Saturday 21st September

Hit The Bid To Be On Top Of The World At Newbury

NAP – Hit The Bid 1:45 Newbury 8/1

This weekend’s NAP comes at Newbury in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes in Hit The Bid. Darren Bunyan’s son of Exceed and Excel has been a credit to connections in recent years, winning big pots in Ireland as well as fruitful trips to Dubai. He has posted two solid efforts in defeat after a summer break following his exertions in the Middle East and seems to just be coming to the boil now the cobwebs have been blown away. He ran just six days ago in the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh and was beaten just over 3 lengths when nothing went his way. Connections are evidently happy with the way he has come out of the race and with this big drop in class, a chance can be taken for him to land this valuable prize.

Main dangers include Dakota Gold who continues to progress for the Michael Dods team and the quirky Equilateral who returned to winning ways. Hit The Bid’s opening odds of 8/1 looks a fair price each way for a horse that is sure to give his running.

NB (Next Best) – Mr Kiki 2:55 Newbury 14/1

My NB this weekend comes in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes in Mr Kiki. Michael Bell’s colt by No Nay Never ran well on debut when finishing a length behind subsequent big race winner Mums Tipple. That is strong form with the second from that race Molatham winning a novice race and most recently a listed race at Doncaster. Mr Kiki has also gone on to win himself in a fairly run of the mill novice race at Yarmouth, he was 4/6f that day and won a bit more snugly than the winning margin of 3/4 length suggests. It is a big jump from an ordinary novice win to a highly compeititive group 2, but this highly regarded colt could have a big say for a trainer that has had a strong season thus far.