Horse Racing Tips: Murphy chaser can give Haydock foes the Blues

Newmarket, 13:50 - Back Double Rush @ 100/304.30

In contrast to the opening day of the meeting, the stalls are situated on the far side of the track for day two so Double Rush might find himself a little isolated in stall 12 unless the action takes place down the centre of the track.

At least the selection has two horses drawn on his outside to provide cover and if anyone can navigate a winning passage from an awkward berth then it is Oisin Murphy.

Double Rush landed this event 12 months ago for Charlie Hills following a Wolverhampton success which nearly broke the clock, however he has since switched stables to Andrew Balding who has inherited a sprinter which goes well fresh and looks capable of competing in some of the nicer sprint handicaps this season.

Victory here would tee up the Blue Point colt for a tilt at the Heritage Handicap on Guineas Day next month and he looks nicely handicapped off 90 for his return.   

Newmarket, 13:50 - Invictus Gold @ 12/113.00

Although beaten into third in this corresponding race 12 months ago, Invictus Gold was too keen and fresh and ultimately paid for that exuberance in the closing stages when ultimately beaten a length-and-a-half.

There is a danger he will need the outing again here with connections likely to have one eye on the aforementioned feature handicap on the day of the 2000 Guineas, but the Tom Clover's speedster has won following a three-month absence and went so well 12 months ago that he is worth a saver at odds in excess of 7/18.00.

Haydock, 14:40 - Back The Bluesman @ 9/25.50

The decision by the Prestbury Park executive to forego the last meetings of Cheltenham's season means Haydock stages this valuable fixture and The Bluesman, a course and distance winner at the north west venue this season, could prove one of the chief beneficiaries.

The selection was far from disgraced in the Jack Richards Handicap at Cheltenham finishing a 20-length seventh behind Meetmebythesea in a race which has already thrown up victories for the ill-fated Gold Dancer (Grade 1) and Slade Steel (Grade 2).

A smooth course win back in February primed The Bluesman for his Cheltenham date and it might prove in time that he relished a flatter track more than the undulations of the New Course.

Largely unexposed over fences, the Crillon gelding looks to have more upside than one or two of his rivals here.

Newmarket, 15:00 - Back Boiling Point @ 11/43.75

One of the most heartwarming stories of recent times is the return to the saddle of Clifford Lee following a five-and-a-half month absence from riding after sustaining a serious neck injury in an accident on a cross-country motorbike when on holiday.

That the 30-year-old rider could even walk and talk again after the horrific incident let alone partner top-class flat horses is a miracle, and the likeable pilot wasted no time in finding the winner's enclosure when old pal Al Qareem scored at Musselburgh earlier this month.

Lee climbs aboard another favourite here in Boiling Point whom he steered to a narrow success in the Cambridgeshire last autumn and the duo appear to have another excellent chance of Rowley Mile success in this six-runner affair.

A recent tilt at the Winter Derby should have put brought the selection to a 'boiling point' for this test and, with his course stats standing at 2211, another big run looks in the offing.

Newmarket, 15:35 - Back Mubasimah @ 9/25.50

Gauging the fitness of lightly-raced three-year-old fillies before Guineas trials is a tough job, but I was taken with the attitude of Mubasimah in last October's Oh So Sharp Stakes and, given she won first-time out as a juvenile, she may be ready for her return in this well-contested renewal.

Rider Oisin Murphy set out to repeat the style of her debut win by trying to make all of the running on the Frankel filly and, although they were headed leaving the Dip, once his mount met the rising ground she found plenty to close within a neck of winner Calendar Girl.

Although a mile should be well within her compass in time, she is related to sprinters Miss Anabaa, a winner at Group 3 level, and the classy July Cup winner Owington so doesn't lack for speed and her professionalism is showcased by the fact she has been the quickest to 20mph on both her starts according to the RaceiQ metric.

The Rowley Mile can sometimes favour more forward going tactics depending on the ground and wind direction so if the early races of the meeting suggest speed is holding up, confidence in her chance would be increased.

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