Hi all,
Some high-class racing action on offer on the final day of the Cambridgeshire Meeting. Haydock was abandoned yesterday, and it seems unlikely given the weather that they will race today so I won’t look at that meeting but besides Newmarket I have selections at Haydock & Ripon.
Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting – Day 3
3:00 – Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) (Colts) (Class 1) – 1m
Nine have been declared for what looks one of the best Middle Park’s of recent years: Earthlight, Mums Tipple, Threat, Siskin, Golden Horde even the Aidan O’Brien pair of Monarch of Egypt and Lope Y Fernandez all have chances.
On jockey bookings Lope Y Fernandez seems to be the stables second string. The colt won a Group 3 at the Curragh 29-days ago. He was dropped back to today’s trip last time which seemed to suit. This is tougher but there might be a bit more to come and he’s got each way claims especially if the going eases further.
0.5pts each way Lope Y Fernandez – 16/1 @ William Hill & Coral
3:40 – bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m 1f
The big betting race of the meeting. It’s hard enough to find one to finish in the first seven never mind the winner but its fun trying. The Cambridgeshire Handicap is the first leg of the ‘Autumn Double’, the second leg is the Cesarewitch Handicap held here in two weeks.
Thirty-three have been declared to go to post for todays’ running of the race and the big field should set a good pace. The top five in the betting are all 3-year-olds.
Hughie Morrison has the well backed ante post Le Don De Vie vying for favouritism with the Andrew Balding trained Good Birthday.
Another Morrison trained runner is Korcho. The 3-year-old was runner-up on the July course two starts back before finishing 6th off 11 behind Forest Of Dean over 1m 2f at Goodwood. Shaped like the this 1m 1f could suit at Goodwood and has each way claims.
I put Beringer up in my Daily Punt column on Monday. The 4-year-old’s form figures on the Rowley Mile are 21, won here in May over a mile. He’s won twice at 1m 2f and his best RPR came when beaten a short head by Jazeel at Sandown over that distance, off 1lb higher, back in July. He can meet Jazeel on 6lb better terms here and is arguably one of the better handicapped of the older horses in the field. Has a disappointing run at York last time to overcome but there may have been an excuse that day as his trainer reported that he came back jarred up due to the quick ground.
The intermediate 1m 1f could be ideal for the gelding who finished 4th of 19 in the Lincoln Handicap. Trainer Alan King has booked promising 5lb claimer Thor Hammer Hansen for the ride.
Fifth Position, trained by Roger Varian makes his handicap debut off what looks a competitive mark of 100. This is just his 6th career start so he’s open to a bit more improvement and a strongly run race at the distance could be ideal for the 3-year-old.
0.5pts each way Korcho -18/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 7 places 1/5 odds)
1pt each way – Beringer – 22/1 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power ( both paying 7 places 1/5 odds)
1pt each way – Fifth Position – 12/1 @ William Hill (paying 6 places 1/5 odds)
5:20 – Battered, returned from a 493-day break and a switch of stable to run a race full of promise at Newcastle back in January before disappointing at Chelmsford a month later. Another promising return to action from the 5-year old when 5th of 8 at Doncaster 15-days ago. The ground would have been plenty quick enough given he’s twice a winner on soft for his previous trainer. He’s a big contender back up to 7f.
1pt win – Battered – 7/1 – Gen
Ripon
3:20 – Bossipop a three-time winner here in the past, including two over C&D, has been inconsistent form wise, disappointed again at Chester last time but is respected on his nose runner-up at the same track two starts back. Stablemate Flying Pursuit is better fancied in the betting after his good run in the Ayr Silver Cup but Bossiop has each way claims.
0.5pts each way – Bossipop – 10/1 @ Bet365
Chelmsford
6:20 – Commander Cole, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, returned from a 355-day break to finish 3rd of 8 over a mile here 15-days ago. Form figures 113 on the all weather and a return to 1m 2f will be in the gelding’s favour.
1pt win – Commander Cole – 7/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill
Cheers
John