Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with eight to follow on Saturday at Haydock, Newmarket and Market Rasen. View selections below
A wonderful days racing with Newmarket taking centre stage with a couple of Group 1 contests and the first leg of the autumn double the Cambridgeshire.
I am staggered and disappointed that Frankel’s half-sister Joyeuse goes for today’s Cheveley Park over 6f rather than yesterday’s Fillies’ Mile; to be perfectly honest I felt the Moyglare was her race over 7f earlier in the month at the Curragh, but connections have decided to keep her at 6f although I think she is crying out for further. With this is mind she is reluctantly overlooked in favour of her Royal Ascot conqueror Kiyoshi (2.35) who may not have got home when tried over 7f last time and looks certain to appreciate the drop back in trip.
The French raider Vorda is a fascinating runner having run a cracker when runner up to the American colt No Nay Never in the Prix Morny at Deauville last time; she may not have quite encountered ground this fast, however, and for that reason she is overlooked in favour of the Charlie Hills-trained runner. If there is a Guineas’ winner in the field it is likely to be Joyeuse although I don’t think she will quite have the speed of Kiyoshi over this trip.
I don’t think it was Ryan Moore’s finest hour when Integral got him out of trouble at Sandown last time as the former Champion jockey asked his filly to make up her ground too quickly; she is progressing at the rate of knots and must go close but I am going to take a chance on Duntle (3.10) who will appreciate dropping back to a mile having looked a non-stayer in the Beverly D Stakes at Arlington last month. Guineas winner Sky Lantern is the 6/4 favourite but I take Duntle (11/1 at BetVictor) to cause a bit of a shock.
The opening Royal Lodge Stakes looks a match between Berkshire (2.00) and Somewhat and I take the former to edge it although the race makes little appeal from a betting medium; the former is currently 20/1 for next year’s Derby at BetVictor with Aidan O’Brien’s Australia 5/1 market leader.
The big betting race of the day is the Cambridgeshire and we are betting ¼ odds five places on the race; the 3-y-old Seek Again could improve for the step up in trip and is worth consideration but a chance is taken on Godolphin’s Tha’ir (3.50) a 25/1 shot with BetVictor who gets further than today’s trip of 9 furlongs and I think that is vital in this cavalry charge. Coming out of stall two the hope is that he is drawn on the right side and if picking one drawn high it would be Code Of Honour (16s) who will come out of stall 28.
At Haydock Ehtifaal (3.00) ran a race full of promise at Newbury on debut and he can build on that in a fascinating 1m maiden; trained by William Haggas the colt ran on really well over 7f at the Berkshire track and, although the form has received a couple of knocks, he should appreciate the additional furlong and gets the vote.
There is a terrific sprint handicap and Barracuda Boy (3.30) reverts to the minimum trip having suggested at Kempton earlier in the week that his turn was imminent; Tom Dascombe has been amongst the winners this week and this C&D winner can gain a belated first win of the season.
Ittirad (2.15) is potentially very well treated at Market Rasen in their handicap hurdle and he looked to be getting the hang of things over hurdles when winning over C&D last time; his lack of experience is a concern and his jumping will have to hold up in this more competitive race but he could be thrown in for John Ferguson. Watered Silk is another who has won over C&D and he ran a cracker returning from a break on the level earlier in the month. That was a big effort on ground softer than ideal at Yarmouth and I really like this grey and he, too, looks very well handicapped over hurdles.
The valuable handicap chase is a cracker and my short-list is extremely long; Twirling Magnet found little at Newton Abbot last time but this is his trip, King Of The Night is very well handicapped on his hurdles form and has switched yards since disappointing back in May. He has been given a chance by the handicapper but in a magnificent race I side with Well Regarded (2.50) who has been off the track since being brought down at Ascot back in the spring. His yard could certainly do mwith a high-profile winner after a torrid 12 months.
Charlie Longsdon has his team in decent order and Spirit Of Shankly was considered a decent novice last season but lost his way after a good start which was symptomatic of Longsdon’s season. He can bounce back to form.
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Be lucky
Charlie
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