Two BIG swings of the bat on Friday....

Thursday, 9th July 2026

Two BIG swings of the bat on Friday….

>>>>> Get my pick for Day 1 at Newmarket….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks on Day 2 at Newmarket….

I’m on POLE STAR in the 3.00 at Newmarket – up at 25s, 22s & 20s….

…. and I’m on PELLITORY at 40s & 33s in the 2.10 at York….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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…. the Betway Trophy – Newmarket – 3.00....

I reckon a lot of punters will look at this race and find it difficult to see past the front two in the betting….

…. and I totally get that….

The way Wine Dark Sea won last time out at Carlisle is hard to argue with – and he’s 11lb well in under a 6lb penalty tomorrow….

…. that said he’s never gone beyond 12f before and – while that might not be a problem for the 4yo….

…. at 11/10 I’m happy to oppose him out of sheer bloody-mindedness – because that’s how I am….

His advantage being what it is – on paper at least – the only sensible course of action is to back something with claims of landing a place return at a price….

…. and maybe better if things fall the right way….

The one for me is Charlie Johnston’s POLE STAR at the general 25s, 22s & 20s….

He ran a nice race on the Rowley course at Newmarket back in May behind Goblet Of Fire and Align The Stars over tomorrow’s trip….

He meets the winner again tomorrow on 10b better terms at four times the price….

…. and the runner-up franked the form at the second time of asking when winning last month’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle….

Of course, Pole Star – in the manner of a typical Johnston horse – has misfired since – but there were mitigating factors each time….

…. he ran over 2m at Thirsk which I don’t think he quite gets….

…. and the riding arrangements at Ayr – he was ridden by Mikey Sheehy – suggested to me that he wasn’t really at it that day….

Connor Beasley is an interesting return booking – he won a good handicap on the horse at Haydock in July last year….

…. the visor – fitted for the 4yo’s last three runs – is removed tomorrow….

…. on 86 he’s dropped to a pound below his last winning mark….

…. the 14f is very much his trip….

…. and – him being a Johnston horse – it would be no surprise whatsoever if he turns up on-song and throws in a big one….

At the price, I’m prepared to swing the old bat….

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…. the William Hill – York – 2.10....

This is a tricky little puzzle and the market seems to have the right ones towards the top of the betting….

…. but David O’Meara’s PELLITORY strikes me as a dark horse that could outrun a big price – he’s up at 40s & 33s this morning….

It’s fair to say that’s he’s been on the slide for a while now….

…. but he probably wasn’t quite good enough to do justice to a mark of 104 – which he got for springing a surprise in a conditions race at Newmarket last April….

From there his then trainer James Owen had little option but to target Listed and G3 races that his charge wasn’t quite up to….

…. but when he did try a handicap at Goodwood off a mark of 102 in August he wasn’t beaten so very far….

Since then, he’s been bought and sold for 52,000 guineas, gelded, and he was sent to David O’Meara on 4th May….

He ran down the field in the valuable Victoria Cup at Ascot just a few days later – which couldn’t have been more than a looksee….

…. and next up it was the Buckingham Palace – another valuable high-profile handicap target – where he ran well down the field completely unfancied in the betting….

He wasn’t given a hard time in the later stages – but you couldn’t say he showed a great deal either….

…. and – in truth – it’s hard to know where they are with him….

Perhaps he needs a confidence booster…. perhaps connections want to find out if they’ve got a dud on their hands….

…. but he turns up at York tomorrow in a much lesser race against much lesser opposition….

…. on a much-reduced mark of 93….

…. and if there is a racehorse still in there – and that’s admittedly a big if – then he’s an absolute steal at the big price….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more tomorrow….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd