Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with six to follow on Saturday at Newmarket, Haydock and Market Rasen. View selections below
A wonderful days racing at Newmarket with two juvenile Group 1 contests beginning with the Cheveley Park Stakes which sees the unbeaten American filly Lady Aurelia (2.55) go head-to-head with the Lowther winner Queen Kindly in what promises to be a vintage renewal of this valuable and prestigious prize.
Lady Aurelia is 8/11 at BetVictor to make it four out of four and, whilst she wasn’t as visually impressive against the boys in the Prix Morny at Deauville last time, her Royal Ascot win in the Queen Mary was quite spectacular. Trainer Wesley Ward has earmarked the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf over a mile at Santa Anita as her Breeders’ Cup target so this stiff 6f should be ideal. Frankie Dettori again does the steering and she is taken to make all with Frankel’s daughter Queen Kindly taken to chase the favourite home.
I remember saying when Mehmas beat Blue Point (3.30) in the Richmond Stakes that the former will never beat the latter again. Confidence is waning as we near post time, however, given the Richard Hannon-trained runner was conceding 3lbs at Goodwood and he ran a cracker over a trip too far (7f) in the National Stakes behind Churchill earlier in the month. The selection improved to win the Gimcrack cosily by 3l at York last month though and he gets the vote at 5/4 with BetVictor.
The first leg of the autumn double the Cambridgeshire is the big betting race of the day and I hope to see a big run from James Fanshawe’s Knight Owl (4.10) who is a C&D winner back in the spring and carries just 8st 1lbs given his apprentice’s useful 5lbs claim. At 20/1 with BetVictor (each way five places) he gets the ew vote.
Lord Ben Stack (2.10) was taken out of a valuable handicap at Newbury on account of the soft ground last weekend and returns to the scene of his latest win when he steps up in trip at Haydock in the opener. The selection has been raised 7lbs for that success which looks harsh but connections may have found another good opportunity although he might not get a soft lead with Rex Ball in the field.
Wrangler returns to the track after a 777-day absence for the William Haggas yard and if there was significant money for the son of High Chaparral I suggest we take the hint.
There is a £50,000 chase at Market Rasen and it promises to be a cracking race with Vintage Vinnie a fascinating runner at the foot of the weights having won a novices’ hurdle earlier in the month with the minimum of fuss. His best runs do seem to be after a break, however, and I wonder if 18-days is enough for him to refresh the batteries.
The vote goes to Fox Appeal (3.10) whose best form is when fresh, going right-handed and the yard did win this corresponding race three years ago. This looks to have been the target for some time and the 9-year-old starts this season from a mark 8lbs lower than this time last year.
Sonofpresenting (3.45) has been raised 4lbs for his recent Southwell run when finishing second after a shoddy round of jumping. Sure to have been extensively schooled in the interim period by trainer Kim Bailey the 6-year-old remains well-treated and with a clear round of jumping will be very hard to beat.
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Be lucky
Charlie
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