At the time of
writing it is uncertain if the heavy showers coming up from the south east will
hit Newmarket on Friday. As it stands the ground was described as good – good
to soft in places – after racing on Thursday and the times of Thursday's racing
would concur with that description.
The Group 1 Cheveley
Park Stakes may lack a superstar juvenile but it is a very competitive renewal
of this 6f contest for fillies and preference for the Irish raider Miss Amulet
(2.25) over the unbeaten Dandella is marginal.The selection won the Lowther at
York last month berating Sacred a length and I think that form is strong
despite the fact that the runner up was just touched off back at the minimum
trip at Doncaster earlier in the month. Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle.
Dandella has been off
the track since landing the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes back in July and that
form has been franked by the subsequent victories of runner up Fev Rover
although on a line through the third – Santosha – she has a bit to find with
the selection.
The form of
Supremacy's Richmond Stakes success has taken a few knocks in recent weeks and
I feel the second Group 1 contest on the card the Middle Park Stakes for
2-y-old colts' lies between the unbeaten Method, Gimcrack winner Minzaal and
Irish raider Lucky Vega (3.00) with the latter getting the vote for Jessica
Harrington.
The selection was
constantly denied a run in the 7f National Stakes at the Curragh earlier in the
month and it is significant that his astute handler brings him out so soon. His
previous success in the Gp 1 Phoenix Stakes is, arguably, the best form in the
book and he would not be inconvenienced if the ground deteriorated.
My two against the
field in the Cambridgeshire are Tempus (3.35) and Ilaraab with preference for
the progressive Roger Charlton-trained 4-y-old who has won four of his last
five starts.The Kingman colt has never raced beyond an extended mile but he
promises to be well suited by this additional furlong and he looked a class act
when scoring at Ascot last time.
Great to see Goshen
back on track on the level at Haydock. This is his first start since he fell at
the last with the Triumph Hurdle at his mercy back in March. Gary Moore's
four-year-old makes no appeal as a betting medium at 4/6 but he is currently
second favourite for the 2021 Champion Hurdle and his Road To Cheltenham starts
here.
Aggy With It (12.35)
won Bumper at Market Rasen and can make a winning seasonal debut in the
opener back at the Lincolnshire track for Dan and Harry Skelton. I remember how
well the selection was travelling when coming down two out at Worcester in
October and may have still been feeling the effects of that mishap when disappointing
at Newbury the following month. Her subsequent absence suggests all was not
well with the mare and we know she goes well fresh.
Royal Magic was an
impressive scorer at Newton Abbot last weekend and a 4lbs rise looks fair, but
he has never been the most consistent of animals and preference is for Waitonit
(1.35) who was backed as if defeat was out of the question when scraping home
at Southwell from a 6lbs lower mark.
That doesn't tell the
whole story, however, as the gelding lost many lengths by constantly jumping
out to his right and the return to this clockwise track will suit. One slight
note of caution, the Nigel Twiston-Davies camp invariably targets Perth's
two-day meeting which took place midweek.They sent another strong raiding party
north this week but returned home without a win to their name.
My two against the
field in the valuable 2m 5f handicap chase are Bandsman (2.10) and Buster
Thomas with preference for the former who has been plying his trade over
further recently but takes a drop back in distance this afternoon. I think this
intermediate trip looks ideal and he should have the race run to suit.
