Get all of Tuesday’s UK racing tips coming your way from Newmarket and Lingfield on 18 April 2023.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 – MAJESTIC PRIDE 9/4
It promises to be another good afternoon of high-class Flat at Newmarket for William Buick and Charlie Appleby, who can kick proceedings off in fine style with MAJESTIC PRIDE. The seven-furlong Conditions Stakes has been won by some smart operators over the years and this Shamardal colt quickly built on an encouraging debut over track and trip in October with a taking victory at Chelmsford on the all-weather three weeks later. A half-brother to the Group One-winning Farhh, he holds an entry for the 2000 Guineas and a bold showing could earn the colt a spot on the Godolphin teamsheet for the first Classic of the summer.
Race 4 – OTTOMAN FLEET 9/4
Appleby’s OTTOMAN FLEET looks tough to oppose in the fourth today. He returns to home soil fighting fit following three solid performances in Group contests out in Dubai where he was beaten a similar distance of just over a length on each occasion. Even more encouraging is his form here at HQ where he has two victories from three starts. Following a second to Natural World on debut, he claimed the Listed Fairway Stakes on the Rowley Mile and although having to settle for second behind the progressive Alflaila in the Darley Stakes when returning to Newmarket in the autumn, he signed off with a demolition in the James Seymour to claim his second Listed prize of the campaign. This looks the perfect opportunity for the son of Sea The Stars to strike for the first time at Group Three level and to add further evidence to the case, he is the choice of stable jockey Buick.
Race 5 – COVEY 8/13
Another exciting colt who appears set for bigger things this summer is John and Thady Gosden’s COVEY. The son of Frankel was eye-catching when second at Southwell on debut – pushing the 93-rated, Greenham-bound, Zoology all the way when beaten a neck. He was plenty green at stages during that contest but is clearly blessed with plenty of raw ability and providing he has sharpened up for that first day at school, could open his account in the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes under Frankie Dettori, fresh his American sojourn.
Race 7 – AL BAREZ 2/1
The concluding Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap often goes to an improving sprinter and this year that looks to be Tom Clover’s AL BAREZ. The Dark Angel colt will have to prove his fitness following a 361-day absence but it is hard to knock his form so far – racking up three victories over six furlongs in four outings. He drops back to the minimum distance but that could prove a shrewd move on reappearance considering the weakest point of his last race at Doncaster was the final furlong where he started to tie up in the closing stages.
LINGFIELD
Race 3 – EMACULATE SOLDIER 7/2
EMACULATE SOLDIER can start to justify his lofty €350,000 price-tag when he makes his debut at Lingfield. Simon and Ed Crisford’s Sea The Moon colt is a full-brother to a Listed winner and half-brother to a German Derby runner-up and he should prove a tough nut to crack if fully primed ahead of this novice stakes.
Race 5 – CITY CYCLONE 10/3
CITY CYCLONE is another to keep onside on the Polytrack when he steps up in trip for this restricted novice stakes. Daniel and Claire Kubler’s three-year-old was not disgraced behind the useful Exoplanet at Newbury on debut and having shown real improvement when hitting the bar over a mile at Kempton in October, looks ready to tackle further on his reappearance.
