Horse Racing | Friday, May 17, 2024 6:30 PM

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Newbury, Newmarket, May 18th

JTW Equine Images / Alamy Stock Photo: Winner Henry's Friend takes the water jump at Newbury Racecourse

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Today’s Racing Tips – May 18th

Saturday’s ITV cameras focus on the best of the action from Newbury and Newmarket, with a brilliant mix of Group races and valuable heritage handicaps on proper decent quickening ground. The Lockinge Stakes at 3.35pm looks a fascinating renewal this year at the Berkshire venue, with excellent prize-money sure to attract out the best 4-y-o’s and upwards from the top yards (and the french raider Big Rock a fascinating runner for new connections).

In this article:

Today’s Daily Nap

Darkness

Newmarket 2.40 (UK time)

David O’Meara has his team in excellent form, with 9 winners in the last fortnight, and his likeable handicapper seems sure to be primed to dropping back to seven furlongs at Newmarket on Saturday. He shaped really well last time out at this track over a mile (racing with typical zest up on the hammer/fading inside the final furlong), and drying ground conditions and the strong gallop likely here would be his optimum under Jason Watson.

Odds: 15.00

bet with bet365

Today’s Value Angle

King of Conquest

Newbury 1.50 (UK time)

Charlie Appleby’s useful performer was not seen to best effect in a tactical contest at Newmarket 15 days ago, hampered at a crucial time as the unconsidered Outbox escaped on the lead at 50/1. He is entitled to sharpen up a touch for that first run since returning from Bahrain, and the booking of William Buick certainly increases confidence that he can land this valuable Group 3 prize on fast ground that suits.

Odds: 6.00

bet with bet365Odds correct as at 1am May 18th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

ITV Racing Tips – Saturday May 18th

Time (UK)	Track	Horse	Analysis
1:30	Newbury	King of Conquest	Charlie Appleby’s useful performer was not seen to best effect in a tactical contest at Newmarket 15 days ago, hampered at a crucial time as the unconsidered Outbox escaped on the lead at 50/1. He is entitled to sharpen up a touch for that first run since returning from Bahrain, and the booking of William Buick certainly increases confidence that he can land this valuable Group 3 prize on fast ground that suits.
2:05	Newmarket	Serene Seraph	Richard Hannon’s 3-y-o filly proved progressive in her juvenile campaign until sunk in deep ground on her final start upped to listed class, and that has certainly not done her opening handicap mark any harm now starting off in this sphere under the promising claimer Alec Voikhansky. She seems sure to be fully tuned up for this Saturday prize after 197 days on the sidelines, and is very much one to follow as her stamina is drawn out over the summer months ahead.
2:25	Newbury	Malc	Richard Fahey’s sprinter caught the eye behind the top class Big Evs on his final start last season, finishing with running left in the tank in a closing fourth, and appeals as one to follow for his excellent yard over the season ahead. He seems sure to be fully primed for this valuable Saturday prize, and can swoop late if seeing daylight from the furlong pole under Oisin Orr (with the yard hitting top form after 7 winners in the last fortnight).
2:40	Newmarket	Darkness	David O’Meara has his team in excellent form, with 9 winners in the last fortnight, and his likeable handicapper seems sure to be primed to dropping back to seven furlongs at Newmarket on Saturday. He shaped really well last time out at this track over a mile (racing with typical zest up on the hammer/fading inside the final furlong), and drying ground conditions and the strong gallop likely here would be his optimum under Jason Watson.
3:00	Newbury	Kings Gambit	Harry Charlton’s 3-y-o ran really well on all three starts in his first season, and now goes handicapping with the scope to improve dramatically as his stamina is tested over middle distances. The booking of Buick suggests he will be fully primed after 239 days on the sidelines, and the form of the stable is another positive in a typical competitive Saturday handicap.
3:15	Newmarket	Cabinet of Clowns	This tough and consistent handicapper has won 3 of his 14 starts so far on the turf, and seems sure to give his running again freshened up by a break. A strongly run mile should set things up ideally for his usual late charge, and Charles Bishop is back in the plate having partnered him to victory at Chepstow last season.
3:35	Newbury	Big Rock	Maurice Guarnieri is far from a household name on these shores, but that should with help the price of his classy 4-y-o (on his first venture over to the UK since winning at Ascot last October for previous connections). He is a bold frontrunner at best with a terrific attitude under pressure, and an attacking ride here in a small field could be a real tactical advantage under regular rider Aurelian Lematre.