Our resident tipster Man On The Spot previews the races that comprise Sunday's free to play £100,000 Pick 7 game.
1.50 Newmarket - Qatar Racing Handicap
BIG COUNTRY was always travelling like the winner when following up an earlier victory at Wolverhampton in the Rosebery at Kempton. He’s 10lb higher back on Turf but looks to have improved markedly for the switch to Mike Appleby. Banditry has yet to run a bad race for Ian Williams and was closing down Brorocco in the City And Surburban at Epsom 11 days ago. Frontiersman ran well at Doncaster on his reappearance until lack of condition told and he won on fast ground here in September. Mainstream made a winning return to action at Salisbury last year but failed to add to that in six starts and continued to climb the weights. Alan King’s pair Top Tug and Cosmeapolitan are both fit from hurdling but Beardwood is starting the new campaign on a high enough mark and his stablemate Final also looks in the handicapper’s grip.
2.20 Newmarket - Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes
Somehow ran in both the Epsom and Irish Oaks last year. She beat Skiffle in a Group 3 at the Curragh last August and made a winning reappearance in Listed company at Gowran. She’ll strip fitter here and will be tough to beat but NEZWAAH can make a race of it. Roger Varian’s filly won a Listed race at Newcastle last year and bettered that when running So Mi Dar to half-a-length at Yarmouth. Far from disgraced in the Grade 1 EP Taylor at Woodbine in October, she is preferred to Muffri'Ha even though that one was an unlucky loser on All-Weather Championship day at Lingfield. Aljazzi beat a decent field in a Listed contest at Kempton last month but this is tougher. Silver Step ran well in a couple of starts at Meydan earlier in the year and looks best of the rest.
2.55 Newmarket - Longholes Handicap
GUNMETAL showed good pace to score over course and distance on his return to action and also won on the July course here last year. Despite an 8lb rise, he should be in the mix again while Captain Colby and Eastern Impact are other course and distance winners looking fairly treated. East Street Revue looked an unlucky loser at Beverley last month but is ideally suited by a stiff 5f. Intisaab made a winning reappearance at Ripon, despite racing in a small group on the far side, and is a tough sprinter while Mr Lupton has faced some stiff tasks over the past 12 months. Projection didn’t win last year but ran some cracking races in defeat. He’s been done no favours by a further 3lb rise but will still be tough to beat if fully wound-up. Kevin Ryan should find a race for Big Time sooner rather than later and last year’s second Seeking Magic is another to consider in a very competitive sprint.
3.35 Newmarket - Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes
Rhododendron beat Hydrangea and Urban Fox in the Fillies’ Mile here in October and is entered in all the top races this year. But she was beaten by Intricately and Hydrangea in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh earlier and her breeding is more about stamina than speed. Frankie will fancy his chances of a fourth 1000 Guineas victory on the unbeaten Daban as she appeared to have something in hand when beating Unforgetable Filly, Poet's Vanity and Kilmah in the Nell Gwyn here last month. Winter was beaten by Hydrangea at Leopardstown last month but is less exposed and it would be no surprise if those placings were reversed today. FAIR EVA easily beat Kilmah on her second start last summer having beaten a subsequent Group 3 and listed winner on debut. Things didn’t go to plan later but connections hold the Frankel filly in high regard and she will surely relish this step up to a mile despite being out of a champion sprinter. Queen Kindly could also run well at bigger odds after missing the break at Newbury two weeks ago.
4.10 Newmarket - Havana Gold Maiden Stakes
Ed Dunlop had the winner of this last year and Qaaraat ran well enough on debut at Newbury to suggest he’ll go close to making the most of his experience here. But we just prefer the Godolphin entry WAY OF WISDOM, who is by crack Australian miler Lonhro and a half-brother to a 7f two-year-old winner. De Bruyne Horse and Kit Marlowe both represent leading stables who get plenty of juvenile winners and they make more appeal than Red Roman and Solid Man.
4.45 Newmarket - Tweenhills Pretty Polly Stakes
Kazimiera finished ahead of Teofonic when second in a Listed race here in October but never figured in a Group 3 here last month. Miss Infinity held her own in strong company in her first season but was last on her reappearance in the European Free Handicap. Horseplay romped home at Nottingham in October and the second has won this year but she’d been beaten by Kazimiera on her debut. Isabel De Urbina only scrambled home at Ffos Las in September but was very green and better is expected this year. ASTRONOMY’S CHOICE (NAP) also showed her inexperience here in October but picked up nicely for Frankie when asked and he was able to ease her close home. An Oaks entry, she can double her tally in this.
5.20 Newmarket- Qipco Supporting British Racing Handicap
Bin Battuta was third over course and distance last month and should confirm that form with fourth Wahash and fifth Count Calabash. He’s preferred to Lingfield maiden winner Dubai Horizon and Leshlaa of Saeed bin Suroor’s three runners. Oasis Charm also runs in the blue of Godolphin and William Buick has kept faith with the Leicester maiden winner, who has bags of scope. Ryan Moore has a couple of rides for Mark Johnston today and the trainer will have been delighted with MISTER MANDURO’s reappearance at Bath as he was only headed right on the line and a stablemate who finished third went on to go close in the Derby Trial at Epsom.
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