Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Newmarket, York and Chepstowon Saturday. View selections below.
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DUKE STREET (3.40) looks a sporting each-way bet at big odds to land the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket.
A recent outing over fences at Worcester will ensure he is cherry-ripe for the second leg of the autumn double and these dual-purpose horses have a good record in this 2m 2f stamina test.
Grand National-winning trainer Richard Newland doesn’t race many on the Flat but Duke Street was a useful sort in that sphere for Mark Johnston, beating Sir Mark Prescott’s Sea Of Heaven (levels) at Beverley on a quick surface two summers ago.
Duke Street is at his best on good ground and his third in a Cheltenham three-mile handicap points to no stamina concerns. Stall 11 is perfect and Hector Crouch takes off 3lb.
Scottish-trained Shrewd is worth a saver on ground that should also be ideal. Iain Jardine’s gelding is closely matched with Who Dares Win on their Cesarewitch trial form.
ANYTHINGTODAY (2.05) has been kept busy through the summer by Hugo Palmer but is holding his form well.
The three-year-old can figure in the Download the Coral App Handicap over 1m 2f at York and a little bit of juice on the Knavesmire will suit this dual winner on a soft surface. Anythingtoday ran another solid race three weeks ago in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury when third to Brorocco.
Chelsea Lad steps up to 10 furlongs for the first time but he saw out 1m 1f all right when fourth in the Betfred Cambridgeshire a fortnight ago. He boasts course form as well, having chased home Here Comes When over a mile here in May.
SHABAAY (2.40) looks one for favourite backers in the Coral-sponsored Rockingham Stakes.
Hamdam Al Maktoum’s colt has been well placed by Owen Burrows to score quite comfortably at Doncaster and Newmarket in the manner of a progressive juvenile.
MR LUPTON (3.15) is trading at juicy odds and can reward an each-way interest in the Coral Sprint Trophy.
Richard Fahey’s sprinter landed a 17-runner handicap over course and distance last summer and ran well in fourth behind Donjuan Triumphant at Haydock last month. When Sebastian Woods’s 7lb claim is factored into the equation, Mr Lupton is 17lb better off with runner-up Stake Acclaim.
There is some excellent jumping action at Chepstow and COURT MINSTREL (4.10) is trading at a big price in the totepool Silver Trophy.
The gelding caused a 40-1 upset in this race two years ago when encountering the good ground he relishes. As long as there isn’t too much rain around Court Minstrel will probably outrun his odds.
He was held up too far off the pace when fourth in a small field at Stratford last time but the 10-year-old is always at his best coming off a strong pace in these big handicaps.
His fourth to John Constable in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May was a typically good effort and the old boy isn’t badly treated, with 7lb claimer Mitchell Bastyan enjoying a fruitful start to his career.
Nigel Twiston-Davies landed this big pot last year with Ballyoptic and he saddles Wholestone, another six-year-old with a very obvious chance.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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