Free racing tips: Nick Robson previews Saturday's action with Nap and next best selections
Nick Robson fancies a bit of Brunch on Saturday, while he's backing Staxton in the Ayr Gold Cup. Check out our man's tips for every race at every meeting.
Staxton has burst back into form at just the right time to sneak into the QTS Ayr Gold Cup at the bottom of the handicap.
Tim Easterby’s five-year-old is 24th of the 25 runners for the big sprint, but could not be arriving in better heart.
He ran in the race 12 months ago and while at first glance it may appear he did not go close in 10th place, he was in fact only beaten just over three lengths and Easterby maintains that he was also a little unfortunate.
That was off a mark of 98 and he had two further unplaced runs last season, which meant he began this season rated 93.
Having showed little on his first three runs this term, he bounced back to form at Ripon off a lowly 84, beating Watchable by a nose and the veteran has won twice since and is now 8lb higher than he was that day.
At his peak Staxton has been rated 103, so when he lined up in the Great St Wilfrid off 88, there was still plenty of wriggle room and he duly justified favouritism.
He is actually running in this 2lb wrong as his penalty takes him up to 94, but his new mark is only 92 which is still some way below his best, and stall 15 means Duran Fentiman can go either side.
In the Silver Cup, I Am A Dreamer is worth another chance.
Not beaten far by Staxton in the Great St Wilfrid, he lost all chance at the start last time out and races off a feather weight with a claimer on.
There should be just enough juice in the ground to enable Addeybb to stamp his class on the Jordan Electrics Doonside Cup.
William Haggas’ six-year-old won two Australian Group Ones in the spring and was then a fine second to Lord North in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
That form is head and shoulders above anything else on offer, with Lord Glitters not the force of old and Fox Chairman not progressing this season as much as he might have.
This run will hopefully put Addeybb spot on for the Champion Stakes, in which he was second last year.
Richard Fahey’s Umm Kulthum looks a cut above her rivals in the Scotty Brand Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes.
A winner on debut at Thirsk in a race which has produced several winners, she stepped up markedly in class for the Lowther Stakes at York.
The daughter of Kodiac ran a blinder in third behind Miss Amulet, who is sure to be well fancied for the Cheveley Park, with Sacred – who was just touched off in the Flying Childers last week – second on that occasion.
Michael Dods’ Brunch is also worth sticking with in the Luxury Staycations At Western House Hotel Handicap despite a 6lb rise for winning at York in what looked a stronger race.
Fahey sends Rhythm Master to Newbury for the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef and a reproduction of his recent effort in France will surely suffice.
An easy winner on debut at Haydock, he was thrown into the Group One Prix Morny but ran a blinder to finish third, beaten only by two Royal Ascot winners in Campanelle and Nando Parado.
He got going too late there, which was understandable given his lack of experience, and while conditions may not be totally ideal, his class should see him prevail.
Roger Charlton has found another very good opening for Extra Elusive, who has really hit it off with Hollie Doyle.
He was becoming a frustrating type until Doyle made all on him to win the Rose of Lancaster and followed up in the Winter Hill at Windsor.
With his main rival on ratings, Elarqam, well below his best the last twice, Extra Elusive can defy a penalty in the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup.
Lazuli has not backed up his impressive win at Sandown early in the season, but switched down to five furlongs and on quick ground he is taken to beat his elders in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes.
Roger Teal’s Ocean Wind finished sixth in the Cheltenham bumper so should be well suited by the demands of the Close Brothers Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket.
Nick Robson's tips
AYR: 1.20 Recovery Run, 1.55 ADDEYBB (NAP), 2.30 I Am A Dreamer, 3.05 Umm Kulthum, 3.40 Staxton, 4.15 Brunch, 4.50 Make My Day, 5.25 Ascension.
GOWRAN: 2.00 Boyne River, 2.35 Grid, 3.10 Eldama, 3.45 Never Rains, 4.20 Jungle Jungle, 4.55 Epona Plays, 5.30 Ya Ya Baby, 6.00 Zofar Zogood.
NAVAN: 12.40 Geraldo, 1.10 Arthur Fonzarelli, 1.45 Miraculum, 2.20 Mithmaar, 2.55 Premium Package, 3.30 Magic Sea, 4.05 Whatsinthecorner, 4.35 Chemical Energy.
NEWBURY: 1.05 Expect To Succeed, 1.40 Lazuli, 2.15 Starcat, 2.50 Extra Elusive, 3.25 Rhythm Master, 4.00 Rifleman, 4.30 Diocles Of Rome, 5.05 Cardano.
NEWMARKET: 2.05 Sayyida, 2.40 Mostly, 3.15 Arabic Charm, 3.50 Ocean Wind, 4.25 Folk Dance, 5.00 Dulas, 5.35 Geranium.
NEWTON ABBOT: 2.25 Ultimate Getaway, 3.00 Nachi Falls, 3.35 Misstree Song, 4.10 Timoshenko, 4.45 Red River, 5.20 Midnight Magic, 5.55 Isle Of Aron.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 4.40 Love Hurts, 5.15 Brunel’s Boy, 5.45 Marching Army, 6.15 Imperial Gloriana, 6.45 Aramis Grey, 7.15 Secret Potion, 7.45 Smokey, 8.15 Robeam.
DOUBLE: Addeybb and Brunch.
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