Newmarket Wednesday Preview - 14/04/21

With no bet in the first race with them all the horses being on debut, our first selections of the afternoon come in the bet365 Handicap and we have two horses at double figure prices that can hit the frame.

The first is the Tom Dascombe trained Willie John, who moved stables and owners this season having been with Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.

Willie John is a very interesting runner on debut for the yard having been tried between 7f to 10f under Varian and now starting off over 6f.

Having cost 1.9 million Guineas he has always been thought off to become a nice horse and started his career off accordingly by winning both his races.

However, having lost his way he might just need this change of scenery and drop in trip to see the best of him, with Dascombe having a 40% strike rate with older horses at Newmarket.

At a similar price to Willie John, Additional for Martyn Meade was hit and miss between June and October last year, but if getting back to the form of his first two runs he can get right in the mix.

He finished a good third on debut last June at Yarmouth on rapid ground and then backed that up by getting off the mark at Lingfield, again on quick ground.

He was then sent into two Listed Races at Deauville and York and ran no sort of race on both occasions, but then bounced back at Ascot after that in October to finish third in a decent handicap.

Heavy ground was against him last time out and now getting back to a sounder surface and being fresh are two things that she see this horse run a better race.

The first big race of the day is the European Free Listed Handicap over seven furlongs and Naval Crown takes the eye for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.

The son of Dubawi was highly active as a juvenile, making his debut in July at Newmarket on soft ground and finished a good third behind stablemate Magical Land and the exciting Youth Spirit for Andrew Balding.

He backed that up with another third behind the smart Chindit and then used that run to get off the mark at the third time of asking at York on good ground.

The three year old was then upped in class at ParisLongchamp and Saint-Cloud in Group Three events and finished third twice behind decent company.

He was then given a break and returned in February a much more mature horse at Meydan, finishing third on the dirt behind two very smart horses in the UAE 2000 Guineas.

Naval Crown improved massively for that run and landed a Listed event on turf at Meydan over a mile and he looks to be one of the more fitter horses entering this race.

Although there are only two places on offer in this race we have selected two of the outsiders against the field to run big races at each way prices.

The first is the Roger Varian trained San Donato in the famous yellow and black polka dot silks and this 500,000gns purchase has bundles of ability.

The son of Lope De Vega Landed a hat-trick in 2018 as a juvenile at Haydock, Kempton and then a Listed race at Doncaster over six furlongs.

He only ran once as a three year old, giving a superb performance in the Group One French 2000 Guineas, finishing third behind the smart Persian King.

San Donato was then not seen again for over a year, racing as a four year old at Glorious Goodwood and desperately needing the run when pitched into the Group One Sussex Stakes won by Mohaather.

He was tried in two other tough events after that in the Group Two City Of York Stakes and Listed Doonside Cup when taken up in trip and just didn't look the same horse.

However, having now had a perfect preparation into the season and being allowed to get back to his best he could have too much for this field off the back of his old form.

At an even bigger price is the Sir Michael Stoute trained Solid Stone who was highly consistent towards the back end of 2020 and may just have a fitness edge on one or two of these.

The son of Shamardal was a 360,000gns purchase as a yearling and straight away showed how good he can be by winning and placing in some decent two and three year old races.

Having been consistent all the way through his career, he kept that towards the back end of last year when winning one race and placing in another three in his four races between September and November.

One of his best performances came at Ascot on Champions Day when a close second in the Balmoral Handicap and although being pitched into Group company, his handler is currently in flying form having nine winners from his last 15 runners, which sees him pose a 60% strike rate.

Each way player.

The feature race on the day at flat racing HQ is the Group Three Nell Gwyn Stakes over seven furlongs and Star Of Emaraaty for new handlers John & Thady Gosden is worth taking a punt on at a big price.

The three year old filly gave her best showings last season in July at Ayr in a novice event and then coming on for that run to take the Group Three Solera Stakes over course and distance at Newmarket.

She was tried after that win in better races like the Group Two May Hill Stakes and Group One Fillies' Mile but was ultimately outclassed, but now with the Gosden's and back in grade she looks a player at a big price.

Delta Bay made an encouraging debut when a never-nearer second on debut at Newbury in October and she looks more than capable of landing an event of this standard second time up.

She is by Nathaniel but there is plenty of speed in her dam’s side so this 1m on quick ground shouldn’t find her out.

Frankie Dettori is in the saddle and he will be looking to put her experience to good use.

Finally, the last event of the day is the Class 3 bet365 handicap over 1m2f and Just fine for Sir Michael Stoute looks a big player for the Queen.

The three year old will be ridden by the inform Ryan Moore and last year the son of Sea The Stars showed just how good he can be in his three starts.

He made his debut at Lingfield in August and finished a fair fourth behind the highly progressive Lost In Space for John Gosden.

The gelding learnt a lot for that experience and got off the mark next time out at when landing a Novice Stakes over a mile at Sandown.

Shipped into a Nursery Handicap last time out at York In October, the soft ground slightly went against him and getting back to a sounder surface today should see him go well.

Stepping up to 1m2f should also suit very well being a son of Sea The Stars and his trainer Sir Michael Soute is flying.