Banksea has a good chance on Saturday
Banksea has a good chance on Saturday

Simon Holt bets bets for the weekend


Simon Holt previews the action from Newbury on Saturday and makes Luca Cumani's Banksea one of his three selections.

With Ayr sadly falling to the weather, attention turns to Newbury on Saturday when trainer David Simcock is fancied to take the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup for the second year running with DESERT ENCOUNTER following the victory of Algometer in 2016.

The course and distance could well suit Sean Levey's mount ideally and, though he failed to get involved in a red-hot King George at Ascot last time, his previous third behind Ulysses and Barney Roy in the Eclipse at Sandown must give him solid claims dropping in class albeit in a good quality Group Three.

Of the opposition, Fabricate bids for a three-timer after wins at Goodwood and Windsor over a mile and a quarter having previously been campaigned this season at a mile and a half and further.

Like Desert Encounter, who is best held up for a late run, Michael Bell's gelding will appreciate a decent early gallop.

Architecture, runner-up in both the Epsom and Irish Oaks last season, returns from an 11 month absence, though trainer Hugo Palmer is reportedly very pleased with the way his filly has strengthened up in the interim.

Earlier in the season, BANKSEA did us a good term when landing the Spring Cup over a mile on this course and, despite being beaten twice since over the same trip, a return to Newbury and a step up in distance could be ideal in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap.

Luca Cumani's gelding has long looked capable of stepping out of handicaps but, usually held up, he needs the cards to fall right.

When winning here back in April, it was only in the dying strides that Banksea put his nose in front and, up just 4lb for that success, he still looks handily treated returning to a distance over which he was successful last season.

Later on, the Group Three Dubai International Airport World Trophy is likely to be run at a frenetic pace with those two renowned tearaways Caspian Prince and Take Cover in the line-up.

Both like to dominate and they could set the race up for a strong finisher like WAADY who returned from a mid-season break to enjoy a confidence-boosting victory at Leicester recently.

John Gosden's gelding doesn't always look the easiest of rides but has decent form at his best (third in the Temple Stakes, fifth in the King's Stand last season) and, fresher than many of his rivals, may find this race is run to suit him.

Waady wears the second colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and has been discarded by retained rider Jim Crowley in favour of Muthmir whose fourth in this year's King's Stand behind Lady Aurelia suggests that, even though a seven-year-old, he is holding his form well.

However, William Haggas' fine stable servant is saddled with a penalty.

Recommended bets

2pts win Desert Encounter 2.15 Newbury at best morning price

1pt win Banksea in 3.25 Newbury at best morning price

1pt win Waady in 4.00 Newbury at best morning price

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