Best bet for the horse racing over the weekend at Newbury and Deauville

As mentioned in my post at the start of the week it has been a quiet one, only actually 2 bets for me. It isn’t exactly top-notch stuff here in the UK at the weekend either where Newbury is the main meeting but they do at least host three decent races.

My first bet of the day will be in the Listed Denford Stakes at 1.50 over 7f. Having won on debut on heavy going at Haydock Juan Elcani followed that up when second in the G.2 Superlative Stakes. He will be jolly for this stepping down a couple of levels as that run looks by far the best form on offer. I advise taking the 5-4. Thunderous arrives unbeaten but this is a fair step-up in class and though a couple of winners have come out of his last win at Redcar neither of those look out of the top-drawer. Sun Power has run well at this level twice without winning.

The Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes at 2.25 over the 1m5½f has five lining-up. Morando drops back down from Group One level having finished tailed-off in the KGVIIQE Stakes behind Enable last time; this looks much more the geldings level. 4 of his 6 wins have come with the word soft in the going description. The grey Technician could get involved here carrying 12lb less than the jolly stepping-up in trip. The 3yo never really got involved in the G.3 Gordon stakes last time having to race wide having won the Listed Prix Ridgway at Longchamp before that. He has a bit of form on soft as well and with heavy rain forecast on Friday evening I think this could come down to these two. I have taken a chance on the potential of the three-year-old and have the 6-1.

Race of the day is the Group Two Hungerford Stakes at 3.35 over 7f. Hey Gaman and last years winner Sir Dancealot have to be considered whilst Safe Voyage has the form on soft so the rain all week will have pleased connections. With more of the wet stuff due, and plenty of it looking at the satellite images, I fancy Safe Voyage to prevail. Third behind Romanised last time, Hey Gaman second, there wasn’t much between them and with underfoot conditions in mind, I think the John Quinn inmate will come out on top in this. Grab the 2-1.

The only Group One action of the week in Europe is out in France at Deauville where they host the Prix Morny and the Prix Jean Romanet on Sunday. The going is described as very soft on Friday evening. At 2.50 it’s the young’uns for the 6f Darley Prix Morny - Finale des Darley Series to give it its full moniker. I talked of A’Ali in my York preview video and the colt does come for this rather than a tilt at the Nunthorpe next week. Carpet 3-1 was about on Friday and with the underfoot conditions likely to suit, plus his recent win in the G.2 Prix Robert Papin at the track very fresh in the memory I took it. Ballydoyle inmate Arizona is very much respected but his two wins have come on better ground.

At 3.25 we have some recognisable names lining-up for the 1m2f Darley Prix Jean Romanet for 4yo+ Fillies & Mares on the round course. A favourite of mine Wild Illusion makes the trip across the Channel for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby and she does like France and getting her toe-in. 5-1 was available on Friday with Betfair and I have it. Coronet is the obvious danger.

Be lucky