Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Newbury & Newmarket Tips
SATURDAY RACING TIPS
Newbury 12.50 – Aston Park Stakes
I’m going with Al Aasy (4/1) here.
He was really good on his return at Sandown when running over a trip that is sharp enough (10f).
In the paddock beforehand he looked as if he would tighten up for a run. William Haggas felt he would improve for a start as well.
So, if he has taken a step forward, getting his optimal conditions at Newbury should make him hard to beat.
He loves the track, the ground is absolutely ideal and he’s a strong-travelling horse – if he is fitter this time round I think he can back that recent Sandown victory up.
He’s the type of horse that, once he gets on a bit of a roll, he can rack up some wins back-to-back. He has everything going for him.
Megan’s Tip: Al Aasy WIN
Newmarket 1.05 – Read Megan Nicholls’ Blog at BetMGM.co.uk Handicap
Dark Tornado (11/2) has had a good start to the season since joining this yard. The gelding operation seems to have helped him as well.
He went well at Leicester recently and that’s no bad thing in that he will clearly handle the dip fine; running downhill at Newmarket and running downhill at Leicester is not too dissimilar, both finishes hit the rising ground.
I think he is going the right way and is open to further progression. He’s more honest than Waleefy (5/2 fav), who I just can’t quite work out.
I’m not sure he puts everything in, which is why I’ve gone against him. There are bits of form and lots of promise amongst plenty of his runs, but I’m not totally sure you can rely on him.
So I’m going against the favourite and it’s Dark Tornado for me, who is heading in the right direction.
Megan’s Tip: Dark Tornado WIN
Newbury 1.25 – Carnarvon Stakes
Ides Of March (13/8 fav) looks the worthy favourite here.
He ran well on return and was just run down late on by Whistlejacket, who is a solid and proven Group One performer.
He was pretty exceptional at two and I thought he did well to finish so close to him.
Obviously he’s now running in Group Three. He came up short a couple of times at the very top last year but this looks an ideal race for him.
I do think we can see this horse improving throughout the season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him operating at a higher level later in the year.
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien are absolutely flying at the moment. The horses are in unbelievably good form.
He seems quite straightforward in the way that he can be ridden. The ground being quick at Newbury will favour the horses ridden fairly handy on the sprint track.
There is nobody better on the front end than Ryan Moore and I think he will be giving this horse a positive ride and he will be right up there in the speed – I can’t see anything else going past him.
There is an each-way chance in Berkshire Whisper (10/1), who was last seen at Newcastle. He’s switching back to the turf but he’s been improving and improving quite quickly.
I know connections have got the Commonwealth Cup in the back of their mind for this horse if proven good enough. This is the next step towards that.
He will have to register a career-best performance but he’s going in the right direction. If they really do feel as if he’s good enough to go up through the grades, then he wants to be competitive here.
He might just be overpriced.
Megan’s Tip: Ides Of March WIN; Berkshire Whisper EW
Newbury 2.00 – London Gold Cup
I am going for Nebras (11/2) for the Gosdens and Hollie Doyle.
This horse has always promised plenty but has been a little disappointing on occasions. That said, I’m sure there is a big race in him.
He’s got a great pedigree and looked a pretty solid performer at Group Two. He’s come back this season with two promising enough runs.
I thought he was better at Newmarket when up to this trip and this track might suit him a bit better. Whether he quite handled Newmarket on the quicker ground or not leaves a little question mark to me but going back to a Flat like Newbury could really suit him.
I think a good honest gallop will help him and there is more to come from. Ultimately, he’s probably more exposed than one or two others but he has been running in some pretty hot races at a high enough level.
He’s coming out of stall five, which should be a nice pitch. Hollie is a positive rider and that will suit this horse and race as well. She has got the ideal draw to be positive from the start to get a nice prominent position.
Conditions should be ideal, the horses from the yard have been in decent enough form and I think this could be a nice opportunity for him. I like his chances.
Another option is Saddadd (9/2), who is fairly unexposed. He switches to a handicap now and ran a nice race at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance behind Gethin of Owen Burrows, who I think is an extremely talented horse and was going to be one of my bigger-priced Derby selections before he got a setback.
Saddadd ran pretty well to finish three lengths behind him – the fact he’s had a run is no harm at all.
Roger Varian’s horses can take a step forward from their reappearance runs and he is unexposed, at a workable mark, and could register more improvement.
There will be support for him and he might be a shorter price on the day.
Megan’s Tip: Nebras WIN; Saddadd EW
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation