Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Hoping for a Red Letter day at Newmarket

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck looks over the ITV races on 1000 Guineas Day from Newmarket.

Newmarket, Sunday

SAND GAZELLE is worth a dart in the Pretty Polly at Newmarket (1:45pm). The form of her Kempton maiden is a little thin at the moment – hence her price – but she finished out a very messy, tempo-led race with a real flourish, posted a good closing split in so doing, and has a serious pedigree to match. She’s interesting and can do much better.

ELMALKA makes some appeal in the Dahlia (2:20pm). She’s back to the scene of her greatest triumph with all the correct ingredients: ground, jockey and what looks as though it should be the perfect distance. I’d like to see Silvestre de Sousa buck forward from the gate on her given the likelihood of no obvious pace and a somewhat messy affair.

ALIGN THE STARS gets another chance in the staying handicap (2:55pm). He looked thoroughly ill at ease throughout his last run at Musselburgh, shaping as though something was amiss, though more likely wheel-spinning somewhat on the loose ground. Either way, it’s not uncommon for this stable to back up an inexplicably poor effort with some stronger form, so it’s not such a worry. If he reverts to his promising comeback, he remains a force to be reckoned with in this grade.

RED LETTER looks the bet at the prices in the Guineas (3:35pm). Her form is pretty well intertwined with Lake Victoria and, although her CV isn’t as decorated, her pedigree strongly hints that she’ll be open to a fair bit more improvement. Desert Flower may be a superstar – and he recent work appeared to suggest that she is – but I’m happy enough to watch her at current odds on the basis that the actual form of her two pattern wins isn’t wildly exciting for all that she was impressive.