15:00 Newbury - Maiden Fillies Stakes - Class 4 1m2f - Hazarfiya 4/1 - 0.5pt each way
It’s an action packed Friday with six meetings in total throughout the British Isles. There’s National Hunt action today from Ayr, Fontwell, Southwell and Limerick whilst on the flat we have fixtures from Newbury this afternoon and from Bath this evening. There’s also plenty to look forward to this weekend with the Scottish Grand National taking place at Ayr, where Paul Nicholls’ Vicente will be looking to win the race for the third consecutive year. Whilst tomorrow on the flat we also have group action from Newbury including the Greenham Stakes and the Greatwood Spring Cup.
My selection this afternoon comes in the 15:00 at Newmarket where I’m fancying Sir Michael Stoute’s three-year-old filly HAZARFIYA to claim her first victory. This half sister to 2016 Derby winner Harzand was only seen once the track in her debut season. This came at Newbury back in October where she lined up against twelve rivals in the Class 4 EBF Fillies Novice Stakes. She was held up at the start of the race but when asked to go and challenge inside the final furlong she embraced the task and finished like an absolute bullet. The two horses who beat here that day both had experience on track and I feel this was a very notable performance from Hazarfiya.
Sir Michael Stoute is a trainer who needs no introduction and it is well known that his two year olds tend to come on superbly from age 2-3. It’s worth noting that she holds entries in both the Epsom Oaks and Irish Oaks and could well shorten from the 50/1 currently available with a big run this afternoon. Ryan Moore is in the saddle this afternoon and at the current price of 4/1 Occupy makes lots of appeal and looks a great each way bet.
