Newmarket Tips: Castle can show the way

With six UK and Irish meetings taking place on Friday, there's lots of racing action on offer which will cater for all tastes.

Britain’s key fixture on the day is undoubtedly Newmarket, as it’s Day One of the three-day Guineas meeting. There are six races from 13:50-16:45 on ground which is expected to be good.

We’ve selected our three best bets for the first day of the spectacular meeting, which include one for Charlie Appleby that can find plenty of improvement as a four-year-old.

14:25 - Whip Cracker @ 10/3

Richard Hughes’ WHIP CRACKER bumped into one when finishing second in a Listed event here last time out (1m1f, good). This is just his fourth career start and it’ll be a surprise if he can’t continue progressing.

The three-year-old son of Cracksman was a narrow second to smart sort on his debut here (7f, good to firm) and went one better in emphatic style at Chelmsford in October (7f, standard). It was a big step up in grade last time out but he acquitted himself well and there should be loads more to come still.

The extra furlong may well suit on the evidence of his latest effort and there’s some evidence in his pedigree to support that idea. Charlie Appleby’s Endless Victory might prove hard to beat but the ratings suggest it’s Whip Cracker that should come out on top.

15:35 - Bold Style @ 11/4

Just six runners have been declared for the Listed King Charles II Stakes and what the race lacks in quantity, it makes up for with quality. Boiling Point finished in front of the reopposing BOLD STYLE but Charlie Appleby’s colt can reverse the form this time.

The son of Shamardal was hanging in the closing stages of his debut at Wolverhampton in November and that effort suggested he was learning on the job. Going one better in fine style at Chelmsford next time, three of his six rivals have franked the form by winning since.

It’s fair to say he needed the run on his seasonal reappearance over course and distance last time out. He was far too keen throughout the race and his finishing effort suffered as a consequence. That run should have sharpened him up, though, and he could prove hard to beat if that is the case.

16:10 - Castle Way @ 3/1

Charlie Appleby’s CASTLE WAY could be the one to side with in Newmarket’s feature race, the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes.

The Son of Almanzor showed plenty of ability as a juvenile and managed to make a strong nursery look anything but competitive on his final start at two. Winning by three lengths off 86 that day, he made an absolute mockery of his mark.

He was a game winner of a Group 3 (1m5f, good to firm) on the July Course last summer and the second has franked the form since. He lost nothing in defeat when second to the eventual St Leger winner in the Great Voltigeur up at York in August and he retains plenty of potential.

It’s worth noting that the ratings suggest he has 5lb to find Harry Charlton’s runner Time Lock but he’s still relatively lightly raced and should be capable of finding plenty of improvement as a four-year-old.

A tad disappointing on his seasonal reappearance at Meydan in March, he’s entitled to improve for the run but will absolutely need to. We’re willing to forgive that effort and a much better performance is anticipated here.

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights