Talking Horses: Today’s best bets and all the latest racing news

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jun/28/talking-horses-todays-best-bets

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The Irish trainer Willie Mullins, better known for his record-breaking exploits at the Cheltenham Festival, won the final race at Royal Ascot last weekend with the comfortable victor Pique Sous and can take another major weekend prize in Britain on Saturday courtesy of Lucky Bridle (3.50) in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

The selection had shown useful form in France on the Flat as a two-year-old, including when twice runner-up at Listed level, but his headstrong qualities were stunting his progress after he was transferred to Mullins’ yard and tried over hurdles.

Back on the level he showed enough when runner-up in a valuable handicap at a mile and a half at Cork last time to suggest he is well enough treated to figure here and is highly likely to show improved form for being stepped up to two miles. Pique Sous would have had an obvious chance of following up here but was pulled out by his trainer on Thursday, who presumably knew he had a very able substitute.

His fellow Irish challenger Dark Crusader is very much feared as she has clearly been brought along with this race in mind by her shrewd handler, Tony Martin, and proved when winning the Melrose Handicap at York last season that she was not out of place in this sort of company.

The Chester Cup runner-up, Angel Gabrial, who travelled for most of the way like the best horse in that event and has been kept away from the track with this prize in mind, and the improving Nearly Caught, who would have been suited by rain but who is sure to be popular, are also on the shortlist.

2.05 Newcastle: David Barron’s Mississippi ran well after a long break when fifth at Doncaster earlier this month and has more scope for improvement than his rivals. The selection travelled well for a long way at the Yorkshire track and that should have put him straight for the campaign.

2.20 Newmarket: Littlemissblakeney drops in class after her fifth in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and is bound to be popular. However, she was 100-1 that day and, if she was flattered to finish so close, then the very impressive maiden winner Zeb Un Nisa is going to represent good value given the way she won after being well backed at Bath on her second outing.

2.40 Newcastle: Graham Lee steered Jack Dexter to success in this event last season and can do the same here aboard Saayerr, who had an excellent run in the Free Handicap at Newmarket to finish a close fourth in a race that could hardly have worked out better.

2.55 Newmarket: Battalion is worth forgiving his below-par performance at Newbury last month when he got noticeably worked up in advance of the race. His story had been one of progress prior to that and he has the most scope among those lined up here.

3.15 Newcastle: The step back to seven furlongs is the key here for Dream Walker, who may have been slightly unlucky not to collect last time out when the winner was allowed too much rope.

3.30 Newmarket: The John Gosden-trained Gregorian is also given another chance after disappointing on his reappearance in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom. He would have the beating of these if back to his best and it may be that run was needed first time out.