Millar's Method: SBK ambassador could be set for a big day at Newmarket

If a short-priced play isn't your idea of a good bet, especially on a competitive day of racing, make sure you have a second look at Ross Millar's selections.

3.40 Newmarket, 7f Group 3 Jewson Sweet Solera Stakes

The Karl Burke-trained Novakai and Ismail Mohammed’s Alseyoob looked smart on their respective debuts, but the form of both races has been knocked with some of their closest pursuers disappointing on their next outing. 

The more experienced pair - Lakota Sioux and Ivory Madonna - in this year’s Sweet Solera look to hold the advantage, and it’s the latter, who is trained by Richard Spencer, who interests me the most despite still retaining her maiden status.

Ivory Madonna made a promising start to life at Goodwood with a strong-running third after displaying signs of greenness in the early stages. Her next start came in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she again broke slowly and found the pace fairly hot in the early stages - she was barely on the bridle.

Nevertheless, she showed a battling nature to stay on into a closing third despite being forced to challenge on the far side of the track, which was far from ideal. 

Her next only appearance since saw her contest a run-of-the-mill maiden and she could only manage second despite dominating the market. That form is hard to assess as the winner was a smart-looking debutant who hasn’t run since. Once again she struggled as the pace quickened, but stuck on tenaciously in the closing stages.

I’m sure that this step up in trip is going to help her find a better rhythm in the middle part of the race and, with her Albany third standing out as the best piece of form in this field, I fancy her to shed her maiden tag under SBK ambassador Richard Kingscote.

Selection: Ivory Madonna @ 6.2

4.20 Newmarket, 7f Time Test Handicap

I was delighted to see Love De Vega land the spoils for this column last week over this course and distance. Frankie Dettori kept it very simple by making virtually all of the running to ultimately win with a fair degree of comfort.

Charlie and Mark Johnston have elected to turn him out again quickly, which might be a slight negative given he was off the track for 415 days before his recent success,  but it’s a risk that I’m prepared to take. 

None of his rivals arrive in career-best form, so I fully expect him to prevail under Kingscote and reward a smart bit of race planning.

Selection: Love De Vega @ 2.8

Recommended bets

Ivory Madonna (3.40 Newmarket) @ 6.2
Love De Vega (4.20 Newmarket) @ 2.8