ITV Racing Newmarket Preview Thursday
THE CRAVEN MEETING CONTINUES FROM NEWMARKET! 6 more races live on Thursday on ITV from Newmarket and Cheltenham. Includes previews and main dangers.
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
ITV Racing Preview Thursday Schedule
1.50 Newmarket Each Way Extra bet365 Handicap (Class 2) 6f
2.05 Cheltenham NAF Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m1f
2.25 Newmarket bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes (Class 3) 1m
2.40 Cheltenham Citipost Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) 2m41/2f
3.00 Newmarket bet365 Abernant Stakes (Group 3) 6f
3.35 Newmarket bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3) 1m
ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50) at bet365. Offer applies to first single bet placed.
Applies to Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.
Newmarket 1.50 Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap (Class 2) 6f
Any of about 3 or 4 could win this but CAIRN ISLAND is the one I’ve come down on for Kevin Ryan and Andrea Atzeni. This son of Kodiac carries Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s silks and he looked progressive as a 2yo before finishing midfield at Doncaster. He remains open to further improvement on return and should run a big race at decent odds. A mark of 91 should be within reach and a strong pace set by potentially Bravado and Creative Force would play into his hands.
Jumby impressed winning on debut at Ascot and wasn’t disgraced in two starts at Newbury but I don’t think a drop back to 6f is what he needs. I can see him running on well when the race has already developed. Might be one to watch later in the season. Significantly is clearly talented but can be a bit quirky so could win this but will need to keep a lid on things and obviously improve from his comeback run.
Cheltenham 2.05 NAF Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m1f
Plenty of Cheltenham and Aintree Festival form advertised in this especially with the selection SCHOLASTIC who was third behind Boodles winner Jeff Kidder last week at Fairyhouse. She may not be as classy as some of these but she gets plenty of weight from her main rivals and I think she is better than his mark of 121 and has a decent chance here. I thought she’d be a bit shorter than 9/4 so I’ve taken the early prices in a hope she gets backed in the run up to the race.
Fiveandtwenty is a horse we really like and was far from disgraced behind the classy Monmiral at Aintree but a week turnaround from that run might be a bit much to carry top weight in this. It will be interesting to see how she runs though with an eye to the future. Table Mountain is also worth a second look.
Newmarket 2.25 bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes (Class 3) 1m
The Wood Ditton is always a bit of a guessing game given they’re making their debuts but the market usually gives an indication as to which horses are more forward than others. Charlie Appleby has won 2 of the last 5 renewals with Hawkbill and Key Victory and he has another good chance here with VALIANT PRINCE. This colt by Dubawi cost 200,000 guineas as a yearling and is a full brother to Narak and a half-brother to Klassique. He should know his job and is worth siding with at the top of the betting.
Ironside catches the eye costing a whopping 500,000 guineas as a yearling. He is a half-brother to Raven’s Cry and is well related himself but I get the impression he might be a longer-term project. Kingman colt Kingsofthemidlands is also well related and has to be respected. Nagano could also get competitive so the market is very much worth noting here.
Cheltenham 2.40 Citipost Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) 2m41/2f
Not the best renewal of this race and I thought Molly Ollys Wishes had a huge chance even with top-weight but she’s been declared a non runner now so I’ve had to look elsewhere. Sexy Lot is the market leader but I was put off by the trends as the last 8 runnings of this race have been won by horses older than 5 years (she is a 5yo). BOURBON BEAUTY was the one I eventually came down on. She has won 2 of her last 3 and beat a good yardstick in Marada at Newbury last time. She is a tricky one for the handicapper to assess as she only seems to do enough and I don’t think they’ve reached the bottom of her yet.
Flemensfirth mare Regarding Ruth impressed last month and I marked her down as one to follow next time but an 8lb rise in a race as strong as this asks another question so while I think she’ll go well I haven’t ended up backing her. The fav and Eglantine Du Seuil complete the shortlist. The latter was previously smart but has enough to prove at present.
Newmarket 3.00 bet365 Abernant Stakes (Group 3) 6f
Things didn’t work out for OXTED in Saudi Arabia but he still has plenty of potential. He won this last year before going on to win the July Cup and he is hard to oppose back on a sound surface. Conditions will be ideal and I think we’ll see the horse that was so impressive last season. He is odds-on at the time of writing and I don’t expect him to get any bigger. He is rated 120 so on official ratings has 11lb in hand of these with Summerghand the closest rival.
Emaraaty Ana finished ahead of Summerghand when runner-up on return at Doncaster and might pose the main threat. He was keen that day too so if he settles better than will give him more of a chance to give the fav a race. Exalted Angel would also have a squeak if as effective on turf.
Newmarket 3.35 bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3) 1m
A race that is the starting point for plenty of top class 3 year olds and there is a chance that one of these could go right to the top but I am not sold on this year’s renewal yet. I am going to take the opportunity to back DEVILWALA at a decent price and I do think the favourite is opposable at a much shorter price. The selection has form behind St Mark’s Basilica from his Dewhurst run which suggests he and the favourite aren’t far apart but my selection is 4 times the price. They clearly think a lot of him as they sent him over to Keeneland for the the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. He did miss the break which cost him that day and I expect a big run to start his campaign (won on debut last year).
Master Of The Seas has fitness on his side from Meydan as does Imperial Sands who is improving with every run and is interesting on turf for the first time. They look the two dangers to the selection in a competitive renewal of the Craven.
ITV Racing Each Way Double
With 6 races live on ITV Racing on Thursday afternoon we have picked out two horses at decent odds we can see running well. If both place we should still make some nice profit so they’re worth including.
ITV Racing Win Treble
We also have a Win Treble on Thursday afternoon. These are three horses we fancy strongly running live on ITV Racing. All 3 have to win for this to land (unlike a trixie).
ITV Racing Win Treble
Cheltenham 2.05 Scholastic EYE CATCHER
Newmarket 2.25 Valiant Prince
Newmarket 3.00 Oxted
Pays 16/1!