It’s round two of the Sky Bet Sunday Series on Sunday 18th May, 2025 and the action takes place at Newmarket with a sparkling card lighting up the home of Flat racing. There’s a bumper ITV7 jackpot up for grabs during the live terrestrial action and we pick out a selection for each of the seven selected races.
Race 1 – 4.03pm Naas – Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Blackbeard Fillies Sprint Stakes
Ger Lyons and Colin Keane team up in leg 1 at Naas at 4:03pm which is a Group 3 Sprint Stakes and they will unleash the unbeaten LADY IMAN. A three-and-a-half length winner on debut at Dundalk back in March, the Starman filly then went on and claimed a Curragh contest a couple of months later and got the better of Aidan O’Brien’s Star Love. That was a Listed win that day, so she’s tested again now stepping up in class again, but she looks every bit a class act.
Race 2 – 4.15pm Newmarket – Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap
Ruth Carr’s Reigning Profit has been in flying form of late and is bidding for a hat-trick of wins here, but the six-year-old is 12lbs higher than his last win, so is going to face an uphill battle off top weight in the 4:15pm at Newmarket. Mick Appleby’s SANAT was only given a 2lbs rise for a narrow victory over Spirit Of Applause at Nottingham last time out and that pair do battle again here. The Appleby charge can frank the form in this intriguing 5f dash that can see him record a second win on the bounce.
Race 3 – 4.33pm Naas – Goffs Lacken Stakes
There’s another fascinating Group 3 contest at 4:33pm with the Lacken Stakes taking centre stage and this contest can go the way of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore with WHISTLEJACKET, who could be a short-priced favourite. A beaten favourite in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, the Prix Morny showed when winning in Listed company on his first run this season that he still has huge potential and he can duly outclass his rivals here.
Race 4 – 4.45pm Newmarket – Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap
Nine-year-old Lord Rapscallion has fired in three wins on the bounce and off top weight is bidding for a four-timer in the 4:45pm at Newmarket. However, the flourishing old boy could be vulnerable to some younger legs and the one to side with is Jane Chapple-Hyam’s FLAG OF ST GEORGE, who has been knocking on the door of late. Second last time out at Chelmsford, he’s been given a 1lb rise, but his mark of 73 looks workable back on turf. Last April he finished sixth at Newmarket off a mark of 81, so he has to be given a chance if he can just improve a little for the switch to grass.
Race 5 – 5.03pm Naas – Sole Power Sprint Stakes
There’s more exciting sprinting action in the final race on the card at Naas at 5:03pm and the Sole Power Sprint Stakes can go the way of BUCANERO FUERTE. A Group 1 winner of the Phoenix Stakes earlier in his career, he will hold aspirations of featuring prominently at Royal Ascot next month and while he may not be fully tuned up for this contest he can prove to be a class apart here and land the Listed event.
Race 6 – 5.15pm Newmarket – Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap
Charlie Johnston’s ARTISAN DANCER is an out-and-out stayer, as he showed when landing a 2m Ripon contest two outings ago. He failed to follow up when third at Chester over 2m 2f, but he’s still capable of tasting more success and he can land victory in the 5:15pm contest. The five-year-old will drop back to 1m 6f for this event, but he has won over shorter distances, so he certainly doesn’t lack a bit of tactical speed and with William Buick in the saddle he can storm to victory in this event.
Race 7 – 5.45pm Newmarket – Sky Bet Proud To Support RoR Handicap
A winner at Pontefract two starts ago, DARK CLOUD RISING failed to follow up when fourth at Newmarket, but David O’Meara’s charge could be worth another go on his return to HQ and can win the 5:45pm contest. He’s been dropped 1lb for that out, so a mark of 91 looks workable and having just tired in the closing stages he will be hoping to see out the end of the race better here. Northern Ticker looks to be a big danger, but may just struggle to get the better of the O’Meara charge off top weight.
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