Newmarket selections Sunday 4th May
Newmarket 2.55: Wild Waves & Story Horse
This handicap looks wide open despite only ten runners lining up, and two each-way bets looks the way to go.
WILD WAVES was a progressive stayer last season and there should be more to come from this stoutly bred gelding this season. He seems to love a galloping track and was particularly impressive when winning over this trip at Doncaster in early season, relishing the long home straight.
He also ran a cracker to be fourth in the Melrose at York’s Ebor meeting and was then pitched into the St Leger, and whilst he was not up to that level quite, he was only beaten 7l. Gelded over the winter, he admittedly made a poor comeback at Musselburgh last month, beating only two horses home. Perhaps he was in need of the run, found the going too slow, and possibly the track too sharp. He looks worth another chance here back on a more galloping track and faster going.
STORY HORSE probably lacks the class of a few of these, but this is a handicap and he creeps in here at the bottom of the weights. He too was quietly progressive last summer, winning races at Lingfield and Haydock, the latter over this distance.
He was tried in both the Cesarewitch Trial here, where he showed up well for a long way before fading late and the main race itself the following month, but looked a non stayer over 18f. His comeback run at Southwell last month was very encouraging beaten only 2l by the high class stayer Caballo de Mar. He should have improved for that and the going being very much on the fast side will be in his favour.
Newmarket 3.35: Desert Flower
The 1000 Guineas looks best left to the favourite DESERT FLOWER, especially as the Godolphin stable dominated the colts version yesterday.
Unbeaten in four starts last season, the latter was her first visit to the Rowley Mile where she comfortably disposed of January by 5l in the Fillies Mile to land a Group 1 at the first attempt. She proved herself on all going last season, but seemed to float off fast ground when winning a novice by a wide margin on the July Course. She also seemed a very strong stayer at a mile and could well stay at least 10f if given the chance this season.
Connections opted not to give her a trial race, but instead she worked at the Craven meeting, appearing to work exceptionally well on the track. She will no doubt have been trained solely for this race, whereas the longer term might have been more in mind for Lake Victoria and that could make the difference today.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Wild Waves – 2.55 Newmarket – 8/1 Ladbrokes
1pt each-way – Story Horse – 3.55 Newmarket – 15/2 Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 4)
2pts win – Desert Flower – 3.35 Newmarket – 11/8 general
