Aidan O’Brien’s second-string can tie-up the opposition in knots, writes Seymour Biz.
It’s Lockinge Day at Newbury on Saturday and we have a class field for the big race to look forward to. Though Rhododendron is favourite, Aidan O’Brien also has Lancaster Bomber declared. This world traveled performer has mainly been used as a pacemaker for the trainers stable stars, but make no mistake he is a top class miler in his own right and deserves his place in the sun. I think the going will suit him and his latest run at Meydan can be excused. Addeybb has had a great start to the year but may need a little more cut in the ground. Limato is having his first run of the season and I am not really convinced a mile is his optimum distance, but the going will suit.
At 1.50 is the Shayla Carnarvon Stakes and I go for another O’Brien horse here with Sioux Nation. Fourth at Navan last time when slowly away, he finished like a train and should have enough for this. At a bigger price Shabaaby has his first run of the season after a series of good performances last year. His final race when he ran fourth at York was run on ground that didn’t suit and he was probably over the top anyway. Threading is another worth a look, beaten at Newmarket first time out he weakened over the last furlong, that could have blown the cobwebs away.
At 3.00 we have the London Gold Cup and horses that run well in this invariably have a good season. Masaarr looks to be going off favourite on the back of his latest victory at Doncaster, but he may meet some top of the ground specialists here. One could be Master Of Wine who won well at Epsom last time and may well follow up. At a big price Glencadam Master, a beaten favourite last time, has been running well on the all-weather and may well make the frame.
Over at HQ Newmarket stages the Betway Handicap at 3.15 and there are several I like here. Neola let the pacesetters get too far in front at Chester last week and had to come wide and off the pace but finished strongly. Richard Fahey has the favourite with Maybride who won over the course and distance last time out, however I side with one of his other runners Showmethedough who was beaten by the turns of Chester when favourite on his last run.
Saturday Lucky 15
1.50 Newbury. Sioux Nation
3.00 Newbury. Master Of Wine
3.40 Newbury. Lancaster Bomber
3.15 Newmarket. Showmethedough
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Contact Seymour Biz, with your own thoughts, tips and questions, at the following address: ahroberts99@yahoo.com