finish only 5L behind Stradivarius at York (14f gd/fm). A repeat of either of those efforts would likely suffice in this contest.
Withhold has to give the favourite 3lb even though he is rated 4lb lower. He could be dangerous if granted an easy lead but Mildenberger is unlikely to be too far away throughout. If those two set a very strong pace in front that could play into the hands of Jamie Spencer on Sleeping Lion. James Fanshawe’s gelding has a lot to find on the figures but this race could be run to suit him. He is best when held up in small fields off a strong pace and that looks a likely scenario.
Sleeping Lion needs to bounce back from a rare poor effort last time but he could easily do just that. Jamie Spencer looks an ideal booking given the son of Teofilo’s racing style. His four races at 2 miles have been promising and there could be more to come from him at this trip. James Fanshawe’s last 5 runners have achieved form figures of 22251 and at odds of 20/1 Sleeping Lion will hopefully run a big race for him here. At odds of 20/1 he is the each way tip.
