4:20 Newbury Tips

This should be a straightforward win here. Looked impressive on return from absence last time out when easily winning at Ascot over 1m. Will be even better for that outing, and with further progress expected, should be hard to beat here.

High stalls are favored with 12 or fewer runners over CD, so it's helpful to look towards there. Also, it's not easy to make all here. Classy gelding who'd been running well at Group level here and abroad last season, including a G3 win at Kentucky Downs, G2 placed at Ascot, and G1 placed back in the US. Gelded back in October and hasn't really fired since. However, the first run was in Meydan G1. Obviously, My Cloud could be anything. However, I wouldn't like taking 13/8, and pretty much all the rest have something to prove. Worth chancing Each Way at 9s with him being 13/2 most places and as low as 5/1 with Betfair. Age advantage this time of the year and top weight wouldn't put me off.

Out of form lately but has strong course credentials and was a Group 2 winner here in 2023. Often finishes strongly and could benefit from the step back up in trip. With Hannon’s excellent record at the track and the drop in class, he could sneak into the frame if finding his spark.

Classic holds form claims ahead of a subsequent winner, I thought it was interesting the owners threw another one in against him in the shape of Boyfriend. Third when last seen, he looked ahead of his mark there in 2024 when finishing close up third in and around horses who have all progressed since to be 90+. Feasibly, he could make a mockery of a mark of 83, and whilst winning at the course on soft ground, he does seemingly act on a sounder surface. The break is a worry, but somewhat notably in the context of this race, he did beat Ebt’s Guard here on his sole win (over shorter) giving away a couple of lbs, and he gets 13 lbs from that horse here. If he’s ready, and not too keen off no pace, I think he’s overpriced, and Probert would probably be on if he could make the weight. As it is, Hitchcott takes the ride, and he could be well served in taking him forward here off this low weight.

This is a pretty open race, and Crown Board, who has had one run so far this season and flopped over 10 furlongs, is back to 8. Will Buick has been booked, so they must have expectations of a better run.

My Cloud runs with a ten-pound increase in the weights for his win at Ascot on seasonal return in an apprentice race. With nearly 40% of the book taken by him, an appealing each-way option is Kitaro Kich at the bottom of the weights. George Baker's charge has been something of a late developer and has shaken off the handicapper's efforts from a mark of 57 in January to 81 last time when second in a class 3 at Kempton. The runner-up flopped next time out, but Supreme King was second at the Chester meeting.

ENGLISH OAK is by one of the sport's leading sires in Wootton Bassett and this five year old is third-up for this spell with potential to peak. He gets to take his chance with the yard in fine form and it is noticed that he came to hand at this time last year. Interesting runner.