ITV Racing Preview

Pivioine 5/1

The opening race in ITV4’s coverage is the Dubai Duty Free Handicap over 1m2f. This race is extremely open with a number of interesting types.

PIVIOINE can succeed for the unstoppable partnership of Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy.

He won a Class 2 handicap at York last month, beating many of the opponents he comes up against today.

If he’s up with the pace, he will be hard to pass, added to the extra fact that the red-hot Oisin Murphy is on-board – he has 12 winners from his last 54 rides.

Borodin 4/1

Next up, the 2:00 William Hill supporting the fight against Parkinson’s Handicap BORODIN has also won at Thirsk recently in a class 3 event and will be fancying another shot at victory in this latest appearance.

He’s now up in class, but he’s lightly raced and looks open to further improvement. Richard Fahey trains, Paul Hanagan rides. 

Mirage Dancer 6/4

This former Arc trial invites a mouth-watering clash between two horses from the same owner, Monarchs Glen and MIRAGE DANCER – who should edge out the latter on class.

Sir Michael Stoute’s 4yo colt won convincingly at Glorious Goodwood last time out and will be using this race as a potential stepping stone for a trip to Canada.

Ryan Moore – who celebrated his birthday with three winners the other day, is backing in form after winning both classics at the weekend, and can succeed here on a son of Frankel.

Holmeswood 10/1

The William Hill Ayr Silver Cup Handicap is another big handicap to work our way through, and HOLMESWOOD is our selection.

He was a beaten favourite at York last time, and the conditions may have overthrown him, yet he did still however power on to finish third.

Wasn’t seen to best effect - he is a course, and a distance winner and should be firmly in the picture. 

Marie's Diamond - 7/1

The feature race at Newbury is the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, a Group 2 event over 6f, and dropping in class, MARIE'S DIAMOND can bounce back from a poor run in France.

Finishing a distance ninth behind Pretty Pollyanna in the Darley Prix Morny, Mark Johnston's 2yo colt has been in final form this year as a whole, with three wins to his name - including an impressive success in the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.

He is a Group 3 winner, and placed in a Group 2 before, so has a good chance if bouncing back to his best.  Champion jockey aboard once more. 

Queen of Bermuda 5/1

On ratings, QUEEN OF BERMUDA is surely the standout horse in this William Hill Firth of Clyde Stakes, a Group 3 contest over 6f.

William Haggas’ 2yo – another horse returning from a winless trip to France, did however finish a valiant second to Archie Watson’s Soldiers Call.

He has since boosted the form winning a valuable Group 2 in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. Good ground would be ideal.

Equilateral 7/2

The final group race of the day is the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes and Charlie Hill’s EQUILATERAL is certainly one to be considered.

Having disappointed at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup, he bounced back at Leicester when dropping back to a class 3 event.

Now back up to a class 1, he really needs to stamp his authority and put his name back in the hat as one of Britain’s best sprinters.

George Bowen 20/1

This heritage handicap looks wide open on paper, and the betting market will be a minefield, but GEORGE BOWEN looks the most attractive at a price.

Richard Fahey’s gelding finished a creditable fifth and sixth in the Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood and Wokingham stakes at Royal Ascot respectively.

He bolted in his penultimate start in the Scottish Stewards Cup equivalent at Hamilton and usually makes the frame in these rules and conditions. Sebastien Woods is in the saddle once more, and takes off a beneficial 5lbs.

An unnamed bookmaker also laid a bet of £20,000 each way at 25/1 last month for this horse in