Hi all,
A Friday of racing that wouldn’t be out of place on a Saturday. ITV Racing are giving it the full treatment too. Covering five races from Newmarket, two from York and for jump fans two from Persian War Day at Chepstow.
At Newmarket it’s the first of two days of its Future Champions Festival. The Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile (4.10) is the highlight of a high quality Friday’s card. The supporting races include one Group 2 and two Group 3 contests and the normally competitive Old Rowley Cup (Handicap).
I have selections from Newmarket and York which can be found at the end of today’s main piece.
Newmarket
There’s clearly been a fair bit of rain at Newmarket as the going has been changed from good to firm earlier in the week to good to soft.
1:50 – Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3) – 5f
I fancied Inquisitively here but he was a non-runner from his intended race at Doncaster last month account of soft ground. He’s the best horse in the race but the easing of the ground is a concern and at around 3/1 I can leave him alone.
Flora Of Bermuda is proven on rain softened ground and was back to her best when 2 ¾ length 2nd of 8 to Big Evs in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster last month.
Miaharris created a good impression when coming from off the pace to win a Listed race at Newbury (good to soft) two starts back but was disappointing on quick ground in a Group 3 at Salisbury (6f) last month. If it was quick ground that didn’t suit her last time, she’s got serious claims.
I haven’t looked at the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes (2:25) or the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (3:00) in much detail. The improving Chic Colombine is going the right way and looks well worth her place in the line-up for the Oh So Sharp Stakes. We haven’t seen the once raced Dance Sequence since she won on racecourse debut on the July Course 104 days ago. The daughter of Dubawi is open to any amount of improvement and must be considered.
In the Challenge Stakes. Shouldvebeenaring has finished in the places in Group 1’s on his last two starts, He should go close if in the same form here. The rain that has fallen will suit Matilda Picotte who made all to win a Group 3 at Doncaster last month. Will face pace pressure here and back against the boys but the former course winner isn’t out of this on official ratings.
3:35 – bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) – 1m 4f
Humanity is at the right end of the handicap and looks well treated under a 6lb penalty for his win on handicap debut at Kempton 16 days ago. Only raced once on turf but if he can transfer his improved all-weather form to the grass will take some stopping on his hat trick bid.
Another at the right end of the handicap is Shadow Dance who posted a career best when winning on handicap debut at Haydock last month. This is a much deeper race but he’s going the right way and should have any problem with underfoot conditions.
Alsakib defied his pedigree to win an Ascot handicap over the distance last month. That was a clear career best effort from the son of Kingman and although he’s got a 9lb rise in the weights to contend with he could be capable of better.
Westerton was back on track when a neck 2nd of 8 at Doncaster last month. A 1m 4f on easy ground might stretch his stamina but trainer Alan King did win this with Trueshan in 2019 and he can’t be totally dismissed.
Top weight Satin seemed to have improved for the fitting of the cheekpieces when winning a Leopardstown handicap (1m 5f) last month. A 9lb rise looks harsh but her stamina is guaranteed, and I think she will be in the mix if taking to the track.
4:10 – bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Group 1) – 1m
Shuwari wasn’t as well positioned as the winner when a 2 ¼ length 2nd of 6 to Carla’s Way in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes here (7f) two weeks ago. She was doing her best work at the finish that day and the step to a mile should suit her.
Ylang Ylang was 2 ½ lengths further back in third in the Rockfel Stakes. That was a back to form effort by the Aidan O’Brien trained filly after a poor run in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes. Today’s extra furlong and easier ground is a plus and she’ should be in the shake up.
See The Fire knew her job when making a winning racecourse debut on July Course in August and improved plenty for the experience when a 3 length 2nd of 7 to the more experienced Darnation in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month. Has the scope to improve as a 3-year-old but I really like her for today.
The recent easing of the ground means Caught You Looking must be considered. The Irish challenger won a Leopardstown maiden on her second start and improved again to win a Group 3 at the Curragh (7f) nine days ago. The ground was soft that day, and today’s mile looks a big plus. There should be more to come from her, and she must be respected.
York
ITV4 are covering three races from York this afternoon. The going on the Knavesmire is good, good to soft in places. However, its worth bearing in mind they are expecting 9mm overnight and through Friday morning so it could be good to soft all over come race time.
