Free horse racing selections for Sunday May 5
Keith Hamer takes Qabala to win the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and he has a tip for every race in the UK and Ireland.
NAP: Qabala 3.35 Newmarket
Next best: Veracious 2.20 Newmarket
Qabala created such a big impression when winning the Nell Gwyn Stakes that she is hard to oppose in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
It was no wonder the Roger Varian-trained filly leapt to the head of the ante-post market for Sunday's Classic after she showed a tremendous turn of foot to beat her stablemate Mot Juste.
The winning margin of three-quarters of a length did not really do her justice. She could easily have won by further, and more significantly she was not stopping at the end of the seven furlongs.
It is highly unlikely she has stopped improving either, because that was only her second racecourse appearance after making a winning debut over the course and distance in September.
Mot Juste could again her bustle up her stable companion and give the Varian team a day to remember.
Pick of the Irish could be the Joseph O'Brien-trained Iridessa, who had her finest hour when landing the Fillies' Mile over the course and distance in the autumn.
She will be much sharper for her recent run at Leopardstown, where she was third to Lady Kaya.
Veracious did not make the 1000 Guineas last year, but can compensate for that absence 12 months later in the Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes.
She did not run last season until the Royal meeting, where she shaped most encouragingly when third to the brilliant Alpha Centauri in the Coronation Stakes.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly ran well enough in two other Group One races, and got her reward in the Group Three Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.
She has little mileage on the clock and looks to have more to offer.
Stoute can also strike with Melting Dew in the Qatar Racing Handicap.
The Cacique gelding had some excellent form through the summer and can be forgiven a poor run at York on his final start of 2018.
Summerghand looked unlucky when failing by just a neck to peg back Flavius Titus in a competitive handicap at the Craven meeting, and can put the record straight by going one better in the Longholes Handicap for trainer David O'Meara.
Maqsad has a chance to stake her claim for Classic honours by taking the Tweenhills Pretty Polly Stakes.
The William Haggas-trained filly displayed battling qualities to deny Twist 'N' Shake by a short head when she made all over mile on this course last month.
That will have done her the power of good, and it looks like she will develop into a smart sort.
Haggas may also hit the target at Hamilton with Deputise, who made a promising seasonal debut when beaten just a head by Pizzicato at Lingfield.
The Kodiac colt won four times last term and can add to that tally in the Hamilton Park Racecourse New Hotel Tangerine Trees Conditions Stakes.
Sioux Frontier relished the step up to a mile and a half when successful at Musselburgh a month ago and is fancied to follow up in the Follow Us On Twitter @hamiltonparkrc Handicap.
That was his second start since being bought for 5,000 guineas to join Iain Jardine out of Richard Fahey's stable.
Sporting Life tips:
GOWRAN: 1.40 Snow Ocean, 2.10 Faerie Laws, 2.45 Annie Fior, 3.20 Could Be King, 3.55 Who's Steph, 4.30 Maria Christina, 5.05 Olly's Folly, 5.35 Solomons Seal.
HAMILTON: 1.30 Havana Go, 2.05 Deputise, 2.35 Rare Groove, 3.10 Sioux Frontier, 3.45 Buccaneers Vault, 4.20 Al Hadeer, 4.55 Majeste.
NEWMARKET: 1.50 Melting Dew, 2.20 Veracious, 2.55 Summerghand, 3.35 QABALA (NAP), 4.10 Electrical Storm, 4.45 Maqsad, 5.20 Never Do Nothing.
DOUBLE: Qabala and Veracious.
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