I will be at Newbury on Saturday but it's a day of top of the bill punting action at Ayr too!
Newbury 13:30, Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes
Rage Of Bamby 6/1, 1pt win
This doesn't look as hot a race as the Hackwood Stakes that Eve Johnson-Houghton's Rage Of Bamby won at this track earlier in the season. The daughter of Saxon Warrior seems to go on any ground and although the drop in trick asks questions of her, she's mightily pacy and was second over this trip at Ayr last September. Only last year's Sprint Cup hero Montassib comes out better at the weights and for me Rage Of Bamby looks the value here.
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Newbury 14:40, Dubai Duty Free Handicap
Almosh'her 5/1, 1pt win
Karl Burke's string is in mighty form and his runner here Almosh'her bids to bounce back here after a couple of poor placings. The son of Sea The Stars looked to have the world at his feat after winning on seasonal debut over 12 furlongs at York but disappointed badly at Royal Ascot and was subsequently gelded. He didn't run badly in the Ebor on his first run in 64 days and now drops back in trip which looks the right move considering his free going tendencies. I like the jockey booking of Jamie Spencer who should have a decent chance of settling the 4 year old on his first go at this 10 furlong trip. The slightly easier going may well also help a bit, especially over the trip for this strong stayer and he's not terribly handicapped considering he looked Group class earlier in his career.
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Newbury 16:25, Conundrum Consulting Handicap
Arctic Thunder 6/1, 1pt win
William Buick takes the ride on Ed Walker's runner Arctic Thunder in a bid to provide another weekend winner for the stable who sent out 2 winners at Doncaster on Sunday. The 4 year old son of Night Of Thunder hasn't managed to win yet for current connections but he's now just a pound above his last winning mark and showed enough at Haydock last time out to suggest he's capable of returning to the winner's circle. He's 2 pounds below the mark off which he finished 2nd at Haydock over 6 furlongs on seasonal debut and nothing much has gone right for him since as he keeps meeting trouble in running (badly last time out). The jockey booking is a real positive and he should be more at home on the wide expanses of Newbury's straight track.
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Ayr 13:15, Ladbrokes 'Free Bet At Ayr' Handicap
Mr King 8/1, 1pt win
Ian Jardine's Mr King has turned into a perplexing 5 year old and it's been a while since his last win. The son of Kingman is now 9 pounds lower than when 3rd in this race last year and is back on an easy surface. He ran into all sorts of trouble last time out and has just started hinting signs of a revival. He's at the right end of the handicap and goes well at the track.
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Ayr 14:25, Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup Handicap
Nariko 11/2, 1pt win
This is a strong renewal of the Silver Cup and there are plenty with chances but Hugo Palmer's 4 year old filly Nariko could be an unstoppable force here. The daughter of Night Of Thunder is unbeaten this year and has won 4 of her last 5 starts. A soft ground sprinting specialist, she's formed a good relationship with champion jockey Oisin Murphy who rides again. She's drawn well in stall 18 and could still have room to manoeuvre off her mark.
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Ayr 15:35, Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Handicap
Twilight Calls 16/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Milford 28/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
One of the big betting handicaps of the season, the Ayr Gold Cup is always a tricky race. Two Tribes must have a big chance again given his form on the big stage this year but top weight here is a tough burden. Northern Ticker will likely go off favourite but the revised mark and soft ground could be his undoing. Flash Harry is respected also, as is Strike Red who has been threatening to win one of these for a while. At bigger prices however, Twilight Calls makes some appeal. He ran a cracker to finish 4th in the Steward's Cup from a bad draw and can be forgiven a poor showing last time. The 7 year old son of Twilight Son will appreciate this easier surface and he's well weighted with Warren Fentiman claiming 5 pounds. At even bigger odds, Julie Camacho's Milford could go well. The 3 year old gelding finished 2nd in decent races at Ascot and Chester in the summer, shaping as though a fast run big field is what he needs to be seen to best effect. It's worth noting he was only headed late on when finishing 3rd of 17 at York in the Spring over 7 furlongs. This will also be the first time he's encountered soft ground this season. He won on soft ground on debut last year and ended his juvenile campaign by finishing 3rd at Listed level at York on an easy surface. Forgive him his run last time out as he was badly hampered early. The stable's in form and he's nicely drawn in stall 12.
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