It’s the two handicap races that interest me.
2:40 – William Hill Finale Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m 6f
William Haggas saddled Post Impressionist to win last year’s race and Hamish in 2019. He’s got two strong contenders in Kingfisher King & Lordship. The latter might prefer quicker ground but isn’t discounted. Of the pair I prefer Kingfisher King. A winner at Salisbury in the spring. The gelding didn’t seem suited by the drop back to 1m 2f when 3rd of 8 at Doncaster on handicap debut last month. Today’s longer trip should suit the top-weight as will some juice in the ground.
Rathgar posted a career best on RPR’s when a ¾-length 2nd of 9 here (1m 4f) 20 days ago. His two best RPR’s have been achieved here so the track suits. On pedigree his stamina for 1m 6f must be taken on trust but he’s only 2lb than last time and looks handily weighted
Dreams Adozen seems to have improved for racing on rain softened ground on her last three starts. Likely handled heavy ground better than her rivals when winning at Chester (1m 6 ½ f) last time. A 6lb rise is fair, albeit this a deeper race and the more rain the better her chance.
3:50 – William Hill Autumn Mile Handicap (Class 2) – 1m
Northern Express can normally be relied on to run his race. A previous course winner, he won the Thirsk Hunt (1m) Cup in May and gained a third course win here (7f) in July. Found the drop back to 6f in the Ayr Gold Cup an inadequate test last time but could bounce back under top weight.
Lattam has had a light campaign with just five starts. He won the Irish Lincolnshire on return and won a Newcastle handicap (1m) in June. A disappointing 5/1 favourite in the Golden Mile Handicap at Goodwood next start. He bounced back to form when a close-up third back there 16 days ago. Stablemate Millebosc a smart 3-year-old when trained in France. Hehasn’t really kicked on this season for William Haggas but he was back to form when a neck 2nd of 12 at Haydock 13 days ago. Soft ground at the drop back to mile suited him last time and he should go well if in the same form here even from a 4lb higher mark.
Star Of Orion was back to winning ways at Newmarket (7f) in July and ran even better when a ¾ length 3rd of 25 to Baradar in the International Stakes (Handicap) at Ascot on his next start. Not disgraced on either start since both runs over 7f and shapes like the return a mile will suit.
Down at the bottom of the weights you can’t rule out Autumn Festival. The 4-year-old gained his first win of the season when landing a Beverley handicap two starts back and ran even better when a short head 2nd of 7 at Ayr 10 days ago. Now 2lb lower and goes well on rain softened ground. This is a better race than he needs to contest but given his present form isn’t ruled out.
Chepstow
The real start of the 2023-24 jumps season is almost upon us. Its Persian War Day at Chepstow today which for many fans marks the start of the real jumps season. It’s good to soft at Chepstow on Thursday evening but they were expecting 30mm on Thursday and Friday morning so if the rain has arrived it’s going to be much more testing.
1:35 – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 7 Of The Veterans’ Chase Series) (Class 2) – 2m 7 ½ f
Aye Right is a top staying handicap chaser at this best and although he hasn’t won since November 2021, he’s 6lb lower than when finishing a 4 ½ length 2nd of 10 to Sounds Russian on his seasonal return at Kelso last October. Returns for the first time since February but has won off a lay off in the past and must be respected on his first start in veterans’ company.
2:10 – Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) – 2m 3 ½ f
Della Casa Lunga a useful novice hurdler when trained in Ireland last season, has since switched hands for £150,000 and has her first start for a new trainer here. She’s got arguably the best hurdle form of the 8 runners and has place claims, but she might struggle to beat hurdle newcomer Captain Teague. The Paul Nicholls trained 5-year-old won a Plumpton bumper on stable debut in February and was an excellent 2 ½ length 3rd of 21 in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. Interesting that connections throw him into the deep end for his hurdles debut. Paul Nicholls has won this three time since 2016 and Captain Teague seems likely to give him another success.
Betting Advice:
Newmarket
1:50 – Miaharris – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral
3:35 – Shadow Dance – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral and Satin – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral
4:10 – See The Fire – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral
York
2:40 – Kingfisher King – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral and Rathgar – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Coral
3:50 – Lattam – 1pt win – 9/2 @ Coral and Autumn Festival – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral
Cheers
John