Robin Goodfellow's racing tips: Best bets for Saturday, May 18

Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Friday's meetings at Newbury, Newmarket, Thirsk, Uttoxeter, Bangor-On-Dee and Doncaster.

NEWBURY 

NEWMARKET – 5.15 SIYOLA (nap)

NEWMARKET 

NEWMARKET – 2.05 So Logical (nb)

THIRSK 

UTTOXETER 

BANGOR-ON-DEE 

DONCASTER 

Databank - Your guide to Saturday afternoon's action

WATCH OUT FOR…

Desert Hero (Newbury 1.50)

One of the most important horses in training. Owned by the King and Queen, Desert Hero won at Royal Ascot last season and then acquitted himself with great credit in the St Leger. Trainer William Haggas is considering running the gelding in the Coronation Cup at Epsom but most likely a return trip to Royal Ascot will be on the agenda. He needs to be winning this race.

Big Rock (Newbury 3.35)

An outstanding miler last season, he ran away with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October. He has not run since but has been in the headlines, with his owners having moved him from Christopher Head’s yard to Maurizio Guarnieri’s stable. None of the trainer’s past 11 runners have won. This is a good time to change things.

Jockey To Follow 

This is an important day at Newbury for Kieran Shoemark, who has been entrusted with riding John and Thady Gosden’s best horses since Frankie Dettori headed off into the sunset. Dettori, no doubt, will be watching closely as INSPIRAL — the filly he loved and partnered in 12 of her 13 races — lines up in the Lockinge Stakes (3.35). Shoemark rounds off the card with a spin on the well-regarded Siyola (5.15).

WHAT’S IN A NAME

Twelfth Night (4.20 Thirsk)

Two twins, a shipwreck and a story of chaos and confusion that made this one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. Backers of this gelding, trained by Paul Midgely and ridden by David Nolan, will be hoping his run through this contest is less dramatic. The five-year-old has a squeak.

BIG DAY FOR…

Kevin Ryan managed to get Hi Royal into the frame in the 2000 Guineas last term. He is a big price in the Lockinge Stakes (3.35) at Newbury, while his combination with Ryan Moore is usually profitable.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW - Best Bets  

It was a hugely encouraging return from DESERT HERO (NAP) to finish a head second in the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes on his season debut last month and he should relish this step back up in trip to 1m 4f in the Aston Park Stakes (Newbury, 1.50). With the benefit of a recent run over main market rival Middle Earth, the William Haggas-trained gelding is 3lb clear on ratings and should win this before another tilt at Royal Ascot glory in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Later at Newmarket (2.40), the progressive QUINAULT (NB) returns to a track where he is unbeaten in his three races there. A seven-time winner last season, he beat subsequent Group-level winners Washington Heights and Mill Stream over 6f before winning at Ascot over 7f on his penultimate start. Luke Catton, who was on board for four victories last season, takes off a handy 5lb and he should run well on his reappearance.

THE WIZARD OF ODDS 

By Chris Baker 

2.25 Newbury

Last year’s Super Sprint and Lowther Stakes winner RELIEF RALLY (nap) made a pleasing return to action over seven furlongs last month at Newbury. She can take advantage of this drop in class and trip. 7-2

2.40 Newmarket

Quinault had a stellar 2023, winning seven of his last nine races of the year. He proved equally as effective over six and seven furlongs and is a three-time winner at the course. 15-2

3.00 Newbury

Black Run held a Dante entry and ran in a Class Three race on his 2024 reappearance, showing that he is well-regarded by connections. He won a Newmarket handicap last time out. 9-1