Another bumper weekend and a very busy one for us from a punting point of view.
Friday is all about the all-weather, in fact Newcastle makes its debut as the host of the £1 million All-Weather Championships Finals Day.
On Saturday, Newbury hosts the Spring Cup as well as three Group 3 races, though we have no bet in a close Greenham Stakes.
It’s close too in Newcastle’s opening Listed Burradon Stakes in which Dubai Poet can put it up to Imperial Fighter, but we have selections in all of their other races beginning with the Mile.
Friday 15th April 2022
2.00 Newcastle (All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions Stakes) – AMILCAR
After winning at Southwell on this Tapeta surface and then finishing just 4½ lengths behind Lord North in a Group 1 race, William Haggas’ My Oberon should be all the rage on track. He’s undoubtedly good, but he remains vulnerable in what is a quality race worth £150,000.
Roger Varian could be on for a good day and his La Tihaty won four in a row on the all-weather earlier in the year, but he wasn’t as good on this sort of surface last time.
The French raider Amilcar presents the most value. A winner at Deauville in December, he’s improving and was unlucky at Wolverhampton last time out. He should have no such trouble this time and he wants this stiff mile too.
2.35 Newcastle (All-Weather Sprint Championships Conditions Stakes) – BOUTTEMONT
At 4/1 or bigger the field, the sprint race has the look of a typical Saturday handicap about it at a glance.
While familiar names such as Harry’s Bar, Ejtilaab, Soldier’s Minute, Edraak and Venturous could all make their presence felt, this could be another one for the French.
Already in good form, the four-year-old Bouttemont took a big step forward when winning at Chantilly five weeks ago and the form of the race is solid. He stayed on beautifully over 6½ furlongs there so this surface, and the stiff nature of the track, should be ideal for Gregory Benoist and his mount.
3.10 Newcastle (3 Year Old All-Weather Championships Conditions Stakes) – TIBER FLOW
Over the same six-furlong course is the three-year-old’s race, though this one looks less competitive. Kaboo retains ability, Annaf could be decent and Space Cowboy is an each-way play.
El Caballo will be the one for money after winning four in a row, including one at Newcastle, but Tiber Flow is the one that caught the eye most.
Unbeaten in three races for William Haggas, the Caravaggio colt has won over six and seven furlongs at Newcastle and hosed up last time at Wolverhampton. Tom Marquand is on board.
3.45 Newcastle (All-Weather Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships Conditions Stakes) – INTERNATIONALANGEL
John Quinn’s Highfield Princess is a smashing type. She’s tough, handles this surface and has a Listed success over Wednesday’s Abernant winner Double Or Bubble under her name.
As consistent as she is, she is passed over here in favour of Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Internationalangel. The five-year-old mare was a very good winner over this course and distance two outings ago, winning her sixth race in a row.
If she’s still fit and fresh, she may have too much here ahead of the favourite and Arousing for Hollie Doyle.
3.55 Chelmsford (Handicap) – TRAWLERMAN
We nip down to Chelmsford for one race, their decent Class 2 mile-a-quarter handicap.
Inigo Jones is bound to improve this year, Group One Power is overpriced and U S S Michigan has solid recent form.
Godolphin’s Trawlerman however, trained by the Gosdens, started his three-year-old career in emphatic fashion last year. He was then sent into what was a very hot Classic Trial at Sandown, a race in which he was just 11/2 alongside the likes of Alenquer, Yibir, Adayar and Lone Eagle.
He’s had time off, but he’s clearly way better than a 93 horse and can prove it here.
4.15 Newcastle (All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes) – MARSHALL PLAN
Despite Trawlerman’s very obvious chances at Chelmsford, Frankie Dettori heads to Newcastle to ride Marshall Plan who is another for Godolphin who has always been well thought of.
He’s finished behind some really nice types, but for me he’s done it on the wrong surface. He was excellent in his sole win at Wolverhampton on the Tapeta, found the pace too strong and didn’t enjoy a great trip at Newcastle last summer and so will love the return to this surface as well as the extended two-mile trip.
Earlofthecotswolds is good but may prefer it elsewhere, Sleeping Lion should be favourite and Rainbow Dreamer is another in with a shot.
4.45 Newcastle (Easter Classic) – AL ZARAQAAN
The £200,000 Easter Classic over 1¼ miles is all about Roger Varian’s Tyrrhenian Sea according to the betting.
He won three times in a row at Newcastle before being a very unlucky loser at Kempton, so returning here in a conditions race really does make him look rock solid.
Al Zaraqaan once upon a time had a similar profile. He did his winning elsewhere for William Haggas, but his debut this year for Archie Watson was right here and it was excellent.
He was thought of as a Winter Derby horse and while that didn’t work out, he’s not finished yet. He remains lightly raced, this is his trip, this is also his best surface to my mind and he’s way overpriced. Hollie Doyle rides.
Saturday 16th April 2022
1.50 Newbury (John Porter Stakes – Group 3) – STOWELL
A very nice race. Thunderous is solid, Ilaraab’s chances are obvious and Raymond Tusk will get plenty of support. John & Thady Gosden’s Stowell however will prove to be the best of them in time, hopefully immediately.
An excellent and slightly unlucky third to Kemari at Royal Ascot last year, he stays very well but has plenty of class too so if he is 100% after his enforced break, he can get home under a familiarly classy Frankie Dettori ride.
2.25 Newbury (Fred Darling Stakes – Group 3) – WILD BEAUTY
A proper trial for the 1000 Guineas and perhaps another big win for Charlie Appleby, William Buick and Godolphin.
Having been left behind at the start, Wild Beauty was excellent in winning her Grade 1 in North America last year and she really should have gone to the Breeders’ Cup rather than coming back quickly to tackle Inspiral in the Fillies’ Mile.
This is more her bag, the trip is fine and she may take some beating despite the presence of Jumbly, Miss Carol Ann, Majestic Glory and the potential star Shaara.
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