Robin Goodfellow’s Racing Tips: Best bets for Saturday, May 8
The potential for significant rain could alter the landscape of a number of Saturday’s events, but MOTAKHAYYEL (Ascot, 3.40) appears versatile ground-wise and should find the rigours of the tote+ Victoria Cup to his liking.
The Richard Hannon-trained five-year-old was a revelation in competitive handicaps last summer, winning over Saturday’s course and distance at Royal Ascot before supplementing the success with a cosy Bunbury Cup victory.
The tempo and rhythm of those two big-field handicaps appeared to suit the son of Heeraat who travelled strongly on both occasions before putting the race to bed in style.
Sportsmail’s racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for Saturday’s meetings
While Motakhayyel may not appreciate a bog at Ascot, other talented sons of Heeraat, such as Aberama Gold and Magical Wish, both operate well with cut in the ground and conditions were on the easy side when he won at the Royal meeting.
An encouraging comeback at Thirsk behind winner Toro Strike, himself bound for the Group One Lockinge, should have blown away the cobwebs and the selection appears to have pace around him to aim at.
Quite how conditions ride at Haydock is anybody’s guess but the enigmatic NORDIC COMBINED (Haydock, nap, 3.10) could give another good account if in the mood at a track which suits. It is probably fair to say that the seven-year-old saves a little for himself, but he appeared fully motivated at Hexham last Saturday and connections wisely try to strike again with him in good heart.
The selection has posted a number of good efforts at today’s venue and was arguably beaten by a well-handicapped rival in Vision Du Puy last month.
Irish raider Shanroe also makes plenty of appeal, with the form of his decisive Fairyhouse victory boosted at Punchestown last week.
Although he is a staggering 21lb higher in the handicap today, connections were talking of premier handicaps for the gelding following his last win, so the fact he is dispatched to England for this assignment could be a tip in itself.
THIRSK
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
5.30 Fliss Floss
6.05 Written Broadcast
6.35 Noorban (nb)
7.05 Chief Craftsman
7.35 Zoom Tiger
8.05 Victory Rose
8.35 Mecca’s Hot Steps
GIMCRACK
5.30 Mo Celita
6.05 Highjacked
6.35 Le Cheval Rapide
7.05 Breguet Boy
7.35 Frantoio
8.05 Atiyah
8.35 Aleef
LINGFIELD
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.05 For Richard
1.40 Inchicore
2.15 Loving Dream
2.50 Kyprios
3.25 Bounce The Blues
4.00 Turn On The Charm
4.35 Cloudy Dawn
GIMCRACK
1.05 Flower Of Thunder
1.40 Green Planet
2.15 Ocean Road
2.50 Kyprios
3.25 Isabella Giles
4.00 Love Dreams
4.35 Cloudy Dawn
ASCOT
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.55 Dreamloper
2.30 Albaflora
3.05 Desert Dreamer
3.40 Motakhayyel
4.15 Labeebb
4.50 Mount Mogan
5.25 Miss Mulligan
GIMCRACK
1.55 Dreamloper
2.30 Tyson Fury
3.05 Night Arc
3.40 Zip
4.15 Nuits St Georges
4.50 Devil’s Angel
5.25 Luna Wish
NEWMARKET – 1.55 Lights On (nap); 3.40 Chiefofchiefs (nb).
HAYDOCK
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.25 Proschema
2.00 Aleas
2.35 Khaadem
3.10 Nordic Combined (nap)
3.45 Raaeq
4.20 Ey Up Its Mick
4.55 Senior Citizen
5.35 Eamon An Cnoic
GIMCRACK
1.25 Jersey Wonder
2.00 Darvel
2.35 Khaadem
3.10 Copperless
3.45 Raaeq
4.20 Burrows Seeside
4.55 Court Royale
5.35 Go Long
HEXHAM
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
2.10 Itsnotyouitsme
2.45 Milans Edge
3.20 Hart Of Steel
3.55 Snow Castle
4.30 Tara Mill
5.05 Absolutely Dylan
5.40 Betty Baloo
GIMCRACK
2.10 Itsnotyouitsme
2.45 Milans Edge
3.20 Laskadine
3.55 Roderick Random
4.30 Tara Mill
5.05 Absolutely Dylan
5.40 Mourne Lass
WARWICK
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
5.12 Erne River
5.45 Sayadam
6.20 I’m A Starman
6.50 Midnights’ Gift
7.20 Xcitations
7.50 Goodnight Charlie
8.20 Hardy Boy
GIMCRACK
5.12 Deeper Blue
5.45 Sayadam
6.20 Pounding Poet
6.50 Sandymount Rose
7.20 Black Mischief
7.50 Max Dynamo
8.20 Hardy Boy
NOTTINGHAM
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.15 Dark Shift
1.45 Cowboy Soldier
2.20 The Dancing Poet
2.55 Last Empire
3.30 Leroy Leroy
4.05 Seasett
4.40 Keeper’s Choice
GIMCRACK
1.15 Dark Shift
1.45 Look Out Louis
2.20 Mack The Knife
2.55 Light Refrain
3.30 Vanity Affair
4.05 Serious Intention
4.40 Keeper’s Choice
NORTHERNER – 1.45 Cowboy Soldier (nap); 2.55 Last Empire (nb).
