Newbury selections Saturday 16th May
The big meetings continue with Newbury staging arguably their biggest day’s flat card in the calendar, featuring the only Group 1 of the season at the Berkshire track, the Lockinge. I have a selection for the big race, but on a cracking card also have bets in three other handicaps. Rahiebb gave us a winner in the Yorkshire Cup yesterday (4/1).
Newbury 2.35: Damysus
A real flashy type, DAMYSUS was threatening to not fulfil his undoubted potential when trailing home last in the 2025 Derby. However he has since been reinvented as a horse over shorter and can successfully transition down to a mile today.
With Ballydoyle putting in a pacemaker, there is surely no doubt that a strong gallop is likely and that will help Damysus who benefitted from a strong pace when making a sparkling comeback in the Group 3 Earl of Sefton at Newmarket last month. That was his second consecutive 9f win at Newmarket, a track that relies on early speed, so I have every confidence this colt can cope with a further step back in distance.
This Frankel colt has plenty of scope and he is probably only now giving his best performances now he has grown into his frame.
Newbury 3.45: Sahara King
Although beaten in both starts this campaign, SAHARA KING has demonstrated massive promise in both and having now had this required three starts, qualifies for this big prize. I strongly suspect the benefit of those recent experiences will come home to roost today.
A narrow and unexpected winner on debut at Wolverhampton last autumn, he was pitched into one of the most competitive novices so far this season over this course and distance last month. He kept on strongly from the rear that day to get within 1l of Derby hopeful Maltese Cross.
He surely also came from too far back at Newmarket last time in a small field, but again showed more than enough late on to suggest a current mark of 95 is fair and in a bigger field and likely stronger pace he can be seen to better effect. It would be no surprise to see him ridden a bit more handily to get involved here as well.
Newbury 4.20: Addison Grey & Desert Cop
This 6f handicap sees Mirabeau and Addison Grey renew rivalries having finished first and second here at the opening fixture last month. ADDISON GREY is a pound better off today and that, plus likely slightly faster ground leaves me to believe he can turn the tables today.
The grey has since run a fine second on Guineas day at Newmarket, beaten only by a group horse in waiting in Double Rush. Winner of three of his six starts last season, gelding has clearly been a help to him and he has only gone up 2lbs for those two fine efforts, so remains very feasibly handicapped today.
At much bigger odds a small each-way venture on DESERT COP looks in order. He has been kept busy and fit running in Bahrain all winter. When raced over 6f he put in some good efforts and although his last win came over the minimum trip, 6f is surely his optimum – his biggest success coming in the 6f race on 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket a couple of seasons ago.
Having been always outpaced over 5f on his British comeback at Nottingham, he was right in the mix at Windsor on Monday, eventually finishing third. I think a flat, fast 6f suits him ideally and there is every chance he can outrun his odds today.
Newbury 5.00: Bullet Point
Although disappointing on his comeback at Newmarket recently, BULLET POINT can be excused that effort on his first start for six months since an unsuccessful journey Down Under last season.
He should be more ready to go today and this prominent racer should enjoy this track where racing handily is a positive.
He enjoyed a stellar 2025 season, racking up four handicap wins on all sorts of going from the All Weather to soft to fast ground. The latter came on rattling fast going at York’s Ebor meeting from a mark of 100, prompting William Haggas to take the unusual step of racing him again just two days later at the same fixture in a Group 3.
Whilst that effort did not work out, he showed the regard this horse was held in. If he can bounce back to form today, his mark is still only 4lbs higher than for that last win and he can still use this race as a stepping stone back into pattern class.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Damysus – 2.35 Newbury – 4/1 general
1pt each-way – Sahara King – 3.45 Newbury – 5/1 William Hill (1/4 odds 1st 3)
1pt win – Addison Grey – 4.20 Newbury – 7/2 general
0.5pts each-way – Desert Cop – 4.20 Newbury – 20/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Bullet Point – 5.00 Newbury – 7/1 Boylesports, Betway (1/5 odds 1st 4)
