Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Newmarket

Leg 1 Selections: Hi Royal, Holguin, Powerdress

The opener at HQ, a competitive Conditions Stakes, is set to be a hugely informative contest and I really like the chances of HI ROYAL from the Kevin Ryan team. 

This good-looking son of Kodiac has a lovely pedigree and ran a race full of promise when third on debut at York behind two next-time-out winners. 

He then comfortably opened his account at Ayr and Ryan Moore is booked to ride here. He could rank higher given his big-race entries and could be tough to beat. 

HOLGUIN was highly tried last season and whilst he couldn’t get to grips with Cold Case twice, he lost little in defeat and all of his form has a lot of substance. 

POWERDRESS hasn’t been seen since winning at this meeting last year and she holds plenty of nice entries as well, so she could be the surprise package. 

Leg 2 Selections: Juan Les Pins, Rebel Territory, Tacarib Bay 

A good-quality field will go to post for the National Stud Handicap and given the possible soft ground and fitness on his side, TACARIB BAY has to enter the equation, who was third in Balmoral Handicap at Ascot prior to a respectable third at Lingfield and has run well in both starts this year. 

The last time he competed here, which was his only previous visit, was when he contested the Group 1 2000 Guineas. He will be fitter than most, so under a likely positive ride back down in trip, he isn’t to be underestimated given he was touted to be a Group 1 horse by connections early last year. 

REBEL TERRITORY has plenty of pace, so the drop in trip ahead of his return looks favourable and he won on his reappearance last year plus he is back on that same winning mark here too. He gets on well with Jim Crowley, handles soft ground well and wasn’t beaten far on his final start last season at this venue. 

He is a leading contender, while JUAN LES PINS won four on the spin last year and was an excellent but equally unlucky third in the Ayr Gold Cup, where he would have won with a clear passage. He is another to consider with Tom Marquand in the saddle. 

Leg 3 Selections: Empirestateofmind, Raising Sand, Toshizou 

A wide-open race with plenty in with chances but EMPIRESTATEOFMIND has twice won on soft ground and ran well for a long way on his return in the Lincoln when seventh of 22. 

He fared very well under Taylor Fisher considering he was up with the early pace and stuck to the task well to not be beaten far and remains on the same mark here with Jason Hart reunited. 

John Quinn’s charge will be better equipped now with that latest return under his belt, which came after nearly six months off and he has to make the shortlist for his in-form handler. 

RAISING SAND is three pounds higher than when winning at Ascot in September but he has won and placed off much higher marks in the past and his latest fourth was encouraging to say the least. 

He was slow into stride but stayed on strongly to good effect in the closing stages and is on the same mark here with that run under his belt. If he gets away on level terms, he isn’t out of this at fair odds. 

TOSHIZOU travelled well before finishing midfield in the Lincoln at Doncaster and the assessor has dropped his mark a pound. This is easier, he will be fitter from that latest run and could surprise a few with more to come. 

Leg 4 Selections: Intellogent, Ottoman Fleet 

An open-looking renewal of the feature, the Earl Of Sefton Stakes, and I’ll take a chance on the outsider of the field INTELLOGENT, who ran some excellent races in defeat under big weights last season. 

He placed in the Royal Hunt Cup and John Smith's Cup in the summer and went close on his reappearance at this meeting last year, albeit in a handicap. He handles most ground and this race should be run to suit. He isn’t out of this despite his odds suggesting otherwise. 

OTTOMAN FLEET has a good record at Newmarket with two wins and a second and has made the frame in all three starts at Meydan this year. He absolutely trounced a decent field over 1m2f on soft ground here last October and is the choice of William Buick. 

Leg 5 Selections: Covey, Daarree

COVEY might have lost out to Zoology in a tight finish at Southwell two weeks ago but the pair pulled clear of the third and I assume that form will work out well. 

I think it was only inexperience that got him beat as he picked up strongly once the penny dropped and Frankie Dettori will take over in the saddle here. He has an excellent opportunity to go one better on turf debut. 

I’ll also add DAARREE who is Owen Burrows only runner on the card and Jim Crowley takes the ride. He is very well-bred and his trainer is in good form as well with plenty of his horses running well of late, so he could go well on debut, especially if the market speaks in his favour. 

Leg 6 Selections: Hackman, Yorkshire Terrier 

The final race on the preview is an interesting Novice Stakes race and Hugo Palmer’s HACKMAN is related to several winners and his trainer has done well with newcomers already this year, so he is of interest with James Doyle taking the ride, who is doing a great job for this stable. 

Charlie Johnston’s YORKSHIRE TERRIER is forced to defy a penalty against potentially top-class opponents but he had loads of speed to burn on debut, where he made all of the running and comfortably scored by three lengths. This is tougher but he is promising and shouldn’t be underestimated despite the presence of the rest.