Newbury Racecourse hosts a strong Saturday card featuring the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, Greenham Stakes, and Spring Cup Handicap. This race-by-race breakdown combines Tom’s Tips and Rich’s Ranks for key races, highlighting form, class moves, distance changes, and pace setups.
🏇 NEWBURY RACECOURSE PICKS
RACE 1 – Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Fred Darling Stakes) – 8:25 am ET
Tom’s Tips
14 – Zaravina – she ran second in her only start at Deauville in August at
7F and was put away for this campaign. She went off as a big favorite in
that race. Her only start was a tough race, and she was ridden by James
Doyle.
7 – Princess Petrol – she won her second start at Ascot on the good going
and came back to run second at Newmarket going 7F with an extremely
fast finishing quarter. It was only a field of five. She should be move late to
have a chance.
9 – Spinning Lizzie – one of her first starts of the year on the all-weather
going one mile. As a 2-year-old, she won her first start, ran poorly at Royal
Ascot, came back this year as a second on the heavy going at Goodwood,
but with a slow finishing time, and then showed speed and failed in the final
start last year. She has the advantage of a start this year, and William Buick
Rich’s Ranks
11 – STIMULATIVE TRIP – 2nd race upside and won debut with ease
13 – TOULEEN – benefits from some rest – crushed in both 1st ups
2 – CATCHING THE MOON – catching a little more distance helps
4 – ELLUSIVE BUTTERFLY – 2nd up and cutting back in distance helps
RACE 2 – Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes – 9:00 am ET
Tom’s Tips
8 – Zavateri – after winning four in a row, he ran fourth in his final start last
year. I think he will come into this more mature and win over this 7F. In my
handicapping, I will toss out the last race.
6 – Needle Match – only has one start and that was at Newburg and a
winning effort last time out. Adds a bit more distance in his first start this
season. I really like his run with coming from midpack to win by a head.
1 – Albert Einstein. – Lots of talk about this before the last race, and he
failed at the Curragh, running sixth of ten. He won his first two starts,
including a Group Three race at 2yo. Will he show up today with a strong
run, or will he be just good enough in the money?
Rich’s Ranks
7 – TITLE ROLE – just a little racing luck from being undefeated in 5
8 – ZAVATERI – has a Group I win and owned all three 1st up outings
1 – ALBERT EINSTEIN – undefeated in a pair on Good footing
RACE 3 – Finest Surprise Stakes (John Porter Stakes) – 9:35 am ET
Tom’s Tips
7 – Tenability – ran second last out at Ascot after winning four in a row. I
think at first up, with good going, he will put in a good effort against this
bunch.
1 – Convergent – he’s the one to beat after his win last time out at
Leopardstown in an even-paced run. He failed once at Chester in a Group
Three. He has a good draw but didn’t hold on at the finish. He will be going
for the lead, and he may not get caught with a good break from the inside
post.
5 – Lion’s Pride – he’s been better on the all-weather than on turf, but his
last win was a good effort at Newmarket before the layoff. He has come
back strong before and should again. Gosden/Moore.
3 – Al Aasy
6 – Pride of Arras
Rich’s Ranks
3 – AL AASY – most upside in the race – but last was awful
2 – PHANTOM FLIGHT – I always wonder if I put too much into this, but Buick rides instead of staying on the 1
6 – PRIDE OF ARRAS – all or nothing horse and expecting more in 2nd up
RACE 4 – Spring Cup Handicap – 10:10 am ET
Tom’s Tips
7 – Fifth Column – he didn’t run at all in his final two races last season, but
earlier had four wins. He won first up last season on the all-weather and
won at Newmarket at this distance. He will show up late in the race.
Gosden/Buick/Godolphin. Royal Ascot may be next on the agenda with a
good run here.
3 – Ebt’s Guard – he won his first start last season at Newbury and had an
okay season with another win and some placings. Ultra consistent horse
who rarely runs a bad race. First up, he could win again.
11 – Rogue Diplomat – he ran second in the Lincoln last time out with a fast
finish and lost by a nose coming far back in the field. He just needs a good
early start to finish well.
2 – Linwood
17 – Back In Black
22 – Stem
Rich’s Ranks
9 – SHOUT – a finally healthy horse making the 2nd up for the first time in a year
17 – BACK IN BLACK – never really a bad race in 9 tries
11 – ROGUE DIPLOMAT – just missed last out – resume says better in 2nd up
23 – COGITATE – super consistent and that might just be all that is needed
RACE 7 – Millennium Millionaire Handicap – 11:55 am ET
Tom’s Tips
3 – Valedictory – a lightly raced Gosden-trained horse with four starts and
two wins at class 5 and 3 levels. His last win was at Newbury at 7F. It may
be a simple case of maturity compounded by a minor injury that’s kept this
horse from running. He should handle the added distance without issue.
7 – Triple Double A – he’s already had two races this season on the all-
weather, one a winning effort at Newcastle and the other a raise in class,
where he finished midpack, seventh of thirteen. Last season, he ran well in
all 7 races. Distance is the big question.
14 – Arcturus Flame – he has one race this season on the all-weather and
ran third in a class 4 race. Adds distance from last race, but has traveled
this distance before running fifth. He’s only won once but has placed in six
of his eleven races. He will show up late to get a piece here.
2 – Rathgar
Rich’s Ranks
15 – KING AL – sure looks like his been running well versus better
1 – TWISTING PHYSICS – high weight horse and improved in every race
3 – VALEDICTORY – both turf races are good enough
9 – JUPITER AMMON – has not won yet – but been the favorite in the last 3 – maybe today we find out why at a better price
