2:20 Newbury Racing Tips (17th April) AL BASTI EQUIWORLD EBF STALLIONS MAIDEN STAKES (CLASS 4) (2yo)

An EBF Stallions Maidens Stakes over 5f 34y on good ground. Twelve two year olds take part: nine colts and three fillies. Two juveniles have race experience with a first outing. 

Last year, this race was won by Kasb, trained by John Gosden in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum. This colt went on to disappoint at Royal Ascot when competing in the Coventry Stakes (Group 2). He achieved an official rating of 95. 

This race has been won by a number of talented horses. For all your latest trainer news visit Horse Trainer Directory.    

Sixth Sense is a fair-looking juvenile who showed promise when finishing third in the Scottish Brocklesby. This son of Shamardal was fancied to go well that day and showed promise. The winner is held in high regard but difficult to use as a measure because he left the rest toiling in his wake. The fifth [Smart Mover] let the form down when unplaced at Ripon although I had fears she was slightly flattered when running on debut. 

Richard Fahey has been in good form with his juveniles and *Sanaadh is of particular interest. This chestnut colt is a son of Exceed And Excel out of the exceptional Queen's Logic, who retired from racing unbeaten in five races taking the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2), Lowther Stakes (Group 2), Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) & Fred Darling Stakes (Group 3). Jaber Abdullah is a fantastic owner who often finds bargain buys but this colt would have fetched a huge price if he had gone through the sales. Sanaadh held an entry for the Brocklesby Stakes and received another similar entry of late. These are confident pointers of ability and with such a regal pedigree is worthy of note.

Ginger Joe is the first two year old to representative for Peter Chapple-Hyam. This son of Medicean is out of an unraced mare. He cost £32,000 at the yearling sales. Chapple-Hyam is an star trainer of juveniles. His debut statistics detail a good strike rate with fancied runners. The betting is important and if priced 13/2 & less has good win and place claims.

Another top trainer dipping his toe into the two year old racing pond for this season is Brian Meehan who fields Harvard Man. This February foal, is a bay colt sired by Equiano out of a Grade 1 winning mare [Fabulously Fast]. This horse was bred by Newsell Park Stud and owned by The Honourable Earle I Mack. The tissue price suggests this horse will be unfancied in the betting but he would be of interest if strong in the market. Manton House Estate can win at more speculative prices [10/1 - 12/1] although very few over 16/1. 

Charlie Appleby had a couple of two year olds race at Newmarket [yesterday] but neither showed much promise. Hawkbill is an American bred son of Kitten's Joy out of a mare who was a narrow loser on debut at Grade 2. Godolphin do not waver when it comes to money and this horse cost $355,000 at the Keeneland Yearling 2014 September Sales. I find this stable difficult to predict with debutantes but they field many winners. One for the shortlist. 

Another Boy hails from Ralph Beckett's stable who can go well when making their racecourse bow. This home bred son of Paco Boy is out of a Group-raced mare [similarly owned].This colt was sent through the sales for £5,500 [bought in by vendor]. 

Interesting to see Marcus Tregoning making a brisk start to the juvenile season, this being the second runner. Thaqaffa is a bay son of Kodiac out of a poor mare. He was purchased by Shadwell Estate Company [racing in the familiar ilks of Hamdan Al Matkoum] for 80,000GNS at the yearling sales. This stable have a relatively poor strike rate with debutantes but they can win when priced 14/1 & less. A wide draw is never ideal for a two year old making on its first start and best watched.

Finally the three fillies. Richard Hannon has been a touch quiet this early season but this race has been a very good hunting ground over the years. It has been used as a stepping stone for Royal Ascot. It is never easy for a filly to beat colts. Ring Of Truth is a bay filly sired by Royal Applause out of a debut-winning mare trained by Sir Michael Stoute, placed at Listed class and unplaced at Group 3. Racing in the Royal silks, this filly is owned & bred by The Queen. This stable often send a fair sort to contest this race and if priced 13/2 & less has fair claims. 

David Evans usually starts the Flat season all guns blazing but he has been a little more sedate this term. Sweet Taboo is sired by Approve out of a Listed-placed mare. This yearling was purchased by Wayne Clifford for 14,000eur. 

Evans fields the once-raced filly Zeeoneandonly who trailed home last when making her debut at Windosr when looking second string. Will be a huge price if you fancy a speculative punt. 

Aragon Knight & Sarky Jack are best watched.  

