Newbury Racecourse Ambassador Jason Watson gives his thoughts on his eight mounts at Newbury today.

1.15 Ivadream

He is a horse I thought might have been a bit more ready to step up from his first run, but on his second start he was still a bit green and could need a bit more time to get used to his job. Newbury will help him and he has a bit more experience than some in the race. I hope he can step up a little bit, in which case he would run very close, but to be honest he may be one best watched.

1.50 Smokey Bear

The form he holds is pretty solid. After his last run at Windsor, the winner went on to win again pretty easily at Kempton, the third has won twice since and the fourth has won. He is a trier who I think will be suited by the ground. He knows his job pretty well so unless we bump into a superstar he should be very close.

2.20 Blakeney Point

He’s been running well in his last couple of runs. On the last day at Haydock the race was weirdly run and probably didn’t suit him. They could have done with going a bit harder. It’s not a massive field but hopefully there will be a good pace. He would prefer ground softer than good and even though he hasn’t a win to his name this season he is coming down the handicap and is on a winnable mark. This is well within his capability.

2.55 Gypsy Whisper

I like this filly. She has always given me the feel of a nice filly who has a good attitude. She did well the last day when she beat an odds-on shot quite easily. Newbury will help her out as a galloping track and she has course experience. It doesn’t look too competitive, she has a nice draw on the stands side and ground won’t be an issue. If she comes on again, which I think she will, she should be bang there too.

3.25 Code Of Conduct

This seems to be quite a tough race on paper with what appear to be some nice looking horses in the field. Code Of Conduct will probably end up wanting a bit more of a trip than just the mile, but we obviously think a fair bit of him to be in a race like this. He has done nothing wrong at home, the ground won’t be a problem but as with a lot of Mr Charlton’s runners a bit of experience won’t do him any harm. We’d be happy if he finished in the first four or five.

3.55 Makzeem

He is definitely capable of winning a race like this. At Ascot last time he was in the stalls for a long time, got upset and missed the break. He has his excuses and we decided to write that race off. He likes Newbury but would prefer ground softer than good and a decent pace, which I’m not sure we are going to get. You don’t know what you are going to get from him until during the race but if he is in the right frame of mind he would definitely be placed, potentially win. 

4.30 Quadrilateral

I like this filly. I thought she would run a nice race first time out and she went and won. The form hasn’t been overly impressive but she gives me the impression that the experience has done her the world of good. This is a tough race with a horse of Sir Michael Stoute’s that won at Kempton and another of James Tate’s that is already rated 90. She is going to bump into a few that will give her a true test. Nevertheless she has a mature attitude towards racing. I don’t think the ground will be too much of a problem and I think she can run a big race.

5.05 Mystic Meg

She has run in Listed races in the past and dropped into a Class 3 handicap at Salisbury last time where she bumped into an improving filly of Eve Johnston Houghton’s. She has won over the trip before, I don’t think the ground will be an issue nor the track. If I can get her relaxed and into a rhythm, she would have a good chance.