Chris Day takes an early look at the weekend's action and has two bets on the Saturday card at Newbury.
Racing betting tips: Saturday May 20
1pt Mutasaabeq in 3.00 Newbury at 8/1 (BetVictor)
1pt Bold Act in 2.35 Newbury at 14/1 (William Hill)
The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, the first all-aged Group One of the Flat season, gives the older milers a chance to stake their clam for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
At the time of writing the ground is just on the soft side but with no rain forecast and fairly high daytime temperatures, it’s likely it will be good on Saturday morning and a cracking race is in prospect.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Laurel appears the bookies’ choice at this stage following the withdrawal of stablemate Inspiral, who will apparently reappear at Ascot in June as she did last season. The Lockinge favourite is an older filly on a sharp upward curve having comfortably taken the Listed Snowdrop Stakes at Kempton last time.
The trainer has had enough Group One horses to know what they look like but she has quite a bit to find on form with the best of these, not least dual Breeders’ Cup winner Modern Games who seemed a bit below par in a Grade One in America last month.
He’s a very solid Group One horse, almost certain to run his race and sets the standard having been at the top for a couple of seasons now and hailing from a stable with an abundance of talent among its older horses.
Over the years it’s paid to look out for any Andre Fabre-trained raiders from across the Channel and Tribalist, another Godolphin owned contender, has has gone towards justifying the high regard he’s always been held in with a couple of early season victories at Group Three and Two level at Saint Cloud.
The questions are whether he can do the same to Group One horses and whether he’s reliant on soft ground to show his best.
My Prospero finished last season among the best three-year-olds having finished third in the Champion Stakes at Ascot behind Bay Bridge and Adayar and a place ahead of Baaeed. He’s been ready to run for a while but whether he’ll need slightly further at this level is at the back of my mind.
The Crisford stable also saddle dual Grade Two winner Jadoomi who was beaten into third in the QEII with Modern Games just a head front on QIPCO Champions Day. All his best form has come on softer ground but he's one I think will be winning at this level in 2023.
Taking all variables into account, I came down on the side of MUTASAABEQ, who won over this trip at his favourite track, Newmarket last time where he handed out a three length beating to St James’s Palace Stakes winner Native Trail, to whom he was conceding 3lbs.
True, he was left alone on the lead at a track where it pays to race up with the pace but he may not have too much pressure on him in the early stages on Saturday either and, with a run under his belt, looks sure to go well.
He’s always been considered mentally immature going by stable comments and Shadwell don't normally keep five-year-olds in training unless considerable improvement is likely and he could well be about to make his breakthrough at this level. 8/1 looks juicy.
The BetVictor London Gold Cup is always a strong handicap and has regularly thrown up Group quality winners, Bay Bridge having taken the 2021 running, so it’s a race definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Royal Rhyme looks guaranteed to run well, following up a third at Haydock behind Racingbreaks Ryder, who franked the form at Ascot on Friday, with a five-length win at Newmarket over the Guineas weekend and should take the beating.
However, I still think there’s plenty of mileage in the mark of BOLD ACT, who was sent off favourite for the Listed Fielden Stakes last time.
The Godolphin outfit have wasted no time in gelding him, something they seem to have had plenty of success with, and he looks likely to go well here, having taken a nursery at Newmarket before stepping up in class at Chelmsford in a valuable race on his final outing at two.
He went off 15/88 for a Derby trial at Newmarket and seems to have been somewhat overlooked at 14/1 on Saturday and I expect him to be significantly shorter come race time.
Preview posted at 0935 BST on 16/05/2023
More from Sporting Life
- Racecards
- Fast results
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
