Horse Racing Tips: Mark Milligan's best bets for 1000 Guineas Day

13:45 Newmarket - Back Lilt @ 13/27.50

It's 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket on Sunday and, while I don't have a strong fancy in the big race itself, I will be having several bets on the supporting card, starting with Lilt in the opening Pretty Polly Stakes.

William Haggas's filly is from a fine family and created a really good impression when winning her sole start on heavy ground over 7f at Doncaster last October. Although she only won by a neck that day, Lilt and the second-place finisher Hollywell Stream pulled a little way clear of the third and that in itself is a good sign.

The form of that contest probably doesn't amount to a great deal in the context of a race such as this, but there's little doubt that Lilt is bred to be a pattern-class performer and I made the point in a previous column that Haggas wouldn't be one to pitch a horse in too deep on just their second start if he didn't think they were up to the task.

The selection will need to improve given the standard set by favourite Esna, but I believe there's every reason to suspect that she'll be up to this task and Lilt is open to any amount of progression with just the single start under her belt.

14:20 Newmarket - Back Falakeyah @ 9/25.50

The following Group 2 Dahlia Stakes has attracted a reasonable sized field but it doesn't look to have all that much depth to it and I was keen to take on the likes of Cathedral and Survie, who finished third and fourth respectively in a listed race at Kempton last time.

The one to be with could well be the Owen Burrows-trained Falakeyah, who made a fine start to her career when winning her first two starts, the second of them on her seasonal reappearance in last season's Pretty Polly at this meeting.

She was well backed in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on the back of that but rather pulled her chance away and was also quite free even with a hood fitted on her only other 2025 start, finishing sixth in the Pride Stakes at this track in October.

The selection will need to have settled down over the winter, but it looks significant that connections are persevering with her for another season when she could easily have been sent to the paddocks. I'm hoping Falakeyah will have matured with some extra time on her back and it would be no surprise to see her make the step up to this company if that proves the case.

14:55 Newmarket - Back Subsequent @ 5/16.00

Some rain would probably be a help to top weight Subsequent in this heritage handicap, but he doesn't seem completely ground dependent and is a stayer who could go on to be potentially better than a handicapper this season.

Andrew Balding's was lightly raced last season and began it in rather underwhelming fashion, though he did signal something of a revival when ninth in the Ebor in August, with the fitting of a tongue tie seeming to help him.

The selection built on that on his final start of the campaign, beating subsequent Cesarewitch winner Beylerbeyi in the Mallard Handicap at Doncaster and that looks just about the best piece of form on offer in here.

While he looks the type who'll be suited by stepping up to 2m in time, a strongly run 1m 6f suits ideally and there should be enough pace to aim at in this contest. Carrying top weight up the unforgiving Rowley Mile isn't the easiest thing to do but Subsequent has a touch of class and has earned his position at the head of the handicap.

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