Hi all,
The Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes (2.00) is the highlight of the second day of action at Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival. The supporting card includes three Group 3 races and the weekend’s big betting race the marathon Cesarewitch Handicap (2:40).
ITV are covering five races from Newmarket and four more from York on a nine race programme. It’s the final day’s racing at York for 2023. It doesn’t seem that long that we were looking forward to the Dante Meeting.
Inside today’s preview I look at most of the nine ITV races, albeit in some cases a rather brief look and today’s betting advice can as ever be found at the end of the main piece.
Newmarket
1:25 – Emirates Autumn Stakes (Group 3) – 1m
Chief Little Rock built on a promising racecourse debut second when winning a Leopardstown maiden in August. The colt improved again when a 1 ¾ lengths 2nd of 6 in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh three weeks ago. It wasn’t the deepest renewal of the race but there was a lot to like about his attitude in defeat and there should be more to come from him.
Arabic Legend created a good impression when winning on racecourse debut on the July course in the summer. The son of Dubawi still looked a work in progress when a 2 ¼ length 2nd of 7 in a Salisbury Listed race the following month. Likely capable of more improvement and would be my pick over Chief Little Rock.
2:00 – Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) – 7f
City Of Troy’s big moment. We haven’t seen the Aidan O’Brien trained colt since he won the Group 2 Superlative Stakes on the other course 91 days ago. He looked a certainty at the beginning of the week when it looked like we would have a sound surface. However, the rain has arrived in larger amounts than expected and he could be vulnerable if the ground eases further. Indeed, there must be doubts if he runs.
Iberian seemed to relish the soft softened ground when winning the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last month. That’s the best form on offer after the favourite and on easy ground he may cause a surprise.
2:40 – Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 2m 2f
The Gordon Elliott trained Pied Piper had been the gamble of the race even before the booking of Ryan Moore. The 5-year-old is now general 9/2 for the race and looking at his hurdles mark he looks well handicapped off a mark of 96. He stays the distance although his stamina could be stretched on rain softened ground. Clearly has a favourites chance but plenty short enough for me.
Wordsworth useful when trained by Aidan O’Brien, finished runner-up in a Group 1 at Longchamp as a 3-year-old. A winner over hurdles on first start for David Pipe at Bangor 10 days ago. Soft ground is not an issue. However, it’s no easy task under top weight of 9-12, even with 5lb apprentice booked, and his stamina for 2m 2f isn’t guaranteed. Stall 34 also looks a negative to me.
Temporize looked better than ever when winning 17-runner handicap at Goodwood (2m 4 ½ f) 71 days ago. It was soft ground at Goodwood so underfoot condition won’t faze the 4-year-old and his stamina is guaranteed. A 7lb rise is fair and looks to have a good chance of going in again.
Improving 3-year-old filly Grand Providence sneaks in at the bottom of the weights after her win in the Cesarewitch Trial over C&D last month. Likely to face different ground here and does need to improve again. If she does, she will go close.
The Shunter is a very useful chaser/hurdler on his day. The 10-year-old has only had five starts on the flat and posted a career best on the flat when a 5 ½ length 4th of 20 in the November Handicap at Naas (2m). He raced that day like further than two mile would suit. Has been backed this week and James Doyle has been booked by powerful connections.
Geremia wasn’t disgraced when a creditable 3 ½ length 11th of 34 in the Cambridgeshire over an inadequate 1m 1f last time. He stays 2m and shapes like he will stay a marathon trip like this. A useful 7lb apprentice takes the ride which is a plus as the 5-year-old’s form figures with a claimer in the saddle are 1212. With extra places available he looks like he could be each way value.
You can never dismiss a Willie Mullins runner given he’s saddled the winner three times since 2018. The best of his five runners might turn out to be Zenon. He’s clearly been the easiest to keep sound as he was off for a mammoth 1135 days before finishing last of five at Bellewstown 16 days ago. The 9-year-old wasn’t given a hard race the last day and this sort of trip could suit.
3:15 – Ghaiyyath Zetland Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 2f
Arabian Crown followed up a Sandown maiden success with a win in a Listed race at Salisbury 59 days ago. Looked a useful colt in the making last time and looks the one to beat here.
