We had yet another winner with our tips last week, as Ebt’s Guard won at Ascot at 13/2. Let’s hope the good form continues this week, with a couple of selections in the group races on Newbury’s excellent card, including a strong fancy in the opener.
1:50 Newbury – PINHOLE (2/1 generally)
The Geoffrey Freer Stakes has been a race for favourites in recent years – seven of the last nine winners were sent off as favourite, including each of the last four renewals. It’s also a race that has typically gone to the younger generation, with five of the last eight being won by three-year-olds. With that in mind, it’s difficult to get away from this year’s market leader, PINHOLE.
Ralph Beckett has his yard in flying form of late, and his three-year-old should have a huge chance of winning the opener on Saturday. Pinhole has only had the five races to date, but has some excellent form to show already, including a comfortable victory at Ascot last time out. With cheekpieces added for the first time, he finished over five lengths ahead of the runner-up, with the suggestion that he is well up to the task of winning a group race soon enough.
The cheekpieces remain on for this, and I think he has a huge chance. The danger looks set to be Epic Poet, but he receives 9lbs from that rival due to his age allowance, which should be more than enough to swing this in his favour. I think Pinhole is one of the standout bets on Saturday, and hopefully he can get us off to a flying start!
3:35 Newbury – WITNESS STAND (9/2 generally)
The last ten winners of this race came into it with a rating of 106+, so with that in mind I’m more than happy to take on the market leader More Thunder, who has an official rating of 103. Looking through the field to see who to take him on with, the one I keep coming back to is WITNESS STAND.
The four-year-old put in a career best effort to win a messy Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time out, but he won that nicely and he seems to be improving with each run. He’s been a revelation since cheekpieces were fitted – his record over seven furlongs in the UK since they were fitted reads 121621, and they remain on here. Billy Loughnane has been booked to ride for the first time, which is a positive to his chances too.
I would’ve liked to have seen a bit of cut in the ground, but I still fancy his chances regardless. At 9/2, I think that’s a more than fair price – we can play it safe and back him each-way, knowing if he finishes in the top three we will get most of our money back! That being said, I do think he has an excellent chance of winning, particularly if he turns up in the same mood as he did at Goodwood.
SATURDAY SELECTIONS
1:50 Newbury – PINHOLE (2/1 generally)
3:35 Newbury – WITNESS STAND (9/2 generally)
*Odds correct at time of posting – 6:15pm Thursday 14th August
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Please note that although Tom has uploaded the tips, he is not our Racing Club Insider – the insider will remain anonymous!
