Antepost Racing Tips: 16/1 and 7/2 Saturday Newbury pair look big players

Saturday, Newbury, 14:25, Pertemps Handicap Tip: Back Team Player EW @ 16/117.00

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Team Player

• J: Greg Fairley
• T: Ewan Whillans
• F: 2313-1159

The Steventon Stakes gets the ball rolling for ITV's Newbury coverage on Saturday and four races from Berkshire, but this race looks a no-go for me in terms of an ante-post punt.

Charlie Appleby has four entries with Al Zanati, Arabian Light, First Conquest and Maho Bay. One of my tips in last week's column was an Appleby runner for Newmarket who subsequently didn't turn up without a declaration, and this could easily cut up.

The Godolphin trainer is without a victory in the Steventon since 2018 and it will be interesting to see if he pitches one of his three-year-olds into the race, as the last winner from the age bracket was seven years ago.

By contrast, the 14:25 Pertemps Handicap over 2m looks well worth a play.

Square Necker heads the betting as a 9/25.50 poke - a fairly obvious pick as an unexposed Amo horse on a roll, but I have no urge to fish in the violet waters at that price in what potentially could be a very competitive race.

I turn to my old chum Team Player, who let me down at Newcastle in the Northumberland Plate with an average run.

He finished ninth but was never in a great position in truth from a long way back. The winner Align The Stars bolted up and proved a cut above, but I can easily forgive a horse for a poor run at Newcastle.

His fifth in the Chester Cup still looks his best effort of the season (despite winning previously at Musselburgh), as he was drawn out in 12 on the Roodee over 2m2f and also was given too much to do - again!

He wore the cheekpieces for the first time at Newcastle, so all eyes on what Ewan Whillans does for Saturday as he did score in first-time visor in February on the All-Weather.

Still lightly-raced and a definite stayer, 16/117.00 looks on the big side to me.

Saturday, Newbury, 15:02, Hackwood Stakes Tip: Back Soldier's Tree @ 7/24.50

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Soldier's Tree (Ire)

• J: Cieren Fallon
• T: James Owen
• F: 3-1233

For those that have attempted to find the next sprinting superstar, it usually ends with an embarrassing addendum to the quest and Saturday's July Cup was another result that was not easy to predict.

The latest version of the Hackwood Stakes over 6f is a field that consists of sprinters mainly on recovery missions, bar one - Soldier's Tree.

His third in the Wokingham behind Double Rush was a super effort off a mark of 107 conceding 2lbs to the winner, who has quite well supported for the July Cup on Saturday.

Soldier's Tree's CV holds defeats against quality horses as he also finished behind subsequent Group 1 Royal Ascot scorer Almeraq at Salisbury.

On those two efforts he looks a standout as I reckon Newbury looks a track made for his style and good to firm hasn't been an issue at all in both runs.

He holds a set of very interesting entries in the coming weeks with one in the International over 7f next weekend, a Lennox entry, a Stewards' Cup one and Betfair Sprint Cup at Group 1 level in September.

Ripon feature also priced up on Sportsbook

The Ripon Bell-Ringer on Saturday at 15:15 gets a chance on ITV4 too although it might not take much detective work to find the winner as Ed Bethell's Haayimm is already 2/13.00 on the Sportsbook with 14 entered.

He finished second to Conclave at Hamilton in a Novice before winning a weak race at Musselburgh on his handicap debut, admittedly giving away chunks of weight to inferior rivals.

As a three-year-old this is deeper against his elders, but a rise of just 2lbs keeps him well treated and his trainer is in a good run of form at the time of writing (35% strike rate, with 11 winners in a fortnight).

He has also had most success with his three-year-olds on turf this season and he is not one to take on, but the 2s looks short enough for an antepost punt.

Alan Dudman's notable anepost winners in 2026

January: The Doyen Chief Kempton WON 7/24.50
Vincenzo, Ascot, WON 3/14.00
Scorsese, Cheltenham PLACED 12/113.00

February: Kalium, Ascot, PLACED 12/113.00
Montregard, Ascot, WON [6/]
Grand Geste, Haydock, WON 12/113.00
Lookaway, Kempton, WON 16/117.00

March: Pina Sonata, Kempton, WON 8/19.00

April: Favour And Fortune, Aintree, PLACED 14/115.00
Konfusion, Aintree, PLACED 12/113.00
Whip Cracker, Newbury, PLACED 10/111.00
Sarab Star, Haydock, PLACED 10/111.00
President Scottie, Perth, PLACED 12/113.00

May/June: Washington Heights, WON 5/16.00
Thundering On, Epsom, WON 11/26.50

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