By Charlie McCann
Seven of the eight races at Newmarket this afternoon are for juveniles and I am very sweet on the chances of Wardat Dubai (1.30) in the opener who belied her odds (33/1) when running a race full of promise over a mile here on debut and steps back a furlong for her second racecourse appearance.
That excellent first run was on good ground but her half-sister (Felwah) coped well with soft ground and Paul Hanagan takes the mount for Barry Hills on a filly who holds an entry in Saturday's listed Radley Stakes at Newbury on Saturday which suggests she is held in some regard in Lambourn. She will not be 33/1 this afternoon that's for sure!
Luca Cumani's juveniles invariably come on for their initial experience and Pamona looks the danger having finished runner up over today's C&D last month on good to firm ground. She cost £120,000 as a yearling and should cope with the ground but preference is for the Hills' filly in an excellent opener.
Captain Marmalade (2.35) was backed as if defeat was out of the question at Kempton (6f) last time despite a poor draw and having been beaten at 4/6 and 4/5 in his last couple of starts it is a fair assumption that he has been showing more at home than he has on the track. The step up to 7f will suit, certainly on breeding, and he can see off the challenge of Kevin Ryan's Robben and Ralph Beckett's Poyle Jessica.
Alnashama (3.10) can make it third time lucky having finished runner up (beaten a head pair clear) at Newcastle earlier in the month and he sets a very fair standard for the newcomers the best of whom might be Estikhraaj also in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
In the finale Temptress (5.25) is taken to make it three wins out of five career starts for Roger Charlton and can defy an 11lb rise for winning a decent Ascot contest when last seen back in July. He subsequent 100-day absence is a slight concern but as a daughter of Shirocco she should appreciate today's forecast soft ground and looked a most progressive filly when last seen on the track.
The wonderfully named Lookslikerainted (2.15) makes his chase debut at Worcester for Rebecca Curtis and this winning point-to-pointer in his native Ireland is taken to make a successful transition to the larger obstacles. Tom Scudamore takes the ride in a race in memory of former jump jockey Richard Davis who died from injuries suffered in a fall at Southwell back in 1996.
I've got to give Princess Caetani (4.35) one last chance having struggled with the combination of the minimum trip, good ground and a tight track at Stratford earlier in the month. No surprise to see her stepped up to 2m 4f this afternoon and the forecast soft ground looks ideal although she will need a career best performance to land the prize with Woodland Walk and Whatdoesthefoxsay open to considerable improvement.
At Fontwell Fourth Act will have his supporters for Colin Tizzard but Miles To Memphis (1.55) won both his Bumpers for the Alan King yard last season and rates a decent prospect for a very much in form stable.
Deputy Dan finished runner up in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival back in March and will be long odds on to make a winning start over fences for Oliver Sherwood. He is currently a 33/1 shot at BetVictor for the RSA Chase next March and is a horse of huge potential.
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