Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Newmarket and Haydock Park on Saturday. View selections below.
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VERY TALENTED (3.35) can make his own little piece of history by landing the Betfred Cambridgeshire Handicap on his seasonal debut at Newmarket.
Betting a horse absent from the track for a year is a risky proposition but Saeed Bin Suroor has a lofty reputation for having his horses fit after a long break. Very Talented finished third to Spark Plug last year, one place behind stablemate Carry On Deryck, who also turns up for another bite at the first leg of the autumn double.
The first two home 12 months ago raced up the stands’ side from stalls 28 and 35, so Very Talented did well to get so close from his berth in stall 8. He is only a pound higher and Pat Smullen is a good booking.
Godolphin have a third fancied runner in Linguistic but it’s worth recalling that he finished almost four lengths behind Very Talented at the 2015 Doncaster St Leger fixture and my selection is 4lb better off today.
Very Talented emerges from stall 12, so will probably stick to the far side again. There should be plenty of pace around him, with free-going Naval Warfare in stall three.
Trailblazing Sands Chorus is drawn 22, so that should ensure a strong gallop up the stands’ side as well. This will give ante-post favourite Thundering Blue a nice tow into the cavalry charge from stall 20. Thundering Blue’s Sandown victory over Monarchs Glen was paid a handsome compliment when that horse won a decent event at Goodwood in midweek. He’s well worth a saver.
Last Saturday’s Newbury winner Borocco likes to arrive late and stall 33 looks a good pitch under the stands’ rail.
Jim Goldie saddled Nanton to finish placed in three Cambridgeshires and Nicholas T could well outrun his big odds as he clearly didn’t stay an extended 10 furlongs behind Eddystone Rock at York. Stablemate Sir Chauvelin is also capable of making a bold show, although this trip looks an absolute minimum.
Some of the best UK and Irish two-year-olds line up for the Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes and BECKFORD (2.55) could prove the value bet, having traded at a standout 7-1 with Paddy Power yesterday.
Gordon Elliott’s colt was just run out of it by Sioux Nation in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and travelled like a dream in the 7f National Stakes before hitting the wall on heavy ground, finishing a tired second to Verbal Dexterity. Beckford will be far happier back at six furlongs.
Sands Of Mali blasted out and made all to land the Gimcrack Stakes at York, while Unfortunately’s victory over stablemate Havana Grey in the Prix Morny at Deauville is another piece of solid form.
The 32Red Gold Cup at Haydock is a valuable ‘consolation’ race for last Saturday’s waterlogged William Hill Ayr Gold Cup and SAINTED (3.15) can take full advantage of this rearranged sprint.
The William Haggas-trained filly is up 8lb for a course and distance victory in August, but her earlier wins at Newmarket and Doncaster on soft/heavy ground should ensure she handles the mud.
HIBOU (2.05) was raised 11lb for beating Masham Star at Hamilton (soft) but ran well off his new mark when second to very smart Riven Light at the Galway festival. Dream Walker was one place behind, so little separates that pair.
Hibou found the drying ground against him in the Irish Cambridgeshire, but was doing his best work at the finish. Today’s testing conditions can bring out the best in the top weight at rewarding odds..
King’s Pavilion is running at the peak of his powers and his ability to handle a deep surface should see him go close. He followed up a comfortable success over Instant Attraction at Carlisle (heavy) by an even better effort under a penalty at Chester, closing down Dan Troop to under a length after finding some early trouble.
Century Dream has been a little disappointing since scoring at Ayr in July, but seems well enough treated, while Betway Spring Mile winner Lord Of The Rock came good again at York last time.
SWAHEEN (5.35) looks a live each-way alternative to John Gosden’s hotpot Royal Mile in the 1m 4f handicap.
His third to progressive Barwell at Thirsk (soft) earlier this month has been made to look better, with runner-up Lopes Dancer and fifth Royal Shaheen winning next time out.
Royal Mile was well on top at the end when scoring on his debut at Windsor but the son of Dubawi didn’t beat much. He was being pushed along from an early stage and early quotes of around 11-10 seem skinny off this 88 rating.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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