RACE PREVIEWS & TIPS (FRIDAY)

13:50 Newmarket A tricky looking opener from HQ with a number of prominent yards being represented here. William Haggas trained Muffri’Ha loves it at this time of year and landed a hat trick 12 months ago in the final few weeks of the season and he looks primed to run another big race here this afternoon with conditions to suit. The Iffraj filly was not at her best back in May when last seen at this course, but she has been given a break since then and that should have her spot on for this. She has been a model of consistency even when the conditions have gone against her, so she gets the nod the land this one back on her favoured ground today. Main dangers are aplenty in such a field but Ralph Beckett’s Amabilis looks the main threat after two wins from her last three starts and the manner of the latest win at Ascot makes her a danger to all here today. MUFFRI’HA (WIN)

15:35 Newmarket The Group 2 Joel Stakes is one of the feature races of the day and a highly competitive field lines up for this one. It should pay to side with the in-form runners here and in this field there are three of them. The first is South African raider Whisky Baron who comes here today in search of a remarkable five-timer. The worth of his form is a bit of an unknown to say the least and so he is hard to recommend on that basis, but he is an intriguing runner nonetheless. Andrew Balding’s Beat the Bank is the likely favourite for the race having won four of his five career starts with his only blot on the copy book coming at Royal Ascot. He put that well behind him with two decisive wins since then including a Group 3 success at Goodwood last time out, but he may just bump into one today. The horse in question is the Sir Michael Stoute trained Mustashry. The smart 4yo colt looks like one of the yard’s typical improvers in that age bracket and he looked as though things have finally clicked for him on track as he followed up a convincing handicap win at Chelmsford with another equally impressive win in the Group 3 Strensall. He had some smart types in behind him that day and that form makes him the clear pick here today. MUSTASHRY (WIN) – NAP