Ralph Beckett saddled Max Vega to win this in 2019 and he’s got claims with Meribella. The filly won a 7f novice contest on the other course on racecourse debut last time and on breeding should be suited by the step up to 1m 2f. She was withdrawn on a count of soft ground at Doncaster last month though.
Gasper De Lemos looks the main rival to Arabian Crown. The Aidan O’Brien trained colt won a testing ground maiden (7f) at the Curragh last month. A likely middle distance prospect for nest season but shouldn’t be far away here.
3:50 – Earthlight Darley Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 1f
Knight won the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury on heavy ground as a juvenile. Although he’s yet to win on four starts this season he’s improved as a 3-year-old, and he was only beaten a head by Chindit in a Listed race at Sandown last month. Should stay today’s extra furlong and he looks a worthy enough market leader with the ground in his favour.
Real Gain comfortably beat seven rivals over C&D 15 days ago. It was only a Class 3 handicap he won 15 days ago, and it was good to firm so softer underfoot conditions ask another question of the 3-year-old. However, he’s only had four career starts and the turn of foot he produced to win marked him down as a horse who could be competitive in pattern company.
York
Four races live from York on ITV4 this afternoon and I ‘ve had a look at three of them.
1:15 – Coral Rockingham Stakes (Listed Race) – 6f
Purosangue won a racecourse debut at Haydock (5f) and has finished runner-up on his last three starts in Group/Listed company over the minimum trip. The one to beat on form and will handle the soft ground. Although 6f on soft ground will be more of a test.
Serried Ranks won a heavy ground maiden at Nottingham on his debut in May and bounced back to winning ways in a Goodwood nursery (good to soft) 71 days ago. Has 10lb to find with Purosangue on Official Ratings’s but is going the right way. On the plus side he stays the 6f strongly and will like today’s underfoot conditions.
2:25 – Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 6f
Apollo One has had a great season without winning, finishing runner-up in both the Wokingham Handicap and the Stewards Cup at Goodwood. Slightly below his best when only third in the Listed Beverley Bullet last time but seems likely to give his running back in handicap company.
Montassib returned to winning ways in a Newmarket handicap (7f) in May. He bounced back to form when a 1 ¼ length 5th of 24 to one of today’s rivals Significantly in the Ayr Gold Cup last month. Slowly away at Ayr he was doing his best work at the finish. Same mark here and although he’s better over further, if he can get away on level terms won’t be far away.
Pendleton ended a two year losing run when winning at Thirsk on first start for new trainer Julie Camacho last month. Up 5lb for his Thirsk success but remains well treated on his form for previous trainer Michael Dods and should go well on ground that suits.
Irish challenger Laugh A Minute won a handicap at the Curragh (5f) in May and bounced back to winning ways back at the Curragh last time. Easy ground suits the 8-year-old who finished runner-up in this race two years ago.
3:35 – Coral Racing Bet Bundles Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
La Yakel won twice during a progressive 3-year-old campaign. He got off the mark at the third of asking this season when winning a Doncaster handicap (1m 2f) last month. The drop back to 1m 2f seemed to suit him last time but that wasn’t a strong race for the class. Softish ground suits the 4-year-old and he’s a worthy favourite.
Carolus Magnus was an eyecatcher when a 3 ¼ length 9thof 34 in Cambridgeshire at Newmarket 14 days ago, doing his b est work at the finish at Newmarket. He’s back down a mark he can win off, but his very best form has come on quick ground so softer ground is an unknown.
Titian is a previous C&D winner (1-1) who shaped last time his turn wasn’t too far away when a 2 ¼ lengths 3rd of 16 at Redcar (1m) 7 days ago. The return to further and rain softened ground will suit the 5-year-old who is 3 wins from 6 runs + 34.7, 5 placed in September & October.
Betting Advice:
Newmarket
2:40 – The Shunter – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Coral and Temporize – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Coral
York
2:25 – Pendleton – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Coral
3:35 – Titian – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral
There may be some selections on Sunday so watch your inboxes for updates.
Cheers
John