ITV Racing Tips on Friday, April 29th
ITV are broadcasting seven races live on Friday afternoon from Goodwood & Newmarket, including Group 2 and Listed action. Racing Tips have provided insight into all seven scheduled races, with a selection to follow in each.
AL MUBHIR (1:30 Goodwood)
A chance is taken on AL MUBIHR to confirm the promise of his opening start last season at Newmarket as he returns to the track for his three-year-old season.
William Haggas’ colt was well supported prior to making his racecourse debut back in October, sent off 9/2, Al Mubhir made smart headway under William Buick before running on well in the closing stages over seven furlongs to see off the well-touted Filistine for John and Thady Gosden.
With five future winners behind him on that occasion, Al Mubhir is clearly a useful prospect for connections and with the colt related to a Listed and Group 3 winner, William Haggas’ charge is taken to land this Class 2 contest before being aimed at bigger targets as the season progresses.
SUBASTAR (1:50 Newmarket)
It seems fairly significant that Roger Varian has pitched SUBASTAR straight into Listed company on just his second start for connections.
Seemingly unfancied when sent off 14/1 for his debut at Newmarket last September, Roger Varian’s well-bred newcomer produced an eye-catching finishing effort, staying on strongly inside the final furlong to win by one and a half lengths at the line.
Subastar came home in front of three subsequent winners that day including fourth-placed finisher Magisterial, who franked the form once more with a timely boost last week at Leicester.
The step up to ten furlongs on Friday looks tailor-made for Subastar and with the three-year-old holding fancy entries in the Derby and Irish equivalent, Roger Varian’s talented colt will be expected to land Listed honours on his seasonal return.
GUBBASS (2:25 Newmarket)
Noble Truth sets the standard but will have to put behind a disappointing effort when stepping up to a mile in the Saudi Derby Cup when last seen back in February, while Ribhi has been far from convincing in his two starts over seven furlongs to date for trainer Marcus Tregoning.
GUBBASS won his opening two starts as a juvenile last campaign for Richard Hannon before going on to run a sound race in Group 3 company, finishing behind Khunan and Asymmetric in the Richmond Stakes over six furlongs.
Far from disgraced in Group 1 and Group 2 events on his final outings as a two-year-old, Gubbass returned earlier this month in Newbury’s Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs and despite sweating and being slowly away, the three-year-old stayed on strongly in the closing stages despite being unable to land a significant blow to those ahead of him.
With improvement to come, Gubbass should strip fitter for that return to action and rates a confident selection to return to winning ways with Ryan Moore retaining the partnership.
RAASEL (2:40 Goodwood)
It might be worth upgrading the run of RAASEL last time out at Musselburgh as the progressive sprinter could never get any cover under jockey Alistair Rawlinson and wasn’t beaten far in fifth at the winning line.
Returning from a career-high mark of 94, the five-year-old was forced wide on the track at Musselburgh and had no other choice than to go forward before ultimately being passed in the closing stages.
Raasel still appears to be feasibly treated from his current mark and if able to find cover from his draw in stall eight, Mick Appleby’s charge should be able to go in once again and record his seventh career victory under James Doyle.
WIZARD D’AMOUR (3:00 Newmarket)
Although stepping up markedly in Class, WIZARD D’AMOUR could be tough to beat under a mandatory 5lb penalty following his comfortable success at Catterick last week.
Tracking the leaders throughout, the likeable grey gelding surged to the front under jockey Ben Curtis and despite winning by just over a length at the line, the four-year-old was value for more than the official winning margin and was well on top at the finish.
Tactically versatile, Karl Burke’s charge still appears to be ahead of the handicapper and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him follow up in a similar style despite the presence of Class 2 opposition.
BARTZELLA (3:15 Goodwood)
Roger Varian’s two runners are entitled to respect as they return to the track, however, both may prefer a softer surface underfoot to be seen at their best, while Silence Please has some smart efforts her name in Group company but is without a win since June 2020.
William Haggas remains in tremendous form operating at a 22% strike rate in recent weeks and he will be confident his progressive filly BARTZELLA can make it three from four in her career after impressing in her three-year-old season last term.
A taking winner of a ten furlong maiden at Goodwood back in August, the filly was unable to follow up at Thirsk and justify short odds over 1m4f, however, that surprising blip was followed by a smart winning effort at Ascot from a mark of 80.
Making all, William Haggas’ charge ran out an impressive winner in by three and a half lengths on that particular occasion and looks very much the type to make her mark at Listed level and beyond this campaign off 87.
YIBIR (3:35 NEWMARKET)
A 3lb penalty is hardly going to stop YIBIR from recording the seventh victory for trainer Charlie Appleby as the four-year-old returns to British soil following some remarkable globe-trotting performances.
Successful at Newmarket in Group 3 company last July, Yibir followed up in smart fashion at York in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes the following month. Sent across to America towards the end of the season, Charlie Appleby’s charge recorded an effortless stakes victory at Belmont Park before getting up close home to defeat Broome in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.
Returning from a 140-day break, Yibir finished a neck second in the Group 1 Sheena Classic at Meydan and with comfortably the best form on offer and clear on official ratings, the four-year-old is difficult to oppose on Friday afternoon and will be sent off a short-price favourite to oblige.
