Matt Brocklebank bagged a 4/1 Friday winner - don't miss the Saturday best bets from around the tracks courtesy of Andrew Asquith.
Saturday selections
MOUNT GAY RUN – 13:15 Ascot (NAP)
MOUNT GAY RUN has only had six career starts, but is already on his third trainer, and he shaped with plenty of promise on his debut for Dan Skelton over two miles at Southwell last month.
He must have been showing plenty of speed at home considering his final start for Kieran Burke was over just short of three miles, but he left the impression the trip was way too sharp for him, especially round a sharp track.
Mount Gay Run was all out after being headed jumping the sixth flight, but he stuck to his task well to finish second to a next-time-out winner. This much longer trip is sure to suit looking at his pedigree and a mark of 113 now back in a handicap may turn out to be very lenient.
ALFIE’S PRINCESS – 14:13 Hereford
Sam Thomas continues to bang in the winners this season, operating at a remarkable 37% strike rate, and ALFIE'S PRINCESS looks very interesting on her return from 14 months off.
She cost £220,000 after winning her sole start in points and after showing ability in bumpers she won her first two starts over hurdles a couple of seasons ago.
Alfie’s Princess made an encouraging debut over fences on her sole start last season, too, taking well to the larger obstacles but leaving the impression the two and a half mile trip was too sharp for her.
Clearly, she hasn’t been the easiest to train, having not been seen since, but that isn’t much of a concern given she represents a yard that knows how to get one ready after a lay-off.
Indeed, the last two horses Thomas saddled after absences of 400 days or more both won, and she is sure to relish this step up in trip beyond three miles.
SUPREME MALINAS – 14:40 Haydock
It looks a good renewal of this Listed Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in which I think SUPREME MALINAS can take advantage of the 3lb she receives from the equally promising Jackie Hobbs.
They both had a similar level of form in bumpers and also made highly promising starts over hurdles, Supreme Malinas looking a classy mare as she comfortably beat A Path To Ronda at Exeter last month.
She was in receipt of 7lb that day, but A Path To Ronda was allowed to set steady fractions and Supreme Malinas was eased somewhat at the finish. Likely softer ground won’t be a problem for her given she won her bumper in heavy ground and, given she's sure to stay further in time, a stamina test kept to this trip will be right up her street.
SHOWSTORM – 15:10 Newcastle
This might not turn out to be the strongest handicap for the grade and SHOWSTORM has the potential to progress past some more exposed types.
He didn’t show much in his first three starts last year, but they all came over trips shorter than he’s bred for, and he shaped much better upped to a mile and a quarter on his return and handicap debut at Pontefract in October.
Showstorm went well for a long way on that occasion before leaving the impression he was in need of the run on his first start for 12 months. That was also his first start since being gelded and he seems sure to come forward for that.
Karl Burke is (still) among the winners and Showstorm is fancied to prove this lowly mark all wrong sooner rather than later.
UPEPO – 18:15 Wolverhampton
UPEPO had fallen 8lb below his last winning mark and was gambled on to resume winning ways back over a mile and a half at Lingfield on Wednesday.
He won with plenty in hand that day, readily moving clear in the straight, and connections have wisely turned him out quickly given he escapes a penalty or a rise in the weights for that success.
Upepo appeals as being very well handicapped from the same mark, particularly as he was competitive from much higher marks in the spring.
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
2025-26 winners (Naps competition Oct 19 - Apr 25)
- Heart Over Head 4/1
- Saint Cyr De Pail 7/2
- Westcombe 7/4
- Intervention 7/2
- One Big Bang 8/11
- Zryan 4/1
- David's Well 6/4 (NAP)
- Atreides 5/4
- Salver 6/4 (NAP)
- Castanea Breeze 3/1
- Ribble Vibe 6/4
- Medieval Gold 6/5
- Fierce Warrior 11/10
- Mambonumberfive 5/2 (NAP)
- Bibendum 85/40
- Seasmoke 10/3
- Teardrops 2/1
- Secret Vino 11/2
- Blenkinsop 7/4 (NAP)
- Roaring Conquest 6/4
- Molto Bene 7/4
- Nocte Volatus 11/4
- Sparkling Duke 9/2
- Chuggy 11/10
- Germanic 3/1
- Special John evens
- Fat Harry 5/4 (NAP)
- Formel Park 3/1 (NAP)
- Sixmilebridge 6/4 (NAP)
- On The Go 2/1 (NAP)
- Ikarak 13/8
- Clearpoint 3/1
- Bahadur 2/1 (NAP)
- L'Empire Vert 3/1 (NAP)
- Without Compromise 2/1
- Solarize 3/1
- Hartington 7/1
- Bloodsweatandtyres 9/2
- Pep Talking 13/2
- Tigers Moon 8/11
- Sea Poetry 2/1
- Fine Interview 7/2
- American Flight 7/1 (NAP)
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