British Spot Plays: Newmarket April 15, 2026

A staple of my annual wagering is on the traditional British flat turf season, which kicks into high gear this week with an assortment of Group stakes held at Newmarket (Wednesday and Thursday) and Newbury (Saturday). The action includes a couple of trials each for the 2000 Guineas (G1) and 1000 Guineas (G1).

As has been the custom over the last couple of years, I'll provide periodic spot play selections on dozens of English fixtures in this space. I'll also start with a $500 bankroll and play a flat 5% of the outstanding balance on each selection to win.

Let's start things off with Wednesday's card at Newmarket, with the first wager for $25.

Race 2: Feilden S., 9:25 a.m. ET

The 1 1/4-mile Feilden is one of the rare non-pattern stakes I usually take part in during the season, and is a race that sometimes yields an Epsom Derby (G1) starter.

#5 Morshdi (7-2) perhaps will be more of a St Leger (G1) type by season's end. After all, his full sister Nakheel won the filly equivalent of that classic, the Park Hill (G2), a couple of years ago.

However, Morshdi has proven more precocious than his sister. He was game in victory, winning second out over a mile at York in October, and the step up in distance here should be a logical progression.

Race 3: Earl of Sefton (G3), 10 a.m. ET

Although he tailed off in the last half of 2025, #4 Persica (7-1) was rather productive in the first half. It included a win in this very race, when he pulled off a 2 1/2-length decision over the heavily favored Ottoman Fleet, denying that Godolphin runner a three-peat in the Earl of Sefton.

With some rain in the forecast, thus a possibility of soft conditions underfoot, perhaps Persica can pull off an Earl of Sefton repeat of his own at a square price.

Race 4: Nell Gwyn (G3), 10:35 a.m. ET

Although not overly productive of late as a 1000 Guineas trial, the seven-furlong Nell Gwyn often comes up a good betting race. 

#11 Inis Mor (5-1) brings no actual Group form to the table, but that doesn't mean she can't be competitive here. A two-time winner on the July Course last summer, she made her stakes debut at Longchamp in an Arqana sales graduate event on Arc weekend.

She didn't win that race, but the colt she lost to, Cape Orator, turned in a couple of creditable efforts against Puerto Rico in the Champagne (G2) and Criterium International (G1). With a tendency to travel smoothly and respond willingly, I'll bet she can factor here.