Alan Thomson’s Tips: Go for Bow at Newmarket

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WITH Charlie Appleby and William Buick running riot at Newmarket, BOW STREET (5.20) looks overpriced at 5-1 in the concluding 1m 2f handicap at Newmarket.

The colt finished behind favourite Dukhan in the race won by Old Persian but enjoys a 6lb pull. That was his first run in 162 days and I’d rather back him each-way than the jolly.

In the opening 1m 4f handicap UAE PRINCE (1.50) returns from a long break and may be the type to catch fresh.

Roger Varian’s son of Sea The Stars scored on his seasonal reappearance last year and runs three solid races thereafter in tough handicaps at Ascot, York and Goodwood. Uae Prince threw in a rare blip at York’s Ebor meeting when sent off favourite and wasn’t seen again.

LAURENS (3.35 is worth an each-way interest in the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

Karl Burke’s filly just held on from the unlucky-in-running September in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at HQ in October and that represents top drawer form. Aidan O’Brien’s favourite Magical finished a disappointing fourth and today’s favourite Happily had only a short head to spare over Magical in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Without the benefit of a run it’s impossible to know how much progress those two fillies have made this spring but we know Laurens handles the track and is an each-way price.

William Buick has picked Soliloquy over Wild Illusion on the back of their victory in the Nell Gywn Stakes at the Craven meeting. She stretched out well under a positive ride to comfortably hold Altyn Orda, the mount today of Frankie Dettori.

The Irish field a dark horse in Willie McCreery’s Liquid Amber, not see spotted since her five lengths romp over an O’Brien rival in a Group 3 at the Curragh in August.

At generous odds Anna Nerium shouldn’t go unmentioned following her victory in the European Free Handicap here last month. Richard Hannon’s filly showed smart acceleration to pull three lengths clear at the line.

Keith Dalgleish saddles five of the 12 runners going to post for the feature £13,000 Tote-sponsored 1m 5f handicap at Hamilton’s opening fixture of the season.

With Iain Jardine, Alistair Whillans and Jim Goldie also represented, there is every chance this tasty prize will stay in Scotland, and last year’s runner-up KENSINGTON STAR (2.35) may be the answer to this tartan conundrum.

Kensington Star, pipped by Sir Chauvelin in a thrilling finish to the Braveheart Handicap here last May, ran a pleasing race (fourth) at Thirsk 15 days ago, making steady headway behind winning stablemate Starplex. I’ve got a feeling that may have been a sighter for today’s pot.

VALENTINO DANCER (4.20) should justify short odds in the mile maiden. David O’Meara’s colt ran a fine race at Newcastle 17 days ago, finishing on the heels of three southern raiders (Haggas, bin Suroor and Gosden), all rated in the mid-80s. Ex-Luca Cumani filly Polly Glide looks the one to beat.

RAPID APPLAUSE (3.45) was pulled out of his intended engagement at Musselburgh on Friday and will be more at home on today’s slower ground.

He fairly zipped through an opening to score cosily at Beverley after finding traffic problems and Nathan Evans will doubtless hold up Rapid Applause for another late thrust. The six-year-old races over an extra furlong off an 8lb higher mark, so life is more difficult, but he scored in Ireland over six furlongs. Stall six is ideal.

The finale is yet another mind-blowing handicap with many permutations. Jacob Black was all the rage at Musselburgh on Thursday evening and duly landed a significant gamble. Dalgleish has him back out again under a 6lb penalty (also a pound out of the handicap) and he has the worst of the draw in a deeper race. Bookmakers were taking no chances last night, installing him favourite.

Stablemate Amy Blair loves to blast off around here, so there should be plenty of pace in the race. This could set things up for a closer and MAIFALKI (4.55) is so well treated on turf to be of interest.

The five-year-old hasn’t been seen since January when sent off 11-8 favourite for a Class 4 1m 4f handicap at Southwell. Maifalki cruised into contention (not for the first time) but faded into third behind Jabbaar. The sharp drop in distance is an unknown but he is 9lb lower on grass and Rossa Ryan takes off 5lb.

Mustaqbal beat Fleetwood Jack at Haydock last Saturday, but the runner-up is a dual winner at Hamilton, so may have the edge. Dalgleish has a third string to his bow with Cliff Bay and the gelding enjoys a massive weight pull with both Mustaqbal and Fleetwood Jack on their running at Hamilton and Ayr last season. Patrick Vaughan takes off 7lb and if he can get a tune out of Cliff Bay they have to enter calculations as well.

Recommended bets

Newmarket 5.20 – Bow Street ew (5-1, William Hill)

Newmarket 1.50 – UAE Prince ew (8-1, Ladbrokes, Betfred)

Newmarket 3.35 – Laurens ew (10-1, Betfair)

Hamilton 2.35 – Kensington Star ew (7-1, Paddy Power, William Hill)

Hamilton 4.20 – Valentino Dancer (6-5, Paddy Power)

Hamilton 3.45 – Rapid Applause (3-1, Unibet)

Hamilton 4.55 – Maifalki ew (10-1, Paddy Power)

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