Best Bets For The Horseracing From Newbury Saturday 20th May 2017

There is plenty of racing to enjoy this weekend but only two bets for me at this time.

The Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes kicks off proceedings at 1.50. I put up Midterm for the G.3 John Porter Stakes in April where he got a little outpaced on firmish ground, Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "After Newbury he has come on a fair bit, but he needed to because he was a bit lacklustre there”. The softer going this weekend should suit, both wins on good-soft, and I am still convinced he will turn out to be at the least an above average horse. I have the 7-2. Across The Stars is feared most in a competitive heat.

Galileo Gold and Ribchester head nine runners for the Group One Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on the straight mile. Last year's 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold will be making his seasonal reappearance for Hugo Palmer in a race sponsored by his owner. Ribchester has had an outing at Meydan, finishing third in the Dubai Turf over nine furlongs; the drop back to eight will not hurt. He is joined by stablemate and probable pacemaker Toscanini. Tallking of his charge earlier this week Fahey told the sportinglife.com website. "We're very happy with him. I don't know what it is, I was happy with him in Dubai and since he has come back he has really thrived. He's had a couple of easy days but we're very happy with him. Physically and mentally he is getting stronger, as we always felt he would do and his work in very good. The beauty of Ribchester is you could sell him as a sports car, he can go very quick in a few strides. He just needs a decent pace to get him to drop his head and William (Buick) has been riding him really well, running the pacemaker just means we are guaranteed a good pace." I am on the Godolphin runner at 2-1 with Hills. While Aidan O'Brien has taken out Minding and Alice Springs, he has left in another classy filly, Somehow, an easy winner on Guineas weekend in the Group Two Dahlia Stakes and tipped on here at 5-2. This is a big ask though. David Simcock's Lightning Spear, third to Minding in the QEII, could also be in the shake-up.

The unbeaten Caravaggio makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the EMS Copiers Lacken Stakes at Naas on Sunday. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt is among a field of nine declared for the Group Three over six furlongs as he seeks to take his 100 per cent to five. Caravaggio has not been seen since winning the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August.

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