Hi all,
It’s Day 2 of Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting. Like yesterday it’s another eight race card for punters to get stuck into. Unlike Thursday ITV are covering four races live from the track.
With just one handicap I wouldn’t say it’s my ideal sort of card. However, I have still taken a look at six of the eight races.
I mentioned in Wednesday’s column that the forecast was for mainly dry weather. Well, I should have known that wouldn’t prove to be the case but I wasn’t expecting that there maybe up to 10mm on Thursday night either. So that’s something to take consideration if you’re having a bet at Newmarket on Friday afternoon.
Newmarket
1:50 – Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai British EBF Rosemary Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m
A tricky enough opener with just 5lb separating the top eight fillies & mares on official ratings. Queen For You was back to form in the first time cheekpieces when ¾ length 2nd of 10 to Heredia in a Sandown Listed race last time. Stablemate Coppice only beat one rival in the same race but the good to soft ground didn’t suit her and back on a quick surface we should see a much better performance from the 3-year-old.
Potopova was 2 length 3rd of 10 to Heredia last time. That was a seasonal best by the 5-year-old. She’s not the easiest to win with but if she gets a decent gallop to chase, she’s more than capable of winning this.
Silver Lady is the unknown quantity in the line-up. The daughter of Sea The Stars has only had two career starts. She won a maiden over C&D in April and then finished a ½ length 3rd of 8 in a Listed race at York the following month. Just a neck in front of her at York was Queen For You. We haven’t seen her since May so her well-being must be taken on trust, but her yard couldn’t be in better form, and she could be open to further progress for the fitting of the first time hood.
2:25 – Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 4f
Like the first fillies & mares’ race the Gosden yard have a strong hand with Running Lion and Sweet Memories.
Running Lion looked a filly going places when comfortably beating Sumo Sam in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes here (soft) in May. Ran poorly in the French Oaks next time but was back to form 8 weeks later when runner-up to State Occasion in Listed race at Salisbury in August. Has definite claims but I wonder if she might need easier ground.
Sweet Memories improved for the step up to 1m 4f when winning a Listed race on the July Course (soft) last month. She’s only had three career starts so is capable of better. Yard has saddled the winner of this race three times since 2015. Quick ground an unknown but if she handles should go close stepped into a Group 3 company,
Sea Theme won the Listed Galtres Stakes at York last month. Like Sweet Memories she’s open to further improvement and has proved her effectiveness on quick ground at York. I liked her attitude last time and could turn out to be smart.
Novakai bounced back to winning ways when winning a Listed race on the July Course in July. However, it was good to soft that day and she was only a 6 ¼ length 7th of 10 in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks at York on quicker ground. A bigger run could be forthcoming back down in class and she’s not discounted.
3:00 – Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes (Group 2) – 7f
Eight juvenile fillies have been declared for the first of today’s Group 2 races. Shuwari made it 2-2 when winning a Listed race at Sandown last time. She beat Fallen Angel that day and that filly has advertised the form by winning twice including the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh last time.
Ylang Ylang looked a very smart filly when winning her first two starts but was something was clearly amiss when she finished last of 9 in the Moyglare Stakes last time. If you ignore her last start, she looks set to be a value price.
Spiritual looked a useful prospect when winning on her racecourse debut at Leicester 17 days ago. Capable of any amount of further improvement. Interesting that the Gosden’s throw her into the deep end on just her second start, but they did the same with last year’s winner Commissioning.
3:35 – Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes (Group 2) -1m
Chindit has really hit form this month winning a Group 3 at Haydock before defying a penalty to win a Listed race at Sandown 9 days ago. Given the ground was soft last time it was a notable effort to win last time. Quicker suits him better and given his present vein of form can’t be discounted.
Maljoom is the most intriguing of the six runners. He improved with each of his four starts as a 3-year-old winning the German 2,000 Guineas and finishing a ½ length 4th of 11 to Coroebus in the Group 1 St James’ Palace Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot. Looked unlucky in the run at Royal Ascot and we haven’t seen the colt since.
Last year’s winner Mutasaabeq must be respected given he’s a four time course winner. Needs to bounce back from a couple of lesser runs since winning here in May but he’s well suited to dominating a small field, a scenario which he gets today.
Mighty Ulysses dead heated in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury last time. The first time cheekpieces which seemed to have the desired effect are retained. Not out of this on ratings but this looks tougher than last time.
The next two races on the card are juvenile maiden races which are puzzles I have no desire to look at. However, they are the sort of races I take an interest in after the race has been run with one eye on the future.
5:20 – Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Godolphin Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 4f
New London comes into the race highest on official ratings based on his smart 3-year-old form. The colt made an encouraging return to action when 3rd of 5 in a Listed race on the other course in July. However, he was well beaten in a Group 1 in Germany last month. The Charlie Appleby yard is in much better form now and I wouldn’t be surprised if New London bounced back here.
Candleford, a Royal Ascot handicap winner last year, looked better than ever when winning a a Listed race at Windsor in August and then finishing runner-up to Bay Bridge in a Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton 20 days ago. Has a 3lb penalty to carry for his Windsor win but should be in the mix once more.
Blanchland steadily progressive on four juvenile starts last season. However, he was too keen and didn’t run his race when 8th of 9 in a Listed race on seasonal reappearance back in April. First start for 163 days and up in trip. Remains with potential if he’s over what has kept him off the track this summer and Ryan Moore is an interesting jockey booking for the colt.
5:55 – Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 1f
Crack Shot made it 2 wins from 5 starts and improved when winning a Newbury handicap last month. Up 5lb for his latest win but is on the upgrade and he looks capable of better on good or quicker ground. He’s sneaked into the bottom of the weights for the Cambridgeshire so whether he runs here I don’t know.
Real Gain won his first two starts on the all-weather and was a promising enough 3rd of 6 at York on his turf/handicap debut 19 days ago. Shaped last time like needed further than a mile so today’s extra furlong.
Bodorgan won here (7f) last October. Hasn’t really kicked on four starts this season but did better when a 2 length 3rd of 13 at Haydock last time. He’s been a non-runner twice due to heavy & good ground. His win last year came on good to soft and I’m not sure he wants firm in the going description. Whilst I think he can win off his present mark the quick ground worries me.
Four of Turntable’s five career wins come here for previous trainer Chris Wall including this race for the last two years. Now 3lb below his last winning mark and can never be ruled out a track he goes well or on a sound surface. However, he’s been comprehensively beaten on all four starts for his new yard though which tempers enthusiasm that he can make it a hat trick of races wins.
Betting Advice:
Newmarket
1:50 – Silver Lady – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral
2:25 – Sea Theme – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral
5:20 – Blanchland – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral.
Cheers
John