Matthew Sutcliffe is back to try and end a busy week on a high and he has a trio of selections for the live ITV Racing on Sunday 3 May. Heading to Newmarket, Salisbury and Hamilton for a tip at each venue, he looks to land some notable winners on 1000 Guineas day.
Newmarket Racing Tips (Sunday 3 May)
Seven races take place at Newmarket on Sunday on 1000 Guineas day. Matthew heads to the Pretty Polly Stakes at 1.45pm for his best bet on the card.
1:45 Newmarket Oliver Brown Pretty Polly Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo) Lilt 8/1 1pt EW 2 places
Esna is a filly I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for and believe she’ll have an excellent season, but the yard are yet to get going this season and she might need the ground softer. Lilt is given the nod as a result, and while she won her Maiden on soft ground at Doncaster, her dam was a dual Group One winner on a firm surface in America which suggests she can improve further on this going.
The Lope De Vega daughter made all in good style at Doncaster despite the neck winning margin, displaying a nice turn of foot under Cieren Fallon. She was professional enough there, and lengthened away in the manner of a smart filly.
The form is yet to amount to much, but she’s bred to come into her own as a three-year-old and she holds three group one entries for a yard who won this in 2019.
Salisbury Racing Tips (Sunday 3 May)
It’s a 1.30pm start at Salisbury, with Matthew heading to an intriguing conditions stakes at 2pm for his best bet of the day.
2:00 Salisbury Fitzdares Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (Class 2) (2yo) Ziggy Starshine 2/1 2pt WIN
Like the prior selection, Ziggy Starshine has something prove on a firmer surface but there is rain forecast for Salisbury, and the daughter of Starman was very impressive when a well backed winner at Bath on debut.
She looked in need of the experience to begin with having broke slowly and racing keenly in rear, but she quickly got the hang of things to come through rivals with ease, with Jack Doughty easing her down inside the final furlong.
She was given an RPR of 77 there, a pound higher than Anthelia who won the contest last season, who subsequently took this before going on to win the valuable Super Sprint at Newbury. The yard are 0-24 since, which could be deemed a negative, but on the flip side she’s evidently smart enough to run above the yard form and if coming on once more she could prove tough to beat given the manner within she won at Bath.
Hamilton Racing Tips (Sunday 3 May)
Matthew heads to Hamilton for his final bet of the day, as he looks to grab a winner on the seven-race card at the Scottish venue.
2:40 Hamilton Heineken Buttonhook Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-95) Humble Spark 9/1 1pt EW 2 places
Square Necker will prove all the rage after his second to Constitution Hill last time out, but was still beaten nine lengths and the third, who was only two lengths behind, was a well beaten favourite at Musselburgh next time out.
Twelve lengths head of the third that day was Humble Spark, who traded short in running after making good headway in rear to be beaten three lengths into third and he looks wildly overpriced on that collateral form.
He once again caught the eye when conjuring up a similar performance down in trip at Musselburgh, faring best of those to race in rear having had to switch wide under Paul Mulrennan. While he evidently struggles to win, he’s been lightly raced on turf of late and his third last turf start saw him finish a length behind the subsequent Group 1 Prix Du Cadran winner Caballo De Mar at Haydock.
He steps slightly back up in trip, and given his last win on the grass came here he looks sure to run another good race for last years winning yard, despite Mulrennan jumping ship for Mountain Road.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets for Sunday 3 May
1:45 Newmarket Oliver Brown Pretty Polly Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo) Lilt 8/1 1pt EW 2 places
2:00 Salisbury Fitzdares Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (Class 2) (2yo) Ziggy Starshine 2/1 2pt WIN
2:40 Hamilton Heineken Buttonhook Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-95) Humble Spark 9/1 1pt EW 2 places
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Best Bets – Sunday 3 May
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Newmarket, Salisbury & Hamilton on Sunday 3 May.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 8.25am on Saturday 2 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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