13:30 Betway British EBG Fillies’ Novice Stakes
WIN: BEFORE DAWN SP
EACH-WAY: DULCET SPIRIT SP
The opening content is a 6f novices’ race confined to two-year-old fillies.
On breeding, the Charlie Appleby-trained Before Dawn makes plenty of appeal on debut. Her sister, Althiqa, was precocious enough to win on debut for the same connections and this speedily-bred daughter of Dark Angel may be just as quick.
Appleby also has a 30 per cent strike rate with two-year-olds on the Rowley Mile over the last five years, so any money that comes for her should be closely monitored.
The same goes for the James Tate filly, Dulcet Spirit, or the George Boughey-trained Cachet. The latter has made a fantastic start to this season with his two-year-olds.
14:05 Betway Fairway Stakes
WIN: JOHN LEEPER 11/8
EACH-WAY: TASMAN BAY 6/1
There is a select but strong field of six for this Listed race over 1m 2f.
The most interesting of those is the recent Newcastle winner John Leeper – who is by Frankel and out of Oaks winner Snow Fairy. The Ed Dunlop-trained three-year-old only had one run at two, where he stayed on well at Doncaster over 7f.
He was stepped up to 1m 2f for a novices’ race at Newcastle on his next, where he scythed through the field to run away by four lengths, showing his potential to be a high-class horse. He is currently a 16/1 shot with Betway for the Derby in three weeks’ time and victory here could see that price halve.
Flyin’ High is two from two this season for Betway ambassador Andrew Balding and looks as though he will appreciate the step up in trip.
Tasman Bay is another interesting runner for trainer Sir Mark Todd. He was a very impressive winner at Newcastle at the end of March before chasing home Dante Stakes winner Hurricane Lane in a conditions race at Newbury, with the fourth, River Alwen, going out and winning next time. He must go close under David Probert, who is Balding’s regular second rider.
14:40 Betway King Charles II Stakes
WIN: BELLOSA 13/8
EACH-WAY: BELLISSIME 22/1
This is the second of two Listed races on the card, this time run over 7f.
All eyes will be on recent Newmarket winner Bellosa, who landed a huge gamble on debut after being backed in from 25/1 to 7/2, bolting up by seven lengths.
The contest did, admittedly, lack depth and may not turn out to be a vintage maiden race, but all the signs of a very good horse were there. If she’s improved from her first run, she could be very tough to beat under Richard Kingscote.
Cloudbridge was an easy winner on debut at Leicester last season and went off an even-money favourite for the Acomb Stakes at York in August, but finished dead last, 17 lengths back. He was dropped to 6f on his next start at Kempton where he was narrowly beaten by a nose. He certainly needs this 7f trip and, if the gelding operation he had at the back end of last season has made a difference, then he will be a major player here.
It could also be worth paying close attention to Bellissime. Kevin Ryan has made no secret of how highly he regards this horse, uncharacteristically deciding to start her off in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes.
She was beaten on her second start but stepped to 7f on her seasonal return, making light work of a field at Chelmsford. While this may come a start too soon in her career, there’s no doubt she has plenty of ability.
15:15 Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap
WIN: JUMBY 3/1
EACH-WAY: PEROTTO 5/1
EACH-WAY: TANFANTIC 22/1
There are 17 runners declared for this Class 2 race over 6f.
William Buick has a very strong book of rides and the best of them could be Jumby, who is trained by Eve Johnson Houghton. Plenty of punters will remember his last run at Newmarket where he suffered plenty of traffic but stayed on very well and was clearly the best horse in the race. The winner that day, Creative Force, went on to win again two weeks later.
Jumby has the best two-year-old form in the book out of all of these and, if he runs a similar race to last time, will be very tough to beat.
Perotto finished second on his only start this season won’t mind any rains that falls. Talented young rider Ray Dawson has his first ride for Group 1-winning trainer Marcus Tregoning.
Tanfantic ran very well on his comeback at Ascot last weekend and has been dropped 2lb. He has first-time blinkers on and, if the market speaks in his favour, then ignore him at your peril.
15:50 Betway Handicap
WIN: AMETIST SP
EACH-WAY: PISTOLETTO SP
EACH-WAY: CORVAIR SP
This 7f handicap is for horses rated 0-95.
William Haggas has had a superb start to the season and Ametist – who is two from three in his career – is likely to be a short-priced favourite following his ready success at Wetherby last time. He is going to be a tough nut to crack, especially off a mark of 87 which could heavily underestimate his ability.
There are, however, a number of other horses in the race who could be better value for a place than the favourite is to win.
Pistoletto will appreciate his return to turf for local trainer John Ryan. He was once trained by Aidan O’Brien and ran in plenty of good two-year-old races, but clearly hasn’t been easy to train. Ryan has given him some recent runs on the all-weather and this return to grass could spark a revival.
Corvair is a very lightly raced four-year- old for the father-and-son combination of Simon and Ed Crisford. He’s not been at his best in two starts this calendar year, but his run at Goodwood last summer was very good and a reproduction of that could see him get involved under Pat Dobbs.
16:25 Betway Fillies’ Novice Stakes
WIN: SAYYIDA SP
EACH-WAY: MELLOW MAGIC SP
EACH-WAY: DIVINE COMEDY SP
William Buick may have ridden a handful of winners by the time this race comes around and Sayyida could give him another in his quest to become champion jockey.
The daughter of Dubawi was well beaten on her debut at Newmarket but did improve to finish second at Nottingham on her next start. She is the half-sister to 2018 Derby winner Masar who appreciated going up to this trip, and she could benefit in the same way.
Mellow Magic, trained by Betway ambassador Andrew Balding, has been placed on both her career starts to date and running to the same form would see her challenge at the business end of the race. However, she does seem the type who will be winning races when she gets into handicaps.
That also applies to the once-raced Divine Comedy, who should run on well at the end of the race. She could be one for your notebooks.
17:00 Read Andrew Balding On Betway Insider Handicap
EACH-WAY: ROYAL BIRTH SP
EACH-WAY: MINHAAJ SP
William Buick is aboard Saaheq, who is likely to be the favourite for this 5f sprint that is the last race of the day. He’s been ultra-consistent of late, not finishing outside the top four in his last eight starts.
However, the seven-year-old is now running off a mark that he is yet to win off since 2019. Could this be one rise too many for Amanda Perrett’s horse?
At bigger prices, Royal Birth is still dangerously well-handicapped on his turf mark based on his all-weather mark. You can put a line through his recent run at Ascot, where it all went wrong at the start, but this horse was once rated 102 on the turf and runs off a mark of 80 here.
Minhaaj was very keen on his seasonal return at Goodwood and, despite travelling well into the final stages, that put paid to his chances. If he settles better, he could play a big part off his mark of 80.
Visit Betway's horse racing betting page.