Newmarket selections Sunday 5th May
The final day of the Guineas meeting at Newmarket and we have an unusually open 1000 Guineas with many bookies going 4/1 the field at present. I have one selection for the big race, plus two for the preceding handicap on the card. We had a frustrating day yesterday with second places in all four races chosen. However as they were all each-way bets we did get a decent return on the day with placings overall for Apollo One (sp 11/1), Dutch Decoy (advised 7/1), Majestic (advised 7/1), Your Own Story (SP 13/2), Cruz Control (5/1) and Better Times Ahead (advised 6/1)
Newmarket 3.00: Vaguely Royal & Bague D’Or
Two horses near the bottom of the weights are fancied here.
VAGUELY ROYAL has been busy all winter on the All Weather and ran very well in the two big 2m contests in March at Lingfield and Newcastle. He responded well to cheekpieces, but gave the impression that he possibly did not quite see out the full distance.
This 14f trip should be ideal and he looks the sort to improve with age. He did have decent form on fast ground turf last season, winning a novice at Doncaster before finishing seventh in the Melrose at York. He was a bit free that day having had a break to be gelded, but he should settle better today having been on the go on sand. He has already proved effective on this track having finished second over 10f here early last season.
Preference though is for the lightly raced 6yo BAGUE D’OR. He was very progressive on fast ground back in 2022, winning at Newmarket and Ascot in style before a good second at Glorious Goodwood to subsequent Ebor winner Trawlerman, all over this 14f trip.
Sadly injury then kept him off the track for over a year. However he came back looking as good as ever when finishing second in a similar contest to this at York’s Ebor meeting. He was not quite as good on his next start at Doncaster, but the ground had gone against him and he was kept fresh in the autumn to avoid the deeper ground he does not enjoy. He has an excellent record first time out and connections have taken the trouble to book Mikael Barzalona for the mount today.
Newmarket 3.40: Fallen Angel
Probably the stand out juvenile filly last season, FALLEN ANGEL has the scope to train on as a 3yo and can land the 1000 Guineas to provide upwardly mobile trainer Karl Burke with a first English Classic.
She was unbeaten in three races on good ground last season, her only defeat coming on soft at Sandown to Shuwari who would have been a leading contender herself but for injury. However she won with authority on fast ground in the Sweet Solera on the July Course here before taking her first Group 1 in the Moyglare at the Curragh.
She stayed the 7f well in all four races last season and should have no issue with the extra furlong as he dam Agnes Stewart stayed beyond that distance and sire Too Darn Hot was a strong stayer at a mile. Quickening ground has to be in her favour too.
Recommended bets:
0.5pts each-way – Vaguely Royal – 3.0 Newmarket – 14/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Bague D’Or– 3.0 Newmarket – 11/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Fallen Angel – 3.40 Newmarket – 4/1 general (1/5 odds 1st 4)
