UK Horse Racing Tips: Newbury

All eyes will be on Sense Of Duty, who went through the first half of the 2022 campaign unbeaten in three races, culminating in a comprehensive defeat of last week's Portland hero Annaf in the Chipchase at Newcastle. Such a lengthy enforced spell on the sidelines has to be a concern, though, and match practice is on RAASEL's side, with Mick Appleby's speedster also proven over this trip. He was slightly disappointing at Doncaster last weekend, but finished ahead of Nymphadora when third in the King George at Glorious Goodwood.
Prediction : 1st Raasel 2nd Sense Of Duty 3rd Nymphadora

Rain-affected conditions could help SALT BAY recapture his sparkle because he made the frame in the Group 1 Criterium International on heavy ground as a two-year-old so a mark of 105 could be lenient for his handicap debut. Like the selection, Laafi began the season in a Classic trial and he has been gelded after a lacklustre Royal Ascot display. Valsad justified favouritism at Southwell's Racing League fixture and should have more to offer. Sea King was disappointing in the Old Borough Cup but will appreciate the slower surface, while Oneforthegutter almost sprung a surprise in last week's Mallard.
Prediction : 1st Salt Bay 2nd Laafi 3rd Valsad

Totnes is now 8lb higher than for last month's Chepstow success but the progressive daughter of Kingman merits respect, as does Balance Play, who could bounce back having been well held in a warm heritage handicap at York's Ebor Festival. However, the pair have each endured a harder campaign than LE MANS, who was able to shrug off an opening mark of 78 when winning at Salisbury. A 6lb rise is unlikely to halt further progress and the unexposed Kodiac filly gets the nod.
Prediction : 1st Le Mans 2nd Totnes 3rd Balance Play

Haatem failed to back up his Vintage Stakes win when down the field in the Gimcrack, but he sets the standard on official ratings and looks set to go well under his penalty. Array (third) is fancied to reverse Sirenia Stakes form with Seven Questions (second), but the vote goes to MISTER SKETCH. The form of his recent Salisbury romp is up for debate, but he has been bought by Wathnan Racing since and the fact he is pitched in at the deep end straight away might be indicative of the esteem in which he is held.
Prediction : 1st Mister Sketch 2nd Haatem 3rd Array

NATIONAL INTEREST, who cost 800,000 euros as a yearling, only found one too good in a valuable race at Deauville on his debut last month. The son of Kingman should only improve for that experience and could be hard to beat if doing so. New Chelsea and Trafalgar Square are others with valid form claims, while Feigning Madness is the pick of the newcomers.
Prediction : 1st National Interest 2nd New Chelsea 3rd Trafalgar Square

In an open event, marginal preference is for SPANISH STAR, who caught the eye twice over 6f at Goodwood last month. The step up in trip should help this eight-year-old and he is clearly on a workable mark right now. The unexposed Ben Hamrash has won two of his last three starts and is an obvious threat to the selection, while Razeyna and Pumalin Park are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Spanish Star 2nd Ben Hamrash 3rd Razeyna

MUDSKIPPER bounced back to form in impressive fashion when a clear winner at Salisbury at the beginning of the month and he is hard to oppose on the back of that performance, despite a 6lb rise in the ratings. The unexposed Welleef has to be of interest on his handicap debut, while Bodorgan edges out Golspie and Metal Merchant to be best of the rest.
Prediction : 1st Mudskipper 2nd Welleef 3rd Bodorgan