Horse Racing Tips: Two big prices for Newmarket in a Tuesday 272/1 double

• Drying conditions to suit Alan's two selections

• Both tips in extra place races on the Sportsbook

• Serial Winners Fund: Rachael Blackmore raises £250k for injured jockey charities
  

Newmarket - 13:50: Back Makanah

It will be interesting to see if the times at Newmarket truly indicate some good to firm ground at HQ this afternoon for the first day of the Craven meeting, and any firm in the turf will be suitable for the opening selection with sprinter Makanah.

His form at the back end of last season was hardly a row of hallowed numbers, but his fourth at York in a Heritage Handicap was an excellent run from a poor draw and another few strides he might have got there.

That York run came on good to firm behind Equilateral off a mark of 96, and today he is 1lb lower. He is able to run in 0-95 company here off top weight, and I never am against backing top weights in handicaps.

In his younger days he was a winner off a break twice, so whether he's revved up for a winning return we'll see, but the price of 12/113.00 more than compensates for that.

They split into two groups last year, and before that, they raced down the centre, so if the position here is where Makanah goes from stall 14, there is a chance he could spin across to the near rail from his inside position.

He's certainly well treated now as he started last term from 101 and we have the four places on the Sportsbook too.

Newmarket - 14:55: Back Bajan Bandit

Another double figure price for the 1m Handicap and I cant help but feel the progressive Bajan Bandit is overpriced here, and he drifted too this morning from 10/111.00 out to 20/121.00.

He's a horse who wants drying and quick ground, and with the conditions somewhat blustery at the moment, I am hoping that impacts the surface to eliminate any sort of moisture in the ground, as any firm in the description will be a boon to backers of Bajan Bandit.

The Grant Tuer runner enjoyed an excellent 3yo campaign last term with a string of consistent efforts. His reappearance at Musselburgh in 2023 was the only blip on his CV, but the ground had gone against him in Scotland.

He won comfortably at Haydock over 7f with a switch to front-running tactics in June last summer, and also scored with a good performance at York over 7f - again on drying ground.

With a fine second on the Rowley Mile last term for his final run of the season, he ran an excellent race in 0-105 company, arguably over a trip on the short side over 7f on that occasion, and going back up to 1m today will really suit him.

We have five places here too on the Sportsbook.

The race is named after Mutasaabeq, for the Mutasaabeq New For 2024 Handicap - a horse who was like Tiger Woods at Augusta from the front around here. The meeting won't quite be the same without him.

Now read Daryl Carter's tips for the opening day of the Craven meeting