Rivet to upset the odds

Selection in every race at Newmarket

Newmarket hosts another intriguing seven-race card on Thursday afternoon, getting started at 1.50pm with a competitive handicap. Coral is the home of horse racing value, and you can get involved throughout the day with us.

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Big year expected for Tasleet

We open with the first of two group three contests on the schedule, the Abernant Stakes. A snappy six-furlong affair, with seven runners expected, Tasleet looks the one worth siding with for us. We found little joy in trusting William Haggas on Wednesday, but aim to stick with the experienced trainer here, supporting his four-year-old colt.

Tasleet was last seen winning at Chelmsford on this penultimate start, but that came over a year ago, and he has been spotted only once since, finishing down the field at this track back in October. His CV shows that he has won a couple of really handy races earlier in this career though, including a group three at Chelmsford and a listed race at Newbury.

We have been waiting for the selection to live up to his early promise for a while now, but a big year is expected, and we’re happy to keep faith and back him to get the ball rolling with a valuable win. He has already proven his worth at this level, and goes for a trainer who has been firing recently, showing off a 33 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight. Looks to have been priced in punters’ favour at 13/2.

Rivet can’t be overlooked

We go in with another group three affair in the 3.35pm Craven Stakes, where Rivet is taken to overturn early race favourite War Decree over the sharp one mile trip. Another for Haggas and he lines-up showing the best form of the field, by some distance too.

A real friend to the punters last year, the ace won three of five starts, finished as runner-up once – narrowly beaten on debut – and had one slight blot on his copybook when ending fifth at this track on his second from last start. Odds compilers seem to have read too much into that off-day, but it was little more than that for me, and I am more than happy to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Followers of Rivet will be quick to remind us that he won the group one Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last time out, and the fact Haggas is happy to send him back to the scene of the crime for another crack at Newmarket goes as a positive. Easy to back at 11/4.

Newmarket Selections

1.50 – Victory Angel

2.25 – Tabarrak

3.00 – Tasleet

3.35 – Rivet

4.10 – Spinnaka

4.45 – Daawy

5.20 – Rock N Roll Global

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