Horse Betting Tips: NAP Of The Day, NB & Longshot

Steve Mullington gives his best horse betting tips for Thursday, with a NAP, Next Best and a Longshot at York...

3.45 York – Al Musmak (NAP)

The Dante Stakes in the feature race of the three-day York meeting this week and top honours can go the way of Roger Varian’s Al Musmak.

On paper I would be in the Ancient Wisdom camp every single time, but the Godolphin runner worried me slightly at Doncaster with his wobbling racing style and he certainly won’t get away with running like that down the Knavesmire.

I’m therefore going to take him on with the Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah-owned Al Musmak.

A Listed win in Haydock's Ascendant Stakes, sandwiched between creditable placed efforts behind Rosallion (Ancient Wisdom further back) at Ascot and then to Ghostwriter at Newmarket, give him one hell of a chance here today.

Danger: Caviar Heights

3.15 York – Sapphire Seas (NB)

The Charlie Appleby-trained Sapphire Seas can get back to winning ways in the UK by landing the Group 2 Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes at York.

After finishing 2023 with four straight, well-spaced wins in England, Sapphire Seas went out to Dubai where she finished second to her stablemate English Rose in the 1m1f Group 2 Balanchine (Fillies & Mares) at Meydan.

Back on the turf today she looks a major player in the betting under William Buick.

Danger: Free Wind

2.45 York – Point Lynas (E/W Longshot)

Point Lynas was cruelly denied on the line by Croupier in this race last season and will be hoping to go one better this season instead.

Trained by Ed Bethell, the five-year-old thrives when he races on the Knavesmire and is more than capable to figure once again in the finish to this one mile handicap. His horse racing odds should be attractive too.

Callum Rodriguez takes the ride and he will be buoyed by his victory and great ride at Haydock last Saturday. 

Dangers: La Trinidad & Al Mubhir

Steve Mullington gives his best horse betting tips for Friday, with a NAP, Next Best and a Longshot at York...

3.45 York – Vauban (NAP)

Like a Viking warrior he went out and plundered the UK Jumps Trainers’ Championship, and now Willie Mullins is back in the UK, sending out his marauding horse Vauban to capture the Yorkshire Cup.

Vauban has been unraced since going off the beaten favourite in the Melbourne Cup with Mullins opting not to go hurdling with him over the winter.

A few of the top staying races appear to be in the pipeline for the six-year-old again this season and his campaign kicks off here on the Knavesmire where he must have a great chance in the conditions.

Danger: Hamish

4.15 York – First Conquest (NB)

The front-running First Conquest narrowly denied Lead Artist in a thrilling renewal of the Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes at Newmarket and can follow up again at York.

That one-mile contest for unraced three-year-olds has been won by high-class performers over the years, including subsequent Dante third and Derby runner Passenger who won the other day at Chester.

Closely related to two winners including Moving Colours (French 1m), First Conquest looks like the horse they all have to beat in the horse racing odds.

Danger: Secret World

2.45 York – Andaleep (E/W Longshot)

Course and distance winner Andaleep is simply too big a price to ignore in this 1m2½f Knights Solicitors Handicap and the consistent eight-year-old is my each-way play in the betting today.

Trained by the Kubler’s, Andaleep was kept busy over the winter months and into the spring with a series of runs on the all-weather.

He is however an even better horse on the turf and has been victorious nine times from 35 starts on the grass so he merits plenty of respect here.

Jim Crowley takes the ride which is another positive for the 91-rated handicapper.

Dangers: Botanical & Reach

Steve Mullington gives his best horse betting tips for Saturday, with a NAP, Next Best and a Longshot at Newbury...

3.35 Newbury – Poker Face (NAP)

Some of you may think I’ve gone a little gaga with my NAP today, but I am of the strong opinion that Poker Face can reap his due rewards in the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Trained by the father and son duo of Simon & Ed Crisford, the five-year-old was very unlucky to run into a very on point Charyn at Sandown, but will strip fitter for the outing and will probably show much more resolution over this one mile test with that cobweb blower under his belt.

Winner of the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at last year’s Arc meeting, this son of Fastnet Rock continually shows his prowess over the mile whenever he runs and should be in the thick of it once again.

Danger: Big Rock

1.50 Newbury – Cemhaan (NB)

Cemhaan sprung a 25/1 sport betting surprise in the Rosebery Handicap at Kempton last time out but he’ll be no such price today as he bids to follow up in the Group Three Aston Park Stakes.

The seven-year-old may well be going up in grade, but he is carrying considerably less weight than he did in his last handicap and can be competitive at this level.

Rated 110, George Baker’s gelding is more often than not on the winner’s podium and his seven victories from 27 starts are not to be sniffed at.

Danger: Bluestocking

3.00 Newbury – Brioni (E/W Longshot) 

Alan King and Rossa Ryan team up in this 1m2f London Gold Cup Handicap with the Cloth Of Stars-colt Brioni.

Beaten just over a length at Goodwood last time out, the three-year-old has now cut his teeth in a competitive handicap and can only improve for the experience.

His breeding should come to the fore today and he looks like a decent each-way bet at a favourable price in our horse racing odds.

Dangers: Warda Jamila & Goodwood Odyssey 

Steve Mullington gives his best horse betting tips for Sunday, with a NAP, Next Best and a Longshot at Stratford and Naas...

3.05 Stratford – School Days Over (NAP)

Fergal O’Brien’s School Days Over won his initial bumper in May of 2022 so I am fairly confident he is a horse who comes to hand in late spring.

The last time we saw the seven-year-old was at Ludlow 25 days ago where he finished a respectable third to Horatio Apple’s, a four-time winner for Highclere. He’s sure to come on for that run out and this 2m6½f trip looks ideal to him.

Newly retained stable jockey Johnny Burke takes the reins and he may just get that extra spark out of School Days Over.

Danger: The Boola Boss

3.55 Naas – Givemethebeatboys (NB)

Cruelly scratched from last season’s Juvenile Turf Sprint at the Breeders’ Cup, Givemethebeatboys kicked off his domestic season in Ireland with a victory at Navan over six furlongs.

Trained by Jessica Harrington, last year’s Coventry fourth looks like he’s all set for another outstanding term and he can take this Group Three Lacken Stakes before heading odd to Royal Ascot.

NB – Also engaged at Haydock on Saturday so watch your bets and the horse racing odds.

Danger: My Mate Alfie

2.20 Naas – Twilight Jet (E/W Longshot)

A former winner of the Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket and the Lacken Stakes here at Naas, Twilight Jet has gone off the betting radar for many a punter as he only seems to pop up with a victory once in a blue moon.

Now a gelding, that moon could well be gravitating towards him again today as he looks sure to come heaps from his pleasing run over six furlongs here at the end of April.

Five furlongs on today’s going looks just the ticket and he can be in the mix at a nice starting price in our online betting.

Danger: The Highway Rat

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