Sport
Nick Luck’s blog: Just like that, we’re back at HQ
After a spectacular Aintree meeting, it’s now all focus on HQ as we’re back to Newmarket and our man Nick Luck has gone through the opening days card from the Craven Meeting.
Read on for his thoughts on all five televised races from Newmarket.
Newmarket
LUCY LIGHTFOOT is a swing at 28/1 in an opener of unraced juveniles that kicks off the TV action at Newmarket today (1.15pm). Stuart Williams won the race last year with the very smart Desert Dreamer, proving in the process that he is a very good trainer of any type of horse. This filly has a perfectly good pedigree for an early season juvenile – the dam was rated in the mid-90s and has already produced 2yos of above average ability. She is a huge price and is surely worth a small interest each-way.
STONE OF DESTINY is a brave pick, but I’ll happily take my chances each-way at the current odds of 11/1 in the sprint handicap (1.50pm). First, he’ll be ready to roll after a couple of spins in Dubai over the winter. More relevant is that he ran in this race last year and looked desperately unlucky not to be right on the premises in a deeper race off a higher mark. He’s often slowly away and a hostage to fortune, but he’s one for whom a jockey switch might be beneficial, and he certainly has the talent and the conditions to make his presence felt if he feels like it.
POWER OF BEAUTY looks a shade overpriced at 8/1 in the Free Handicap (2.25pm). He was a pretty smart two-year-old, coming six lengths clear of a 95-rated horse with a subsequent Grade One winner at Salisbury. His Haydock run can be easily excused, he has been gelded since and is sure to be well forward for a stable keen to get going from its new base. Most compelling is that he could get out in front and get a fairly uncontested lead, which often confers a significant advantage at this fixture.
MEGALLAN could have a good season, and it might start in the Earl of Sefton, where he’s a fair price at 2/1 to upset last year’s Guineas runner-up Master of the Seas (3.00pm). Although there are five pounds between them on official ratings, that reckons without Megallan’s greater potential for improvement. This trip looks right for him, but – as a horse with plenty of form over further – he should get quite a positive ride from Dettori, and I am not sure I trust Master of the Seas to breeze by a stoute stayer on this track.
HELLO YOU is the bet at the prices at 11/4 in the Nell Gwyn (3.35pm). Unless Ribbon Rose is the real deal – and it’s pretty hard to be sure about that – the top two in the market have a pretty clear edge and are very closely matched on their last two runs. In receipt of three pounds, Cachet is favourite, but Hello You moved and quickened like a much smarter filly over this course and distance in the Rockfel and the weight pull may be overworked into their respective prices. The danger is that Cachet doesn’t get as much pace pressure as she did that day, but I’m counting on Flash Betty to be in the mix early (and she might run a bit better than her price).
