It’s round two of the Sunday Series at Newmarket on Sunday 18th May and our resident tipster Matthew Sutcliffe is here with his best bets of the day…
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4:15 Newmarket – Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80) – Spring Bloom 7/1 1pt EW 3 places
SPRING BLOOM won a 0-90 handicap off 9lbs higher at this meeting two years ago and later last year bagged a pair of similar contest on the July course, with the latter coming under Tom Marquand who returns here for his third ride on the gelding.
He was a selection for the column first time out this season over C&D when admittedly the fresh angle was a concern, and that proved true. He stepped back up to six furlongs at Goodwood next time out and looked the likely winner two out, but he flashed his tail under pressure and weakened late on to suggest this drop back to five is of no concern. That looked a stronger race than this one, and we can perhaps draw a line through last time out as it came only three days later.
4:45 Newmarket – Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80) – Be Frank 20/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
A chance is taken on the well handicapped BE FRANK, who’s 15lbs lower this time around when reappearing over C&D last season in a much stronger class two, beaten two lengths in a race which through up the subsequent Buckingham Palace Stakes winner English Oak.
That came from a 295 day layoff, and he won from a 215 day layoff in May 2023 so the fresh angle isn’t of much concern. Cieren Fallon was on board when he was beaten a length over C&D in a similar contest from 7lbs higher last September, and that was just after being beaten two lengths in a 0-98 at Ascot behind the consistent Fresh, who was only beaten four lengths next time out in the Challenge Cup.
The forecast strong pace of the race should suit him as he tends to be held up, and it would be a surprise to see him not show up well in this 0-80 given some of his back form from last season.
4:15 Newmarket – Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-95) – Assail 10/3 1.5pt WIN
David Simcock won this with the smart Desert Encounter in 2016 and the unexposed No Nay Never gelding ASSAIL rates an interesting contender back here. He’s only had two starts on turf, the first coming on good to firm ground at Ascot last July when bolting up four lengths with the second now rated 16lbs higher after three wins.
He backed that effort up when staying on from rear to win at Kempton last September, again with the second franking the form to now be rated 16lbs higher, and the other second (dead heat) now rated 8lbs higher.
He was never put in the contest in an 85-105 at Meydan in February, but he wasn’t entirely disgraced beaten seven lengths in a strong contest and he rates a threat back on these shores in what looks a very winnable race.
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