With the Grand National behind us now the focus turns much stronger to the flat season, which continues with the Craven Meeting at Newmarket this week. The meeting begins at HQ on Tuesday and offers up some good racing.
We’ve had a good look through the card and while we wait for the main race to come along later in the week we are going to get stuck into a couple of bets which come in the early part of the afternoon on Tuesday.
2.20 Newmarket
A race full of unexposed 3 year olds over a mile & there’s a lot of factoring in of potential here. Charlie Appleby & Will Buick have the favourite in Broadway Act & he’s run all 4 of his races at the track with 1 win & 3 places. Break The Bank won on handicap debut on the all weather but is 8lb higher so needs to step up whilst Grand Carat is from a yard in form but doesn’t look to be the best handicapped. At the prices, I prefer the chances of northern raider SISYPHEAN who has had 4 career runs to date. He ran a cracker on debut when a close 5th of 14 in the Convivial at York behind Aiden O’Brien’s 106-rated Battle Cry. He hasn’t quite matched that form since but I’m not convinced having to make the running has suited. A head second at Ayr off a muddling gallop came before a fading 4th here when again setting the fractions. He was then off the mark 2 months ago at Newcastle, showing good battle qualities to prevail by a nose. He looks like he’ll get further which is no bad thing here & there appears to be enough pace in it for him to get a tow into it. Despite a race of potential, he’s the only runner with a Group entry too, as he’s still in the Dante. Despite being from one of the lesser represented yards in a decent handicap, he still features prominently in the betting & is the one for me.
Tips
Back SISYPHEAN (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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2.55 Newmarket
A really decent handicap over a mile for horses rated up to 100. The Gosden’s saddle the favourite in Slipofthepen but he was long odds on when beaten in a Listed event when he last ran last May. Benacre ran well on reappearance when 3rd in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton & does have run here so could run a big race. However, top weight & last year’s winner, BOPEDRO, is the one that catches my eye. He’s run twice this calendar year & has yet to be placed but both of those starts were on the all weather & it’s fair to say he’s much better on turf. After winning this off 3lb lower last year, he won once more last term, this time off 1lb lower but also back at HQ. He also has plenty of good form in big handicaps, with a 6th of 16 in the Hambleton, a 6th of 29 in the Buckingham Palace, a 3rd of 34 in the Cambridgeshire & a 4th of 20 in the Balmoral. Form at Newmarket is impressive too; 2 wins & 2 thirds from 4 starts whilst he’s on a good mark now with his Cambridgeshire & Balmoral form off 2lb higher. Ground looks fine, even if a bit of rain comes & he seems like the draw should be ideal with plenty of pace near him so is probably the best each way shot in the race.
Tips
Back BOPEDRO (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 7.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
