Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend: Seven great tips for Newbury meet

The flat season begins at Newbury with the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend, which is one of the first chances to see some of the early Group races.

Our tipster Ross Millar has cast his eye over the action.

1.50 - John Porter Stakes (Group 3), 1m4f

Ilaraab and Max Vega start this season as they ended the last, clashing over this course and distance. Last October it was the William Haggas-trained Ilaraab who came out one length on top, but given that Max Vega now has a 3lb pull in the weights he should have a good chance of reversing the form.

I’d oppose the pair and side with Raymond Tusk, who has race fitness on side. He’s been busy through the winter with a generally disappointing foray over hurdles but looked back to somewhere near his best when winning at Doncaster on the opening day of the season. This is tougher but he comes out best on figures when you factor in the 3lb he receives from Ilaraab and I can see the long Newbury straight suiting him well.

Selection: Raymond Tusk @ 8

2.25 - Fred Darling Stakes (Group 3), 7f

I’m fairly confident that Wild Beauty is below the level of a genuine Group 1 performer (despite her win in Woodbine last year), however she may still be good enough to win this, especially as she escapes a penalty for her win in Canada.

I will side with a less-exposed filly at a big price, though. Miss Carol Ann looked very smart at Newmarket when making a winning debut over seven furlongs - she travelled in the manner of a classy filly and quickened up well against the rail to win by an ever-expanding distance. Following that she was sent off favourite for the Listed Radley Stakes at this track, but having travelled like the best filly in the race she folded tamely when asked for an effort and ended up a distant sixth. That run was on soft ground and perhaps more pertinently was at the end of October when the weather is changing rapidly - this can have a dramatic effect on fillies and I’m prepared to draw a line through that run.

If she can get back to the form of her Newmarket win she could well outrun her double-figure odds.

Selection: Miss Carol Ann @ 11.5

3.00 - Greenham Stakes (Group 3), 7f

I’m of the opinion that Angel Bleu is dependent on soft ground to be at his best and forecasts would suggest he’s unlikely to get those conditions on Saturday. I much prefer both Lusail and Perfect Power. The former has already shown that he has the required stamina for 7f when winning at Newmarket last year, while the latter is yet to try this trip. With Perfect Power, there is also the question of whether he’s trained on as his sire, Ardad, certainly did not.

Despite these two questions I still find myself siding with Richard Fahey’s colt. His dam stayed 10f - albeit at a moderate level - and he struck me as having some size and scope last year so I’m hoping he will have developed over the winter. Expect the ultra-calm Christophe Soumillon to deliver him with a daring late run and get up in the shadow of the post.

Selection: Perfect Power @ 3

3.35 - Spring Cup Handicap, 1m

The form of the SBK Lincoln will be well tested in this competitive handicap. Rogue Bear finished third at Doncaster but given he did his best work late on, I wonder whether the quicker ground here might be to his disadvantage, especially as both of his wins at Nottingham came over an extended mile.

Off just a pound higher I would expect Saleymm to be competitive and I could make a case for Modern News too, though he’ll be without Harry Davies’ useful 7lb allowance this time.

It’s been a while since Oh This Is Us has shown his best form but he has largely been contesting better races than this. As a consequence, his mark has now slipped to just 96, some 16lb below his career-high mark. This 17-runner field should allow his jockey, Sean Levey, to find plenty of cover and I’m hoping this easier grade will see Oh This Is Us go close in a wide-open race.

Selection: Oh This Is Us @ 80

4.10 - Div 1 Maiden Stakes, 1m

Certainly a race where it may pay to have your notepad and pen close to hand, as a couple of smartly bred types make their debuts - Smart Contender and Open Champion are the two that most interest me.

I’m going to side with a horse who already has racecourse experience in the form of the William Haggas-trained My Prospero. He showed plenty of immaturity on his racecourse debut at Newmarket in October last year, but in the closing stages the penny started to drop and he did some good work to close down on the principals in the last furlong. The form of that race has received a recent and notable boost as the winner, Claymore, chased home Native Trail in the Craven.

With experience behind him I would expect My Prospero to go close.

Selection: My Prospero @ 2.86

4.45 - Div 2 Maiden Stakes, 1m

The more open of the two divisions, with many of those with experience having failed to show any noteworthy ability so far.

As a result, it may pay to side with a newcomer. Roger Varian has started the season well and had a winning debutant at Newmarket on Thursday. Indemnify was a 260,000gns yearling and as befits that price tag he has a smart pedigree, being by Lope De Vega out of a half-sister to 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain.

A wide draw will hopefully allow David Egan the option of riding him prominently or slotting in if cover is required.

Selection: Indemnify @ 5.5

5.20 - Maiden Stakes, 1m3f

Again another race that will likely throw up plenty of future winners so have the notepad handy.

No yard in the country can match the strength in depth Godolphin have in the three-year old division, with Native Trail, Coroebus and Noble Truth all high-class performers.

The Frankel son Natural World might just be the next off the royal blue production line. His dam, Skiffle, a daughter of Dubawi, comes from a high-class family.

Charlie Appleby has clearly established himself as the number-one trainer in the Godolphin organisation and has impressed me with his confidence when it comes to designing race programs for his large team. I’d expect Natural World to be well educated ahead of this debut and he interests me the most.

Selection: Natural World @ 9

Recommended bets

Raymond Tusk @ 8

Miss Carol Ann @ 11.5

Perfect Power @ 3

Oh This Is Us @ 80

My Prospero @ 2.86

Indemnify @ 5.5

Natural World @ 9