Guide To Friday’s ITV Racing

This Friday’s ITV racing is fairly packed with high-quality action which includes three Group races and a Listed event live from Newmarket. There are some classy horses on show with young fillies in the spotlight as well as a blockbuster clash between two Sir Michael Stoute runners in the feature.

Progressive fillies clash in the opener

The action kicks off at 1:50pm with the Rosemary Stakes, a Listed event over a mile open only to fillies and mares aged three or older. The market leaders weren’t separated by much when first priced up with Hugo Palmer’s Unforgetable Filly just edging favouritism following her eight-length romp at Haydock last time out. Behind her that day in fourth was Agrotera who won the Sandringham at Royal Ascot in great style and was a very short price to follow up but couldn’t handle the Palmer filly. She got back on track last time when narrowly defeated in a French Listed contest and will likely be involved. John Gosden’s Laugh Aloud is third in the betting and looks to be one of the form contenders based on her highly impressive wins last season at Goodwood and Epsom. She was off for a long time following those and hasn’t been quite at her best since but is potentially a class apart if at her best.

Morrison filly ready to Rock in the Nayef

Next up is the first of the Group action, the Nayef Stakes, again featuring fillies and mares aged three or older. The favourite here when prices went up on Thursday night was Star Rock who finished second last time out beaten a head in a German Group 2 event but has an even more convincing piece of form in her one-length third to Pilaster in the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood. She looked unlucky that day when finishing with some running left and must go well here. Her main market rival is Mrs Sippy who has been improving all season and was a good two-length second to major Arc fancy Sea Of Class earlier in the year. She was an easy winner of a Listed event at Longchamp last time and is talented. One who is on a recovery mission is Sir Michael Stoute’s Sun Maiden who won a Salisbury maiden by a street before finishing third in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. She has been poor twice since then however and has something to prove though would be a threat at her best.

Just Wonderful trying to live up to her name in the Rockfel

The first of two Group 2 events on the card is the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes for two-year-old fillies over seven furlongs. This looks a competitive event with Main Edition, Just Wonderful and Yourtimeisnow. The first named, trained by Mark Johnston, has already won at Group level at Newmarket when staying on very strongly to win the Sweet Solera two starts ago. Since then she has finished fifth in the Group 1 Moyglare on Irish Champions Weekend behind Skitter Scatter. Just Wonderful looked special when winning on debut from recent Blenheim Stakes winner Lethal Promise and she was well backed when dotting up in the Flame Of Tara Group 3 at Curragh from a couple of useful stablemates, one of which went on to win the May Hill. Roger Varian’s Yourtimeisnow has progressed nicely in her short career and was most recently seen winning the Dick Poole at Salisbury in game fashion, she looked very speedy there however and steps up in trip for the first time to seven furlongs here.

Stoute stablemates face off in the Joel Stakes

Rounding off the ITV racing for the day at 3:35pm is the Joel Stakes won last year in fine style by Beat The Bank who doesn’t line up to defend his crown here. It looks a tight event this year though the market is dominated by two Sir Michael Stoute-trained runners, Mustashry and Regal Reality. Sir Michael Stoute has done a fine job with Mustashry and he is two from three this season with his successes coming at Listed and Group 2 level. He was only on top by a neck last time at Doncaster in the Park Stakes but seven furlongs is short of his best trip and the step back up to a mile should suit, though he has a three-pound penalty to carry. The second of the main contenders is Regal Reality who was most impressive when winning a Goodwood Group Three but couldn’t quite last it out from the front in bottomless ground at Haydock last time out. He was behind two mudlarks that day and should be seen in a better light on a firmer surface here so is a big player.

Going Report

The going at Newmarket is currently good, good to firm in places.

Market Movers

A fair few short-priced favourites on today’s ITV card but some well-backed horses nonetheless with the biggest market moves as follows:

2:25pm Newmarket – Star Rock – 2/1 from 11/4

3:00pm Newmarket – Main Edition – 2/1 from 7/2

3:35pm Newmarket – Regal Reality – 2/1 from 3/1

Away from the ITV action there is a big gamble at Dundalk where Major Reward is 9/2 from 20/1 in the 6:00pm.

ITV Racing Tips 

You can see all our ITV Racing tips on site as well as our NAP Of The Day Tip which has been going very well as of late. It’s hard to go wrong backing the Accumulator tips and that is also available now!

Stat Of The Day

Non-handicap two-year-old races at Newmarket have been a happy hunting ground for favourites in the last five seasons. At a £1 level stake you would be up £20.70 which bodes well for backers of the Mark Johnston-trained Main Edition.