What a day ahead, with a cracking Middle Park at Newmarket backed up by the Cheveley Park and big betting race the Cambridgeshire.
In total there are six races to enjoy on ITV4 from Newmarket and Haydock, so let’s get straight to it and try and find a few winners.
The 13:50 at Newmarket is the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes for colts and geldings over 1m. It’s not the best renewal of this event and Kameko really should take all the beating for Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding.
The Solario runner-up is lightly raced and still open to much improvement over this trip. Very hard to beat.
Next at Newmarket is the Group 1 Cheveley Park for fillies over 6f at 14:25. Raffle Prize is back for more for Mark Johnston, and back against her own sex, she will take some stopping. She was a good winner of the Duchess of Cambridge and is super brave after a fine second in the Morny.
Andre Fabre has a big player here in Tropbeau, who has landed her last three stars. The daughter of Showcasing was a clear-cut victor in Group 2 company at Deauville last time and should have no problem in dropping back a furlong.
O’Brien has the unbeaten Etoile, who landed her only start in a Group 3 at Naas.
That was a huge run first time – and seemingly unexpected as she was a 12/1 shot – so she could be anything as an exciting offspring of War Front.
The red-hot Group 1 Middle Park Stakes comes up at 15:00 over 6f for colts. Mums Tipple was a fine winner on debut at Ascot, but it was in a valuable sales race at York last time that the son of Footstepsinthesand truly took the eye.
Scoring by eleven lengths in a big field was a case of seeing is believing, and afterwards it was suggested the winning owners Marion Lyons and Patricia Zanelli turned down millions of pounds for the colt.
Many eyes will concentrate on the Morny hero Earthlight, who looked awesome at Deauville when seeing off Raffle Prize.
I was there that day for Sky Sports Racing, and it was impossible for the master trainer Andre Fabre to hide his excitement. There is just a feeling Earthlight would enjoy another furlong, and the Dewhurst was originally mentioned, but he might just be better than all the rest.
Ger Lyons saddles a big Irish challenger in Siskin, who provided the admirable handler with Group 1 success in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
It’s hard to say how good that form is, but the son of First Defence is a tough nut.
Aidan O’Brien has Monarch of Egypt, Lope Y Fernandez and King Neptune.
The mount of Ryan Moore is Monarch of Egypt, but he was nearly a length behind Siskin in the Phoenix and there is no obvious reason for a turnaround in form, other than the Ballydoyle maestro thinks it worthwhile having another crack.
Finally, the cavalry charge that is the Cambridgeshire over 1m1f at 15:40. Hughie Morrison has booked Ryan Moore for the well-backed Le Don de Vie, who dropped to this distance at Goodwood last time and won cosily.
Good Birthday has Oisin Murphy on top, and he came from off the pace to score well at Beverley last time, while Fifth Position will enjoy going back up in distance after a defeat at Goodwood over a mile.
Lord North is lightly raced for John Gosden and is sure to be supported with Frankie Dettori following a second at Ascot, while Afaak loves these big field handicaps and has talent.
Pushed for two against the field I’ll have a few quid each-way on Korcho and Jazeel. The former will love a strong gallop and big field, so this trip is perfect. He’s another Hughie Morrison challenger.
Jazeel is a perfect horse for Jamie Spencer to come late on and he was eye-catching in defeat at York last time over further. He took the Silver Cambridgeshire last year.
Meanwhile, over at Haydock ITV show the 14:05, a handicap over 1m. This one is tricky, but Dubai Dominion should be hard to keep out the places after a fine second at this course last time. Any rain is good news for the Ed Vaughan runner.
And finally, ITV have the 15:15 at Haydock, a 5f handicap. Another wide open event, but have a few quid each-way on Stake Acclaim, who has been in good form this season for Dean Ivory and loves some juice in the ground. He has every chance in the conditions.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Bet Summary
Newmarket 13:50 – Kameko (6/4)
Newmarket 14:25 – Raffle Prize (11/10)
Newmarket 15:00 – Mums Tipple (5/2)
Newmarket 15:00 – Jazeel (14/1) and/or Korcho (50/1)
Haydock 14:05 – Dubai Dominion (9/2)
Haydock 15:15 – Stake Acclaim (10/1)
* All odds correct at time of posting.
