2 group races at Newbury

Newbury is the main meeting in the U.K. today, and with more rain expected, the going may well turn out to be worse than the official "good to soft" forecast. These conditions should be ideal for Tom Tate´s tough front-runner Welsh Emperor (Tony Culhane), who runs for the third time in the Group two Humgerford Stales over 7 fuzrlongs at 16.15CET. He won it in 2006 and was just touched off last year, and the main threat wiuld appear to be Paco Boy (Richard Hannon/ Ryan Moore), winner of a similar race at Glorious Goodwood with 3 of these opponents behind.

Godolphin has entered two runners with Frankie Dettori aboard Alexandros, who also ran well at Goodwood but over a mile. It could be that this distance is more suitable but the stable form is still worrying. The day´s other group race, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes over 1 mile 5 furlongs at 15.40 is very open. Sixties Icon (Jeremy Noseda/ Johnny Murtagh) won the St. Leger 2 years ago but has been campaigned at shorter distances since, winning at Goodwood last time. Geordieland (Jamie Osborne/ Shane Kelly) has twice finished runner-up to Yeats in the Ascot Gold Cup, but also has form over this distance; however he is a notoriously difficult ride. Godolphin´s Eastern Anthem (out of German-bred dual classic winner Kazzia) has been a bit disappointing, but is definitely not out of it, and two other German-breds Tempelstern (Henry Cecil/ Ted Durcan) and Peppertree Lane (Mark Johnston/ Jimmy Fortune) also have chances, especially if the ground goes soft. However the safest option may b e Andrew Balding´s Donegal (Martin Dwyer), the only 3yo in the field, who looks like making up into a smart stayer. The stable continues in excellent form.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Blakfrankisch - Monfils Monfils - Oldrik
2.Race: Cry of Freedom - Whispering Angel - Jazz Police
3.Race: Sixties Icon - Lion Sands - Geordieland
4.Race: Paco Boy - Alexandros - Il Warrd
5.Race: Silver Wind - Underworld - King`S Caprice
6.Race: Glen Molly - Suba - La Adelita
7.Race: Border Owl - Craigstown - Buddy Holly