Newbury and Doncaster

Twelve go to post in a competitive-looking renewal of the Group 1 Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury tomorrow. On official handicap ratings the seven year old Cesare is the the one to beat; the bookmakers make him their 3/1 favourite. On Racing Post ratings Godolphin's Creachadoir comes out best and the RP top-rated has won this four times in the last ten years; on the other hand the stable has been slow to find its form this season. I'm going to take a chance with Creachadoir - he's priced up at 11/2 in the early evening tissue show. In the same race the each-way value has to be Mick Channon's Majestic Roi. Dick Hunter has highlighted the horse's chance at 25/1 in the Weekender; at the time of writing he's a 20/1 shot.

In the preceding race at 2.10 Regal Flush is the one with something in hand over all his rivals. As in the Lockinge, I'm concerned about Saeed Bin Suroor's stable form but again I'm tempted to take the chance. Usually I'd spread the risk but on this occasion I'm going to back the two Godolphin runners - there have been a couple of encouraging signs in the past few days.

Moving to Doncaster's evening meeting I will have to have an each-way interest in the Tom Dascombe trained Parisian Gift at 8.20 as the registered owners are 'The PG Tipsters'. The horse has won over the specialist distance of seven furlongs, although this is the first time the gelding will have raced on ground so quick. The early show has the horse at 14/1 - if he wins, I'll get the tea bags out.

Winning connections

The Tom Dascombe trained Parisian Gift won the EBF Go Pontin's Maiden Stakes at Lingfield today by a neck, having been backed on course from 6/1 in to 7/2 joint favourite - nothing particularly remarkable in that. However I noticed that the winning owner was registered as The PG Tipsters. Now I know what you're thinking - Mrs Tips had arranged a surprise Christmas present and had just forgotten to tell me all about it. If only. Still, it's good to see such a well named syndicate start off with a winner and I wish them all the best for the future. The Racing Post reports that Parisian Gift is to be 'put away for the turf season next spring'.