3.30pm Newbury Tips & Betting Preview 22/09/2017

3.30pm Newbury tips for Friday’s Class 2 nursery. Seven colts head to post over the straight mile. This looks like a fascinating little contest, with plenty of promise for 2018 and beyond. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: BON SCOTTE was value for further on his winning debut when green under pressure. The runner-up was an impressive winner at Sandown on Wednesday to frank the form in smart style. White Mocha has shown solid form the twice he has been seen on the track and he looks like the biggest danger, while Candidate and Khazaf both represent yards with recent winners in this race.

1 BON SCOTTE – Led home three with previous experience when making a winning debut at Goodwood last month. He looked a little green on that quirky course when under pressure, but dug deep to repel the field. The second and fourth have both won since to give the form a nice boost. The experience should have done him the power of good and it would be no surprise should he follow up on this flatter track.

2 WHITE MOCHA – Needed all of the mile to get his head in front on his debut, but he was outstayed up the hill at Salisbury over the same trip on his second start when trying to defy a penalty. He brings smart form to the table, with the promise of more to come back on a flatter track. He holds entries in the Royal Lodge and Racing Post Trophy so he is clearly well regarded.

3 CANDIDATE – Derby entry is related to some smart winners in Italy over this trip, but this is a tough looking contest to be making his debut in. The Hughie Morrison yard are showing signs of turning the corner having been going through a quiet spell. The juveniles from that stable tend to come on a bit for their first experience, but they are not adverse to popping up with big priced placed debutantes. They won this contest last year with the once raced Temple Church who runs in the previous race, so any market interest should be noted.

4 KHAZAF – Debutante is a half-brother to a smart juvenile in The Paddyman, placed in the Richmond, Mill Reef and Tattersall Stakes. His sales price jumped sharply from foal to yearling so has clearly grown up well, boasting a pedigree of one to watch over middle distances in 2018. The yard have won this race twice in the last decade, so he is another interesting newcomer in a tasty little contest.

5 KNIGHT TO BEHOLD – Smart pedigree but very much one for next season. He is bred to be a strong stayer, his dam a half-sister to St Leger winner Millenary who wore these colours, as well as a number who stayed two miles on the flat. It would be a surprise if he were forward enough to win this on debut, but he is one to note closely for signs of future promise.

6 MACAQUE – Already had four starts, winning on the third of them at Brighton. He was the 1/16 favourite on that occasion in a two runner race, so it’s best not to judge him on that but rather on his smart runner-up effort at Goodwood last time. That is about as strong a form line in the contest from those who have run, but he will need a little more again to hold off those who have had less experience.

7 SALLAB – Another to have already hit the track on four occasions, he has shown a couple of pieces of solid form. He improved for the step up to this trip last time when a close runner-up at Chepstow, but that form isn’t going to be good enough to get him into the frame. Needs considerably more to trouble the principals.