With York’s Dante meeting over, the spotlight falls on Newbury on Saturday. The Lockinge Stakes is the highlight, while Newmarket also have races live on ITV.
Matty Sutcliffe has selections at both of those tracks, with four tips for you to follow.
Newbury Racing Tips (Saturday 16 May)
Newbury’s card on Saturday features the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes. Matty has a tip in that race and the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes.
1:25 Newbury – Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Arabian Force 9/2 1pt WIN
Kalpana is the deserved favourite here given the company she’s used to keeping, but it may pay to chance the race fit Arabian Force for a yard that’s won this twice since 2021.
The son of Lope De Vega was beaten half a length on his seasonal debut in Listed company at Longchamp last month, finishing ahead of the 118 rated Map Of Stars.
He came on from his debut last season to win a pair of novices at Wetherby and Salisbury. He couldn’t quite land a blow at Royal Ascot thereafter, but that’s the last time he raced over ten furlongs, improving subsequently for a trip.
He ran a career best when third to the Dante winner Pride Of Arras at York, with the Derby winner Lambourn back in fifth. Three of the runners there ran solid races in defeat in the St Leger, so the form is strong.
He may need a good pace to be seen to best effect, but that should be guaranteed with West Wind Blows and Liberty Lane.
2:35 Newbury – Boyle Sports Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Zeus Olympios 7/2 1pt WIN
If we all took trainer comments as gospel then we’d skint, but there was a considerable degree of confidence to be taken from Karl Burke discussing Zeus Olympios’ comeback, stating he’ll come on leaps from the bet365 Mile which was merely a prep for the Lockinge.
Having watched the race back, he was keen enough early on behind Opera Ballo who was given a superb front running ride, and while Zeus Olympios had initially travelled with a degree of purpose, he failed to match the kick of the eventual winner.
I’d expect to see a completely different Zeus Olympios here, who progressed as he went on last season and was far superior to Opera Ballo at Newmarket.
Newmarket Racing Tips (Saturday 16 May)
Across the three live ITV races at Newmarket, Matty has two tips in handicap company.
2:50 Newmarket – Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-95) – Silver Ghost 6/1 1pt WIN
Two of the top three in the market here faced each other over C&D last time out, with Golden Redemption marginally getting the better of Silver Ghost, but the former had the benefit of a run and the latter is taken to reverse it here.
Silver Ghost was keen when beaten into fifth on seasonal debut last season, but she evidently came on from that effort when comfortably landing a similar C&D handicap by two lengths off 10lbs lower. That form worked out strongly with the second beating the fifth and sixth next time out, and the sixth has since climbed 12lbs after four wins and a second in the Lincoln.
She proved that was no fluke when coming from rear again to win a class two handicap at Goodwood, with the third now rated 16lbs higher and the fourth winning on seasonal debut now rated 6lbs higher.
Silver Ghost failed to land a blow thereafter, but she ran a strong race when sixth in a Fillies handicap at the Ebor festival off top-weight and she’s 4lbs lower now. She improved 14lbs on RPR’s form her seasonal debut last campaign, and should she step forward again after her reappearance then she’s entitled to show up strongly to bolster her May record (2-2) over this winning C&D.
3:27 Newmarket – Download The BetMGM App Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80) – Rebel Path 12/1 1pt EW 3 places
Particularly at this lesser level, I love backing horses at Newmarket who’ve won here before, and given Rebel Path has been both third and won this contest in the past two years, he’s taken to go well again.
Despite taking a keen hold under Olivia Haines in this last season, he was travelling notably strongest of all and once down in to the dip, he took off with Olivia Haines merely a passenger. He was given 7lbs for his troubles, but that didn’t stop him finishing a two length second to the well backed 13/8 favourite Circe on the July Course, who was then only beaten two lengths in Group company two starts later.
His form has dipped since, but he was only beaten four lengths at Kempton last time out and he’s been dropped two pounds, now 2lbs below his last winning mark here. Olivia Haines returns, who has a 20% all time strike record in her career, and this has surely been the early seasonal target.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Tips for Saturday 16 May
1:25 Newbury – Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Arabian Force 9/2 1pt WIN
2:35 Newbury – Boyle Sports Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Zeus Olympios 7/2 1pt WIN
2:50 Newmarket – Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-95) – Silver Ghost 6/1 1pt WIN
3:27 Newmarket – Download The BetMGM App Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80) – Rebel Path 12/1 1pt EW 3 places
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Best Bets – Saturday 16 May
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Newbury & Newmarket on Saturday 16 May.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 3.30pm on Friday 15 May.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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