Joe McConnell
Declan Rix introduces the four horses he will run at Newbury on Saturday, including odds of 8/1 and 12/1 – watch the action live on Vscek Racing.
Go Daddy (Betting without Al Aasy) (1.50)
Read Declan’s full preview of the Geoffrey Freer Stakes in this detailed article, for more in-depth thoughts and to find out why Go Daddy could chase the big favourite.
Spanish Flame (3.00)
A field of 13 are bidding for this £25,770 to the winner race. It’s a fairly competitive race, as you might imagine, but there are plenty of exposed and older types declared and the three-year-old SPANISH FLAME It seems too expensive, around 14/1.
Progressive inmate Marcus Tregoning had his first two career starts at Newbury as a two-year-old, winning over 6f at the second attempt, but the son of Phoenix Of Spain has certainly improved this year, and a rating of 87 probably still underestimates him given the form of his two starts at Sandown this season.
Mount Teide (now rated 96; giving it 9 lbs) and For the Jarrah (now rated 104; which gives him 8lbs) were both behind Spanish Blaze in the first of those starts while Star of Power He gave a boost to his last engagement in Esher without winning, however.
Spanish Blaze returns relatively quickly after a solid third at Glorious Goodwood 16 days ago but his profile suggests he is a sturdy type who takes his runs well while the drop to 7f is an advantage, especially considering he is drawn alongside the likely pacesetter Levi lethal.
English Oak (3.35)
On paper, this year’s renewal of the Hungerford Stakes looks a bit of a tricky one. Not only are there only seven runners, but there’s no apparent pace on paper, not ideal in a field full of closers, some of whom can take a catch.
Teams like Jumby, Tiber Flow, Witch Hunter, Kikkuli and Folgaria like to take their time, to varying degrees, while Tiber Flow, Kikkuli and Folgaria know how to race with enthusiasm, especially in the case of the Juddmonte-owned favourite.
On the other hand, a horse that is good enough to win and an incredibly simple type is ENGLISH OAKand it is his professionalism that could bring him home more than anything else. Sometimes he can be a bit slow away from home, but he has a good initial tactical rhythm, he switches off and can pick up again.
He should give James Doyle a run for his money compared to some of his peers, and hopefully the progressive son of Wootton Bassett will be hard to beat.
At 14/1, I can’t resist betting on FOLGARIA which seems too expensive to have gone down to her ideal distance on the track (course and distance) where she achieved her best career result, in a race that proved to be a winning one.
Cyrus DiMarzio (5.15)
A good Class 3 to close out the Newbury Saturday card in a race that could be run at a healthy gallop. Should suit the dropping-in trip CYRUS OF MARTIUS who will also wear blinkers and a lingual frenulum for the first time.
The son of Justify was frustratingly caught home over 12f here 29 days ago, frustrating because he looked the winner until the final 50y, perhaps only to have stayed on longer. The winner and runner-up in that race both confirmed the form, encouraging for his chance here.
Even though there are only eight participants, it is an intriguing race, but the aids applied for the first time catch the attention of a high-level coach like Ralph Becket.
