Sky Bet Sunday Series: tips for Newmarket this weekend

Trainer Iain Jardine and jockey Shane Gray starred on the opening day of the Sky Bet Sunday Series at Musselburgh last month – both picking up two wins apiece – and connections of Izzari will already be eyeing up the lucrative £100,000 bonus offered to the first horse that wins three races in the series.

Izzari heads to the Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap (4.45pm) on the back of a surprise 16/1 win in Scotland and has more on his plate here now up in grade/down in trip against some in-form rivals.

One of those is Lord Rapscallion, who chases a four-timer at the age of nine and  won this race two years ago, while the five-years-younger Ash Wednesday is seeking a remarkable seventh win in eight starts.

At a price, however, the nod goes to LUNARIO who should be cherry ripe after two outings at 33/1 and 22/1 and he shaped well last time, doing best of those ridden prominently. From a mark of 75, he looks set to run a big race.

Like Izzari, SPORTINGSILVERMINE's connections will have one eye on the bonus after his day one win, and the James Owen-trained four-year-old looks to have another good opportunity in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap at 5.15pm.

Hector Crouch is 2/2 on the horse and there was plenty of merit in the gelding’s recent runner-up finish behind a well-backed Gary Moore favourite at Chester. This strong-travelling sort could get first run on the likes of Artisan Dancer and Assail, who both tend to be held up, and the bigger dangers may be the hurdlers Liari and Campaign Trail who are unexposed on the Flat.

The card gets under way with the Enter ITV7 For Free Novice Stakes at 3.45pm, with five unraced colts taking on a filly who also makes her racecourse debut.

No prizes for originality here, but Charlie Appleby won this race last year and his €2,000,000 first foal of a French listed winner, Treanmor, is an obvious place to start.

Appleby has a profitable 34% strike-rate at the course with his juveniles, although that is only slightly better than that of Simon and Ed Crisford who saddle Vlad (whose sales price increased to 200,000 guineas as a yearling).

Any market support for either of the Richard Spencer newcomers should be noted given the style of Gold Digger’s debut win at Yarmouth  this week.

Zarzyni was third at Musselburgh on day one of the series, and has since added a win, so he needs plenty of respect in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap (4.15), but REIGNING PROFIT has looked an improved model since the visor went back on and he’s narrowly preferred to the similarly in-form Sanat.

Those looking for one at bigger prices should consider Fletcher’s Flight, whose last run can be ignored as he fluffed the start, and course and distance winner Spring Bloom who is on a good mark and should have no problem with the drop back to five furlongs here with Tom Marquand taking over in the saddle.

The Sky Bet Proud To Support RoR Handicap (5.45pm) is a great puzzle with a host of unexposed three-year-olds.

American Style fared best of the prominent racers when a fine second here last time (Dark Cloud Rising back in fourth), but SIXTYGEESBABY looked a bit special when winning at the track last November and he returned with a gritty win under a penalty at Doncaster last month.

His young rider is good value for his 7 lb claim and the pair get the nod ahead of the class-dropping trio of Aurora Majesty, Bolo Neighs and Northern Ticker. Coventry third Columnist should strip fitter for his run last week and looks the pick of the rest.

Mutaawid is respected in the Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap (6.15pm) but there’s no guarantee that this strong-travelling sort will get the solid pace which suits best. MR BALOO is being kept busy but there’s a chance that he will get an easy time on the lead and that could be enough to see off the in-form My Margie, who is yet to run over this far, and the returning Primo Lara, who still has more to offer as a four-year-old. Course winner Bopedro, who is down in grade, is respected but he’s another who would appreciate a truly-run race.

By contrast, the closing Sky Bet Club Fillies' Handicap (6.45pm) has several pacesetters in the field which should suit Saariselka and She’s The Duchess who were both doing their best work late on when dead-heating for second at Yarmouth last time.

However, TAKE A BREATH looked a filly going places when winning at Doncaster on her reappearance and a 5 lb rise might underestimate her.

Lady Manzor is also in fine form but has something to prove now up in trip, a comment that also applies to the promising pair of Magna Grecia Star and Ryka