Robin Goodfellow’s racing tips: Best bets for Saturday, May 18
Mail Sports racing expert Robin Goodfellow gives his tips for Friday’s meetings in Newbury, Newmarket, Thirsk, Uttoxeter, Bangor-On-Dee and Doncaster.
Mail Sport’s racing expert Robin Goodfellow gives his tips for Saturday’s meetings
NEWBURY
Robin Goodfellow
1.50 DESERT HERO (nap)
2.25 Elite status
3.00 Goodwood Odyssey
3.35 Charyn
4.10 Wiltshire
4.45 Metal dealer
5.15 Siyola
Gimcrack
1.50 Desert Hero
2.25 Relief rally
3.00 Chantilly
3.35 CHARYN (nap)
4.10 Wiltshire
4.45 Talis Evolvere
5.15 Siyola (NB)
NEWMARKET – 5.15 SIYOLA (nap)
NEW MARKET
Robin Goodfellow
1.30 Mountain breeze
2.05 Serene Seraph
2.40 Quinault (nb)
3.15 Repertoire
3.50 Precious jewel
4.25 Rebate
5.00 Epic Express
Gimcrack
1.30 Mountain breeze
2.05 So logical
2.40 Desert Agent
3.15 Big Blasket
3.50 Precious jewel
4.25 Alpine power
5:00 Jay Kay
NEWMARKET – 2.05 So logical (nb)
THIRST
Robin Goodfellow
2.00 Mademoiselle
2.35 Unspoken love
3.10 Muker
3.45 Ghost stories
4.20 Tinto
4.54 Cabrillo
5.30 Rayat
6.02 Jamie’s Choice
Gimcrack
2.00 Sands of Dubai
2.35 Wolkenstraat
3.10 Seantrabh
3.45 Los Toldos
4.20 Secret guest
4.54 New image
5.30 Star Shield
6.02 Outlook
UTTOXETER
Robin Goodfellow
5.20 Mattie Ross
5.55 Agility
6.30 Postchaise
7.03 Champagne superover
7.33 Bring the action
8.03 Orchestra
8:33 Stay with me, Sam
Gimcrack
5.20 Mattie Ross
5.55 Disco Daisy
6.30 Red Rookie
7.03 I take care of Allen
7.33 Pilgrim King
8.03 Thatza Dazzler
8.33 Jasmijn De Grugy
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Robin Goodfellow
3.55 Crystal tin
4.30 Escape glory
5.05 Goblet of Fire
5.40 Kansas City star
6.15 Boston Joe
6.50 Shandancer
Gimcrack
3.55 Iorangi De L’island
4.30 Escape glory
5.05 Oslo
5.40 A different kind
6.15 Fanfan du Seuil
6.50 Kerkman
DONCASTER
Robin Goodfellow
4.57 Mr. Zippi
5.35 Georgecandoit
6.07 Fiorella Princess
6.42 Kind of blue
7.15 Kerkella
7.50 Rathbone
8.20 Solar energy claim
8.50 Fog rolls in
Gimcrack
4.57 Mask of anarchy
5.35 Georgecandoit
6.07 The Dragon King
6.42 Nemov
7.15 Educator
7.50 Mythical Phoenix
8.20 Kodiac thriller
8.50 Strandpunt
Database – Your guide to Saturday afternoon’s action
WATCH OUT FOR…
Desert Hero (Newbury 1.50)
One of the most important horses in training. Desert Hero, owned by the King and Queen, won at Royal Ascot last season and then acquitted itself with great honors in the St Leger. Trainer William Haggas is considering entering the gelding into the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but a return trip to Royal Ascot is most likely on the agenda. He has to win this race.
Big Rock (Newbury 3.35)
He was an excellent miler last season and in October he ran away with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. He hasn’t run since, but he made headlines with his owners moving him from Christopher Head’s yard to Maurizio Guarnieri’s stable. None of the trainer’s last eleven runners have won. This is a good time to change things.
Jockey to follow
This is a big day in Newbury for Kieran Shoemark, who has been entrusted with riding John and Thady Gosden’s best horses since Frankie Dettori headed off into the sunset. Dettori will no doubt be keeping a close eye on how INSPIRAL – the filly he loved and partnered in 12 of her 13 races – stacks up in the Lockinge Stakes (3.35). Shoemark rounds out the card with a spin on the prized Siyola (5.15).
WHAT’S IN A NAME
Twelfth Night (4.20 Thirst)
Two twins, a shipwreck and a story full of chaos and confusion made this one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. Supporters of this gelding, trained by Paul Midgely and ridden by David Nolan, will hope his run through this race will be less dramatic. The five-year-old squeaks.
BIG DAY FOR…
Kevin Ryan managed to get Hi Royal into the picture last season at the 2000 Guineas. He is a big prize in the Lockinge Stakes (3.35) at Newbury, while his combination with Ryan Moore is usually profitable.
ROBIN GOODFELLOW – Best Bets
It was a hugely encouraging return from DESERT HERO (NAP) to finish a close second in the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes on his seasonal debut last month and he should relish this step back in the journey to 1m 4f in the Aston Park Stakes (Newbury). , 1.50). With the benefit of a recent run at main rival Middle Earth, the William Haggas-trained gelding is 3lb clear on rating and should win this before he can recapture Royal Ascot glory in the Hardwicke Stakes.
Later at Newmarket (2.40), the progressive QUINAULT (NB) returns to a track where he is unbeaten in his three races there. A seven-time winner last season, he beat subsequent group level winners Washington Heights and Mill Stream by over 6f before winning at Ascot by over 7f on his penultimate start. Luke Catton, who was on board for four wins last season, has lost a handy 5lb and should perform well on his return.
THE WIZARD OF OPPORTUNITIES
By Chris Bakker
2.25 Newbury
Last year’s Super Sprint and Lowther Stakes winner RELIEF RALLY (nap) made a pleasant return to action over seven furlongs at Newbury last month. She can take advantage of this drop in classes and travel. 7-2
2.40 Nieuwmarkt
Quinault had a great 2023, winning seven of his last nine races of the year. He proved equally effective over six and seven furlongs and is a three-time winner on the course. 15-2
3.00 Newbury
Black Run had a Dante entry and ran in a Class Three race on his return in 2024, showing he is well regarded by his connections. He won a Newmarket handicap last time. 9-1