When Wiltshire landed a 20/1 gamble for us on Good Friday the elation of landing the bets was underpinned by the knowledge that it provided a cushion for the difficult early months of the campaign in April and May.
Little did I realize that the next 3 well fancied runners would all be ‘no-shows’ the unwanted hat-trick completed by Realign at Newmarket on Wednesday. I do think once Doyle realized the extremely well fancied favorite was not going to be caught he wisely gave Realign an easy time and a line can be put through his run.
I suspect a race will be found for him at Haydock where he won so impressively last Autumn.
In the very next race the racing gods threw a curved ball into the season when Morshdi took out that Feilden Stakes at 14/1 having drifted from 6/1. The drift was not surprising given he was sweating and was described by several judges as burly in the preliminaries.
In the past race interview it was apparent that Haggas had been very frustrated by the early season form of the yard but equally delighted by the performance of Morshdi who will be given a Derby campaign running next in the Dee Stakes at Chester.
He then confirmed that ‘the feeling in the yard’ was that this year’s bunch of 3yo’s was very useful and ‘ we need to support the Derby this season’. This is another step change in a season where it looks increasingly as though there will be new approaches made to the training of horses in the yard.
This is confirmed over the weekend beginning on Friday when potentially the best of the 3yo’s Maltese Cross carries a penalty in the Class 2 Novice Stakes at 3.42. This is the 4th running of the race which is in effect a Derby Trial and Maltese Cross will be the first runner from Somerville Lodge. It’s potentially a very strong race, however if he is to justify his home reputation then he should be winning and should be backed.
Recommended Bet 2pt Win Maltese Cross.3.42 Newbury.
There are 3 other potentially very useful horses also heading for Newbury the fillies Song for the Cloud in the 7f event at 2.32 and Tempestra (Blinkers on first time out) in the 10f race at 3.07. Both are horses to watch with the future in mind.
Crown Office works better than his 84 rating and goes to post fancied to run a big race in the 7f handicap at 4.55. This is a tough race with the well handicapped Colori Forever at the head of the market. Its a race that Haggas rarely targets but two of the three recent runners were placed and Crown Office on its homework has to be backed.
The two 3yo’s in the handicaps at Newmarket this year Hardy’s Hero and Albaydaa ran really well with great promise for the future and Crown Office has every chance of getting his head in front.
1pt EW Crown Office 1-4 places 13/2 or bigger
On Saturday the gloves are off and there is a big team sent out from Somerville Lodge for the first time this season
Let’s start at Newbury with Al Aasy in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes (minus Constitution Hill )at 2.35pm.
If horses played poker the last horse you would want at the table is the nine year old. In April 2021 he hacked up in this race by 4l. In subsequent years he always looked to need his first run, that was until 2025 when he took out the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes. That day he beat Almaqam who got the better of Ombudsman on his next start , the subsequent duel Group 2 and Group 1 winner Royal Champion and See the Fire who on her next outing won a Group 2 by 12 lengths. On that form Al Aasy would be a good thing on Saturday, and as a 5 time course winner at Newbury all looks good. Accept for the fact that on his two runs here in 2025 he never came close to running his race including once when 6/4 favourite.
About 3 years ago I ‘folded’ on Al Aasy and whilst I have thrown away a few winning hands I am happy to watch and let him decide when to fold or go all in.
Al Aasy No Bet Recommended 2.35 Newbury Saturday.
In the same race the admirable Tenability is thrown in at the deep end on his seasonal reappearance. He was a great money spinner for us in 2025 and it will be fascinating to see how his career progresses into his 4yo career.
Tenability No Bet Recommended 2.35 Newbury Saturday
Haggas has ran only 5 horses in the Fred Darling and Greenham Stakes this century. He sends runners in each race this year, which is a further indication that there is a new broom sweeping through the yard in 2026.
The record is 0-5 and this includes 2 beaten favorites in the Fred Darling the latest being Relief Rally in 2024 who failed to stay 7 furlongs.
The filly Zooming in the Fred Darling at 1.25 and the colt Needle Match at 2.00 are completely unexposed and are available at big prices. Haggas stated on Thursday that Needle Match would prefer some cut in the round and Zooming has a lot to find with the market leaders in the Fred Darling, especially Touleen who is reported to be working like a Guineas winner.
Given the performance off Morshdi and the high regard both of the 3yo’s are held – I wouldn’t put anyone off having an each way play but I will not be recording them as bets on the P/L sheet.
As expected Eternal Force was withdrawn from the Newbury Spring Cup – he is entered at Epsom next week but is unlikely to run unless the wet weather returns.
The most likely winner on Saturday is King of Earth in the 1m maiden at 3.45. This the same race as last season when Crown of Oaks was backed into odds on as though defeat was out of the question, which unfortunately turned out not to be the case. King of Earth will be short enough on Saturday in a 26 runner field but he has the plum draw in Stall 26 and if he wins will take his chance in the 2,000 Guineas in 14 days time.
Although I backed Maltese Crown in a ‘Novice’ on Friday that was really a Novice in name only and was in effect a Class 2 Derby Trial. I am still going to keep to my ‘No Bet Novice and Maiden’ rule but fully expect King of Earth to win. He is joined in the line up by Venetian Lion in a race where there are sure to be plenty of future winners.
King of Earth – Venetian Lion 3.45 Newbury Saturday No Bet Recommended
Away from Newbury at Thirsk although Diplomatie a very speedy unraced 2yo was entered he has not been declared and Weffaag ridden by Daniel Tudhope is the yards only runner in the 7f Maiden at 2.15. He will improve considerably for his debut run in a very hot Novice at Newmarket last Autumn. He may well attract plenty of support but my ‘No Bet Novice and Maiden’ rule applies.
Weffaag 2.15 Thirsk No Bet Recommended
At Nottingham in the fillies Novice stakes at 4.05 a couple of maidens are sent to gain racing experience Shadida on debut and Palace Artois on her third outing and now with blinkers fitted- both are sure to benefit from this experience without being ready to win at this stage of their career as there are several nice types in the line up with previous experience.
4.05 Nottingham Saturday No Bet Recommended.
Summary
Two Bets Recommended over the Weekend both Friday. –No Bet Saturday
2pt win Maltese Cross 3.42 Newbury
1pt EW Crown Office 1-4 places 4.55 Newbury
Chrysalis Consortium 
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