Ben Morgan’s Saturday tips – Newbury & Curragh – Blue to Power through on Super Saturday

Our resident tipster Ben Morgan gives his best bets at Newbury and the Curragh

Newbury 2.57 – Newbury turf to prove Kinder to Fanshawe stable star

Some headlines write themselves and you will notice an unintentional, but common theme throughout this tipping piece.

KIND OF BLUE kicks off that theme as he bids to bounce back from two poor runs this season.

His reappearance run in France was easily forgivable as he didn’t exit the stalls well at all, and his chance had been blown.

He followed that with a below-par run at Newcastle, where he seemingly had no excuses (apart from the surface maybe?), and consequently, he arrives here on a bit of a retrieval mission.

I think the return to turf will definitely help and so will aiming at what should be a fair pace here.

Providing the likely fast ground isn’t a hindrance, I think he can bounce back to something like the form that saw him take the Champions Sprint on Champions Day last year.

Newbury 3.30 – Hurricane could be windy enough at the top of the market in Super Sprint

Readers of the monthly magazine will know I am a huge fan of Havana Hurricane but they will also know I am a value punter and I can’t put him up here at even money.

He has enough quirks to suggest he is vulnerable at the top of the market and I think the market will auto correct itself come Saturday 3.30pm.

I’m going to have a punt on a few at a price, including IRISH FIGHTER and ARDISIA but perhaps more interestingly, having just backed him at 100/1 (Thursday afternoon) is AMBISHIO.

Mick Appleby’s twice-raced colt comes from a good sprinting family and will almost certainly have been primed for this race given his shrewd connections.

Green on debut he stayed on strongly passing the line to grab 4th in what looks like a good Nottingham maiden before pushing hot favourite Mo Of Cairo close at Beverley, where he was much more professional than the first day.

I think that race would have teed him up nicely for this, and I don’t think he should be 100/1 in what looks an open race away from the top 2 in the market.

Newbury 5.20 – Maybe? Maybe Not?

I thought MAYBE NOT was well in on handicap debut off a mark of 71 and it proved to be the case as she sauntered clear in a Ffos Las Class 5.

The handicappers have been equally as lenient with her rise as they were with her opening mark as they have only put her up 4lbs for that easy success.

She probably didn’t beat much that day but her earlier form suggests she should still be better than 75 and I hope she can prove me right in the finale.

Curragh 2.00 – Flower Power in the Scurry

I love these 6f handicaps at the Curragh as it tends to really suit some horses and you do find course specialists.

Big Gossey is a living example of that but I fear he may have a touch too much weight here and therefore vulnerable to something further down the handicap.

HEAVENLY POWER jumps off the page at me given his course and distance record but his hold up tactics obviously come with risks attached.

He enjoyed success here last summer and has had a few near misses since so I think he is due a change of fortune. His predicted price of 8/1 offers plenty of value also.

Even further down the handicap is GREEK FLOWER who was well supported last time over 5f but just couldn’t lay up. Back up to 6f she should be better suited and could at least run into a place at tasty odds.

Curragh 2.35 – Power Of Blue to show True form

A small field for this year’s Railway Stakes but a tight contest all the same.

True Love heads the market after her Queen Mary victory at Royal Ascot and she looks certain to improve for the step up to 6f here.

However the form of that race has taken some knocks and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see POWER BLUE take this race.

Ado Murray’s horse has form that ties in with some of the best juveniles around and his performance at Royal Ascot proved he has plenty of ability.

He really toughed it out on the wrong side of the track and stuck on to be 5th having had to make his own running for the last two furlongs.

He will probably have to make his own running here but at least he can set his own fractions rather than having to worry about what the other group are doing.

If David Egan can get the fractions right, I think he has a great chance of taking this Group 2.

Curragh 4.15 – Improving Leinster to feature in scrum for Group 2 honours

I think there is plenty more to come from Joseph O’Brien’s LEINSTER over-staying trips and despite being lowly rated here I think he could ruffle a few fancied feathers.

Having stuck on in the Chester Cup around a track that probably wasn’t ideal he probably found the ground at Ascot a little too lively but still finish a respectable 4th.

The softer conditions here on Saturday might just bring a bit more improvement out of him on what is only his 7th start. I think he could outrun his juicy odds and at least get a place here. 

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