THE INSIDER
According to the forecasts, there’s going to be quite a bit of rain at Newbury before the start of the Lockinge Stakes. If that’s the case then a number of horses can enter the equation for this interesting Group 1 renewal. Paco Boy would have been my first choice after his convincing display at Sandown three weeks ago, but if the ground eases then I think both TWICE OVER and PRESSING should be there or thereabouts. Twice Over hails from the in-form Henry Cecil stable and this son of Champion miler Observatory would appreciate an ease in the current going to be ultra competitive. If the going is good then I would expect this bay colt to shorten in the betting and possibly be a steamer come race time. The suggestion would be to take an early price right now and look to lay it back at shorter odds on Saturday through one of the exchanges.
Pressing, a former Group 1 winner in Italy, would also be worthy of a bet if the official description of the going come race time has the word “soft” in it. At this point we should be looking to back this son of Soviet Star e/w. Looking at the rest of the Newbury card and my eye is taken to AQWAAL in the 3.10pm contest. This son of Red Ransom put in a fine performance at Sandown last month and I would imagine that he would strip fitter tomorrow. At York today the two-year-old Listed Fillies race at 1.40pm, looks to bring together a good bit of the early season form. If the recent run hasn’t taken too much out of her and she handles the going, I would expect DIAMOND LAURA to follow-up in what appears to be a decent contest.