By Charlie McCann
It should be a sensational days racing with no fewer than three Group One races on the flat at Newmarket on Future Champions’ Day and the opening day of Cheltenham‘s new jumps season.
Unbeaten Ivawood (2.55) cannot be opposed in the Middle Park Stakes for Richard Hannon despite the fact that he is unproven on soft ground. The Hannon colt is certainly bred to get a mile and his current odds of 7/1 at BetVictor for the 2015 2000 Guineas are likely to contract if he impresses, although I am surprised connections have decided to stick to six furlongs although they have probably decided they want a Group One next to his name going into winter quarters.
The Fillies’ Mile looks a more competitive contest and I expect an Irish 1-2 with Agnes Stewart (3.25) taken to upset favourite Lucida. The selection (3/1 at BetVictor) was a very taking winner of the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month and, whilst she doesn’t have the same level of form as Lucida, she just gets the vote in a good renewal.
I’m not convinced you can say the same thing about the Dewhurst which looks ordinary at best given the Irish, who have saddled the winner seven times in the last eight years, have only one representative and that is Aidan O’Brien’s progressive Smuggler’s Cove who would not currently be in the B team let alone the A team of Ballydoyle juveniles.
Estidhkaar (10/11 with BetVictor ) was very impressive on good to soft ground in the Superlative Stakes on the July course before following up in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. He can give the Hannon yard a second Group One winner on the day with Godolphin’s Maftool taken to follow the selection home.
Court Minstrel is the obvious starting point in Cheltenham’s Novice Chase having scored with ease at Newton Abbot on debut but first time out might be the chance to catch Un Ace (2.40) who gets the vote for the excellent Kim Bailey. The selection was only beaten 8L in the Supreme Novices’ back in March and, whilst he will get further in time, was very impressive at Doncaster on his belated seasonal reappearance last term over hurdles. He wants decent ground and any further rain would be a concern.
Sybarite was considered a future star in his early years and still looks well handicapped on some of his novice form and is well worth a second glance in the Stayers’ Handicap but On The Record (3.15) looked well ahead of the handicapper when landing his hat-trick at Ffos Las last time and he is taken to score for Jonjo O’Neill who saddles three in the race for JP McManus. AP McCoy doesn’t ride after his shoulder injury flared up again at Wetherby midweek but Linehan is good value for his 3lb claim.
The finale is a cracking race and Vibrato Valtat will have his supporters despite top weight but I am keen on the chances of Poetic Verse (5.35) making the long journey south from North Yorkshire. Dean Pratt takes off 6lbs on John Quinn’s 4-y-old who gave Taglietelle a race at Cartmel back in August. The winner was first pasta the post at Punchestown earlier in the week and Poetic Verse suggested he was right at the top of his game at present when winning on the level at Catterick last month.
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