Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with seven to follow on Saturday at Newmarket, Market Rasen, Chester and Ripon. View selections below
Trainer Aidan O’Brien will be delighted more than most to have Ryan Moore back in the saddle and the pair look set for further success at Newmarket this afternoon. The combination won three classics earlier in the campaign and combine with Deauville (2.00) in this afternoon’s Royal Lodge Stakes, with the colt likely to use the race as a springboard to classic honours next term.
The son of Galileo is unbeaten after two starts and looked an almighty prospect for connections when beating subsequent G3 winner Sanus Per Aquam in the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown. He’s bred to be even better over a trip and is a confident selection to maintain his unblemished record on the Rowley Mile and warrants supporting at both 14/1 with BetVictor for both next year’s 2000 Guineas and Derby.
Eight go to post for the Gp 1 Cheveley Park Stakes with Champion Trainer Richard Hannon saddles the unbeaten Illuminate bidding to win back-to-back renewals after Tiggy Wiggy’s terrific front-running success under Richard Hughes in the corresponding race last year. The daughter of Zoffany has form closely tied in with William Haggas’ Besharah but so does Lumiere (2.35) with Mark Johnston’s filly the one open to the most improvement. The selection made a stunning debut on the July course winning hard-held under William Buick, before finishing an excellent second in the Lowther Stakes last month at York’s Ebor meeting. She should be suited by the return to a sounder surface and at 4/1 looks an excellent each-way bet against the two market principles.
John Gosden’s Shalaa (3.10) is impossible to oppose in the Gp 1 Middle Park Stakes under Frankie Dettori. Al Shaqab Racing’s colt has improved on all five career starts, looking better than never last time out in the Prix Morny at Deauville, and should rack-up the five-timer accordingly.
Cambridgeshire prices from BetVictor – EW ¼ 1-2-3-4-5
Portage 8/1
Bronze Angel 8/1
GM Hopkins 10/1
Third Time Lucky 12/1
14/1 Bar
Portage heads the market alongside last year’s winner Bronze Angel for the Cambridgeshire and with BetVictor paying FIVE PLACES on this afternoons’ cavalry charge Godolphin’s 3-y-o is sure to prove popular amongst punters. Trainer Mick Halford has made no secret about the regard he holds the well-bred son of Teofilo and he has form in big field handicaps after scoring on King George day at Ascot.
He ran an excellent second last time out in the Irish equivalent on ground less than ideal, and is respected on a return to a sounder surface but preference lies instead with Abseil (3.50) for Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute. The gelded son of First Defence isn’t short of a quirk or two but is undoubtedly talented and was sent off a warm 13/8 favourite for a competitive handicap on Derby day at Epsom. He finished third despite being hampered in the closing stages but remains unexposed and can reward each-way support at 14/1 with BetVictor and 5 places.
There’s a terrific card of summer jumping from Market Rasen where Oscar Rock (2.50) is a confident selection to score for Malcolm Jefferson and Brian Hughes. The selection bounced back to form last term, returning from a break to win handicap chases at Newcastle and Kelso before being somewhat unfortunate in his attempt to claim the hat-trick on Scottish National day at Ayr. He fell three out when looking a likely winner and should be able to make amends from an unrevised mark.
There should be a bumper crowd for the final meeting of the season at Chester where Sir Michael Stoute’s Hakka (3.05) a confident selection to land the feature under Ted Durcan. The selection has been progressive in handicaps, winning at Chelmsford and placed at York and Wolverhampton. The colt was arguably unlucky when failing to justify favouritism last time out and can make amends from a pound higher mark.
The curtain is similarly being drawn for the season at Ripon and David O’Meara’s Eccleston (3.45) should go well in the feature under Tony Hamilton. The selection posted a career-best when hacking-up in a competitive handicap last month at Thirsk and was well-supported in the market prior to last weekend’s excellent 6th in the Silver Cup at Ayr..
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Be lucky Charlie
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