Conclusion: Let the betting settle before jumping in unless you fancy something at big odds and anticipate a gamble. This race has been won by some decent juveniles over the years and a good few winners will come from this contest. This looks a tough race to call but a few horses are worthy of note. Sanaadh is exceptionally well bred and a couple of entries for stakes races suggests this colt will go well. He was entered for the Brocklesby which suggests he has been on the gallops and ready to go. Few trainers have debut statistics like Richard Fahey. Must run a big race. The betting is the best guide for the others and if priced 13/2 & less Hawkbill, Ginger Joe & Ring Of Truth hold fair claims. A race to take note for future winners. 

*NR

1:40 Windsor Racing Tips (13th April) BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF MAIDEN STAKES (CLASS 5) (2yo)

An EBF Maiden Stakes over 5f 10y on good going. Eight debutante two year olds take part: six colts and two fillies. A varied mix of horse trainers. Last year, this race was won by odds-on shot Magic Roundabout, trained by Richard Hannon, who proved to be a very disappointing horse thereafter. 

Windsor is a popular hunting ground for Richard Hannon. Fit is one of two fillies in the line up - a daughter of Kodiac. The mare didn't race until three but won on her second start, trained by Hannon Snr. This bay filly is an early foal [20th January] and racing in the familiar silks of Mrs Julie Wood. She was purchased as a foal for 12,000eur. The stable have a 23% win rate with their juveniles here over the last five years [9 from 40]. Subsequently, their two year olds at this course are often priced to chance and, perhaps, not great value. It often takes a fair filly to beat the colts but a horse to give worthy consideration.

Mark Johnston has continued his flying start to the two year old campaign with Delizia who won on Saturday. Beaverbrook is a home bred colt from Darley. The mare won a couple of races over a trip. Kingsley House Stables are in the limelight and with an increased string of two year olds will be fancied in the betting. On breeding, this bay colt may appreciate 6f. I'd take a watching brief.      

Rod Millman fields two colts: Concur is an Irish bred son of Approve out of an unraced mare.This April foal cost £24,000 at the yearling sales purchased by Geoffrey Howson and Rod Millman. 

Handytalk is also Irish bred, a son of Lilbourne Lad out of an unraced mare. This bay colt cost £32,000 at the yearling sales. In general, Rod Millman has a poor strike rate with his debutantes with around 3 winners in 130 or so two year olds since 2007. However, two of those victories came in recent years with Master Carpenter (2013) & Bonnie Grey (2014). The former was a class horse, which can often defy the stats. The tissue price [Sporting Life] suggests they will be relatively fancied in the betting. I would have to take a watching brief because they usually improve for race experience. 

Interesting to see Marcus Tregoning with an early juvenile. Port Gaverne is an American bred in the ownership of the trainer. This bay colt is a son of Lord Shanakil out of a poor mare who needed a trip. He cost 15,000eur at the yearling sales. This stable can win on debut when priced 14/1 & less. They feature fair place claims when priced at 13/2 & less although the win rate is poor. On balance, I'd take a watching brief. 

Raj To Riches could well be a dark horse. David Evans is a canny old stick and this horse was one of two who were engaged to run in the Brocklesby Stakes [Silver Wings]. This chestnut colt, a son Iffraaj, cost 60,000euro as a foal.The trainer and jockey have decent statistics at this course. If priced 13/2 & less has fair win and place claims.     

Zeeoneandonly looks to be second string for the trainer.                   

Arlecchino's Rock cost £21,000 when purchased at the yearling sales by Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock. This chestnut colt is bred to need further and Mark Usher's juveniles are likely to need the run.  

Conclusion: Interesting to see how the ground goes with regard to what could be a good or bad draw. An intriguing race. Richard Hannon does well here and even though Fit is a filly taking on colts she should be respected. It can be difficult to pick the wheat from the chaff but one for the shortlist. Beaverbrook hails from a stable who can do little wrong. I find Johnston's two year olds difficult to assess - the classic easy winner or poor loser. The breeding of this colt suggests he will be better over 6f+. I would take a watching brief. Concur, Handytalk and Port Gaverne come from stables who are better second start. It doesn't mean they cannot win but I wouldn't back them. Raj To Riches catches the eye and his entry for the Brocklesby Stakes may be a pointer to ability. This colt cost 60,000euros at the sales and entered to race at Newbury [Friday]. The trainer and jockey have fair win and place claims at this course and feature a decent strike rate when priced 13/2 & less. Evans always has a fair early horse but whether this is it only time will tell. I would have to consider Fit & Raj To Riches as most likely with the latter most intriguing, especially if backed.