Steve Ryder has ten tips for Saturday racing including a 25/1.
13:45 Newmarket
More Thunder beat ARAMRAM (best priced at 13/2) and WOODHAY WONDER (best priced at 9/2) over this course and distance on good to soft ground but that form can be reversed on this faster ground. Aramram runs from 3lbs “well in” at the weights off an unchanged mark which will give him a good opportunity of reversing form with More Thunder with a 5lb swing in the weights.
Woodhay Wonder has a superb record at the Newmarket Rowley Mile course with form figures of 1113 with two of those victories coming on good to firm ground. She ran as if she needed the run on her reappearance after 207 days off the track and both look sure to be involved in the finish with four places widely available.
1:45 Newmarket- Woodhay Wonder 9/2 (0.5pt ew) & Aramram 13/2 (0.5pt ew)
14:20 Newmarket
Despite running from 2lbs “out of the handicap”, DUTCH DECOY (best priced at 10/1) should hold strong claims at a track that he has a good record in. The Charlie Johnston trained eight-year-old has won three times and placed three times at both Newmarket tracks including victories off marks of 90 and 87.
Dutch Decoy runs here off a mark of 85 so he is clearly well handicapped and he ran well to finish 5th beaten only 3 ½ lengths on his reappearance when ridden by a 3lb claimer. With Joe Fanning, who has won on him twice, back on board, he should run well with four places widely available.
14:55 Newmarket
This looks an open renewal of the Group 3 Palace House Stakes but preference goes to RUMSTAR (best priced at 13/2) who won over the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes over this course and distance as a two-year-old. Jonny Portman has started the turf season in good form and this five-year-old is unexposed over this minimum distance.
Rumstar finished 5th beaten only ½ length in the Portland Handicap over 5½f off a mark of 101 before beating the reopposing Beautiful Diamond by two lengths at Ascot in the listed Rous Stakes in October on unfavoured soft ground. With a rating of 107, he should be involved in the finish with four places widely available.
16:15 Punchestown
Gordon Elliott had Teahupoo and Cashedale Lad win at the festival over the last couple of days and I feel MINELLA CROONER (best priced at 25/1) is overpriced bidding to repeat his victory in this race last season. The nine-year-old won this race by a head last season on soft ground off a mark of 142 and following three below par runs since this season he has dropped back down to the same mark.
The better ground is a slight question mark for Minella Crooner but it doesn’t look the strongest contest and he can outrun his odds.
16:40 Newmarket
It was a remarkable performance from THE DRAGON KING (best priced at 13/2) to win over this course and distance on his final start last season and I am hoping he can replicate that performance off a 6lb higher mark. The Clive Cox trained three-year-old was slowly away under William Buick that day but stayed on strongly to win by a length at the finish.
The Dragon King has been gelded over the winter and was a NR when scheduled to make his reappearance on good to soft ground in April. This fast ground should be perfect for him and he can follow up under William Buick for the stable who won it last year with James’s Delight.
17:15 Newmarket
David Menuisier has started this turf season in good form and it looks worth taking a chance that ROCKIN’ THE BOAT (best priced at 9/2) can make a winning handicap debut. The three-year-old ran with credit on her three starts last seasons when behind the 101 rated Tabiti, 106 rated Zanzoun, 100 rated Flight and 91 rated (won again since) Verse Of Love with two of those runs coming at Newmarket.
Rockin’ The Boat now makes her handicap debut off a mark of 80 so she looks well handicapped and it seems significant that connections have booked Ryan Moore for the ride. She is one of the least exposed in the field and can get off the mark in this race.
17:50 Newmarket
CRACK SHOT (best priced at 4/1) won this race last season off a mark of 87 when trained by Ed Walker and he can follow up again this year off the same mark. The five-year-old justified favouritism last season by a length before running with credit at Sandown when 4th off a mark of 92 on his next start.
Crack Shot was sent off 11/8 favourite to make a winning stable debut for Daniel & Claire Kubler at Kempton but he could only finish 3rd off this mark. This switch back to turf should suit him and he looks the one to beat with William Buick deputising on board.
13:10 Newmarket
UNEQUAL LOVE (best priced at 10/11) won this race last season on her reappearance and she is a worthy market leader to repeat that success. The William Haggas trained five-year-old won the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot off a mark of 102 on good to firm ground so she has no concerns around trip, track, ground or her ability to perform fresh so she looks the one to beat.
A saver is also recommended on VADREAM (best priced at 9/1) who ran well to finish 2nd by a head in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at this meeting last season. She went on to perform well to finish 4th only beaten 1 ¾ lengths in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock and can step forward from her reappearance run at Bath. She is second top rated off 104 and looks the biggest danger to the favourite.
1:10 Newmarket- Unequal Love 10/11 (1pt) & Vadream 9/1 (0.5pt ew)
