Check out Simon Holt's latest horse racing selections
Check out Simon Holt's latest horse racing selections

Simon Holt best bets for Newmarket on Friday


Simon Holt has four bets on Newmarket's Friday card including a Royal Ascot hero who he expects to resume winning ways.

Recommended bets:

1pt win Accidental Agent in 3.35 Newmarket at 5/1

1pt win Main Edition in 3.00 Newmarket at 3/1

1pt win Laugh Aloud in 1.50 Newmarket at 4/1

1pt win Crimson Rosette in 2.25 Newmarket at 13/2

SOME of the prices surrounding races at Newmarket on Friday offer decent value about horses with arguably the best form on offer, including ACCIDENTAL AGENT in the Group Two Shadwell Joel Stakes.

The winner of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he beat Lord Glitters and Lightning Spear who have both franked the form since, Eve Johnson Houghton's stable-star runs for the first time since blowing out well below his best in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August when connections suggested he hadn't travelled well to France.

Charles Bishop's mount needs to defy a 5lb penalty but concedes just 2lb to the favourite Mustashry who overcame a drop back to seven furlongs at Doncaster after being beaten by Lord Glitters at York.

There is much less between them than the market suggests, but Accidental Agent is the only Group One winner in the field and Mustashry disappointed in this race last year.

Regal Reality is the other leading contender. Sir Michael Stoute's filly probably got bogged down in the Haydock mud behind Here Comes When last time having earlier reeled in Ostilio (winner since) in a Group Three at Goodwood.

Accidental Agent beats Lord Glitters in the Queen Anne Stakes
Accidental Agent beats Lord Glitters in the Queen Anne Stakes

Earlier, MAIN EDITION looks the form pick in the Group Two Shadwell Rockfel Stakes.

Mark Johnston's filly has had a good season and finished five lengths ahead of the re-opposing Just Wonderful when fifth in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh on her latest start having previously beaten La Pelosa in the Albany Stakes (Just Wonderful unplaced) at Royal Ascot and in the Sweet Solera at Newmarket (July Course).

In-between, she was probably just feeling the pinch when squeezed out over six furlongs behind Pretty Pollyanna at the July meeting and seven furlongs now looks her trip.

Salisbury winner Yourtimeisnow has improved with each of her races but this is another step up in class.

Laugh Aloud
Laugh Aloud - can strike at Newmarket

In the opening listed Muhaarar British EBF Rosemary Stakes, LAUGH ALOUD is taken to bounce back to the form which saw her win this race impressively in 2016.

The Dubawi mare hasn't reproduced that form in two starts this season (without being disgraced either) after a period on the sidelines, and a return to Newmarket could provide the answer.

At her best, Laugh Aloud looks more solid than the likely favourite Unforgetable Filly who left all previous efforts behind when bolting up at Haydock last month (Agrotera fourth). It's possible that Hugo Palmer's charge has suddenly taken a big step forward, and this race will prove whether there was something a bit freakish about her performance that day.

In an open-looking Group Three Princess Royal Nayef Stakes, CRIMSON ROSETTE could be a shade over-priced as her form looks every bit as good as others shorter in the betting.

The Charlie Fellowes-trained mare has progressed nicely this season going under by half a length to the smart God Given at Haydock in June and then landing a listed race on the July course in early August (Highgarden fifth).

Crimson Rosette faced a much tougher task in a Group Two at Longchamp, won by Kitesurf, more recently but, at the weights, has every chance against Star Rock, a beaten favourite at Baden-Baden, and Longchamp listed winner Mrs Sippy.

On her third to Magic Wand in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, Sun Maiden would be a big danger but she has been beaten a long way in two subsequent starts, albeit behind Lah Ti Dar most recently at York.


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