Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with nine to follow on Saturday at Chepstow, York and Newmarket. View selections below
The winner of the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket will go into winter quarters favourite for next season’s Qipco 2000 Guineas and it looks a vintage renewal with potential equine stars Emotionless and Air Force Blue (3.10) in opposition.
Having backed Air Force Blue for the Guineas (currently 4/1 at BetVictor) after his Phoenix Stakes (6f) success back in August I was pleased to see him rout his field again in Gp 1 company in the National Stakes over an additional furlong last time. A son of War Front he will always be best served by good or fast ground and there is no rain forecast so there should be no excuses on that front at Newmarket.
Air Force Blue is 11/10 at BetVictor with Emotionless (5/4) and the latter is unbeaten in two starts having won a maiden on the July course before running away with the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last month. Reported to be catching pigeons on the Newmarket gallops the Charlie Appleby trained colt looks top class but marginal preference is for the Aidan O’Brien trained colt.
The big betting race of the day is the second leg of the autumn double the Cesarewitch with 36 going to post for the marathon 2m 2f handicap. On decent ground a low draw is a big advantage despite there being just the one turn. Sir Mark Prescott saddles three with stable jockey Luke Morris riding Moscato (stall 11) but marginal preference is for William Of Orange (3.50) who has a single figure draw in seven and can reward each way support. The 4-year-old is 12/1 at BetVictor (5 places) and has run well in defeat for much of the season.
I still can’t believe how Mutakayyef (5.35) got beat at Ayr last time and he has now finished runner up in four of his last five starts and third in the other. No surprise to see William Haggas fit a pair of blinkers on the colt who will also appreciate the drying ground. Decorated Knight looks ready for a step up to 10f and is the danger in an excellent finale.
The Zetland Stakes is a personal favourite run over the marathon trip of 10 furlongs for juveniles. Landofhopeandglory (4.25) is a wonderful looking horse and could make up into a top class 12f horse next term for Ballydoyle and I expect him to gallop the opposition into submission.
There is a wonderful two-day card at Chepstow and Altior (2.10) can make a winning hurdle debut for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville who is likely to be given many opportunities to show off his talents for the yard this term with Barry Geraghty taking over from AP McCoy as the retained rider for JP McManus. The selection finished sixth in the Punchestown Festival Bumper back in the spring and looks a useful prospect.
Pal Nicholls gave five horses to follow from his yard earlier in the week and the quintet included Monsieur Gibraltar (3.55) who defied a double penalty to score with any amount in hand at Newton Abbot back in the spring. Henderson saddles Bivouac and I think he’ll prefer this better ground; there will be plenty of winners come out of the race that’s for sure.
The following Silver Trophy is worth the admission money alone and Our Kaempfer (4.30) ended last season by finishing third in an Aintree Grade 1 and that he looked very good when winning at Kempton previously giving 6lbs and a beating to Nicholls’ Port Melon. The Charlie Longsdon yard are in excellent form and this 6-y-old is likely to jump a fence later in the season.
Sausilito Sunrise is a thorough stayer but one to keep on the right side of this term for Philip Hobbs but Drop Out Joe (5.05) goes well fresh and this might be the time to catch the Longsdon seven-year-old on decent ground.
A couple of the Kim Bailey horses have not run as well as expected of late but Mor Brook (5.40) could be ahead of the handicapper and is taken to land the finale with Tom Bellamy doing the steering.
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Be lucky
Charlie
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