Skidmore's Selections - Sunday 7th May Racing Tips

Newmarket

13:50 – Berkshire Rocco 10/1 1pt ew

Although he has quite a lot of time off the track throughout his career BERKSHIRE ROCCO has showed that he still maintains a lot of his ability courtesy of his exploits on the all-weather this winter. It has been a long time since he ran on turf but he will relish conditions today as he has been placed at Group 3 and Group 2 level when soft has been in the going description and also won a listed race beating Albaflora. This former Leger 2nd has to be worth taking a chance on that he will appreciate a return to the turf and he could prove way ahead of his mark of 100 back on grass.

Hamilton

14:05 – Pons Aelius 15/2 1pt win

PONS AELIUS is a typical Johnston horse in the way he really tries hard from the front and he managed to score four times last season, including once on turf, from as high as a mark of 80. He hasn’t quite kicked on this spring on but he put in a lovely effort at Ripon last time on testing ground that suggested he could be returning to the winning enclosure very soon. The handicapper relented 5lb for a pair of respectable runs and I think a mark of 78 looks very tempting, especially with the distinct lack of pace in the race which could allow Frannie Norton to dictate this race, make use of his stamina and hopefully not allow anyone past.

Newmarket

14:25 – Running Lion 3/1 1pt win

RUNNING LION is more exposed than most of his main market principals but that should hold her in good stead if this turns into a battle which it could well do. John & Thady Gosden’s filly was very impressive when completing her hat-trick in a conditions race at Kempton last time, displaying a nice turn of foot to quicken away off a muddling pace. She has the best form in the book to date and will be suited by the step up in trip and she looks a very fair price to get the job done under Oisin Murphy in the Pretty Polly Stakes today.

Newmarket

16:50 – Legend Of Leros 5/1 1pt win

Marco Botti’s colt came forward from his first run at Southwell where he was very raw to win decisively at Doncaster in October last term. He still showed lots of greenness that day but really kicked away from his rivals when the penny dropped, it was even more impressive that he did this in testing ground which should hold him in good stead for if Newmarket is still riding testing today. The form from that race at Doncaster has worked out fairly well and following a promising return at Kempton when 3rd to a smart horse in Slipofthepen it would be no surprise to see LEGEND OF LEROS sharpen up today and I expect him to be very competitive off a mark of 92 on handicap debut.