Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald's fine fancies at Newmarket
Mick Fitzgerald’s Newmarket Tips:
Newmarket 14:15 – Heredia
Newmarket 14:50 – Spirit of Light (each-way)
Newmarket 15:25 – Jimi Hendrix
Newmarket 16:00 – Twilight Calls
Newmarket 16:40 – Little Big Bear
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Trainer Richard Hannon won the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot with Heredia last year with a bit of authority and a bold show has to be expected. She won first time out last season at York too so maybe she is just better when fresh? Conditions are ideal and the Hannon yard have started the season with an excellent strike rate. Queen Olly is better than she showed at the track last time when finishing behind the same owners Mamas Girl (big 1,000 Guineas fancy) in the Nell Gwyn. Jockey Kevin Stott chose her over the winner that day and she must have been showing plenty at home for him to do that.
Ian Williams has booked James Doyle for Spirit of Light who ran in Dubai over the winter and will handle the faster ground at Newmarket. The cheek pieces have been fitted for the first time and I fancy him to run a big race as he has race fitness on his side. Tanmawwy is a player and William Buick is aboard for trainer Charlie Hills. It’s the second time in a fortnight Hills has booked Buick and the first one won.
He was second to Bernardo O’Reilly on soft ground at Newbury and should appreciate being back on a sound surface. With that run under his belt he ticks a lot of boxes at the head of the market.
A winner last time at Newbury after flopping in the Lincoln at Doncaster and that Spring Mile Handicap throws up its fair share of winners throughout the season. Jimi Hendrix has won at the July course but not here on the Rowley mile at Newmarket. He will handle the quicker ground very well too.
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Trainer Henry Candy very rarely books Ryan Moore to ride his horses so it’s noteworthy now that he does for Twilight Calls. He was a good winner first time up at the track last season and while this Group 3 contest is more difficult there’s a lot of positives about his chances.
This is a mouth-watering contest for the season’s first Classic, the 2,000 Guineas. It’s fantastic that Aidan O’Brien runs two of last season’s star two-year-old’s in Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear who won the 6f Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh by seven lengths. Auguste Rodin easily won the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster over the mile and the race may just come down to fitness and the ability to handle Newmarket’s unique Rowley Mile track. Auguste Rodin could be the Epsom Derby horse of the pair next month, but Little Big Bear could have the tools for this test.
He was so impressive when winning the Phoenix Stakes when blitzing the field and also won the 5f Windsor Castle Stakes over 5f on fast ground. He’s versatile and handles a fast surface. Chaldean blotted his copybook unseating Frankie Dettori out of the stalls at Newbury. Indestructible looked good winning the Craven Stakes at this venue so you know he handles the track and has to be respected.
I’m siding with Ballydoyle and Little Big Bear to land another English Classic.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Newmarket Tips:
Newmarket 14:15 – Heredia
Newmarket 14:50 – Spirit of Light (each-way)
Newmarket 15:25 – Jimi Hendrix
Newmarket 16:00 – Twilight Calls
Newmarket 16:40 – Little Big Bear
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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