We’re on a high after banging in the 16/1 winner of the Arc, Waldgeist, on Sunday and there are plenty of chances to find more winners Friday with eight races on ITV4 from Newmarket, Chepstow and York.
They’re going to come thick and fast and we start with the 13.50 at Newmarket is the Group 3 Cornwallis for juveniles over 5f. PLATINUM STAR has only been over 5f once before but that was in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot when he ran a cracker in second. Runner-up to Pinatubo at Wolverhampton on debut, the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained selection remains in good form and won at Ripon last time.
He will take some stopping under Oisin Murphy.
Next at Newmarket is the 14.25, a Group 3 over 7f again for the youngsters. Final Song is up in trip and this gives a good chance to STYLISTIQUE who deserves a win after chasing home Daahyeh in the Rockfel Stakes last time. Still as maiden for Roger Varian, but this is a good chance to shed that tag under Andrea Atzeni.
The 15.00 at Newmarket is the Group 2 Challenge Stakes over 7f for three year old and up. A fine chance for MUSTASHRY to get back to winning ways for Sir Michael Stoute after being outclassed in the Eclipse when last seen.
The Lockinge Stakes winner at Newbury has to give weight away – but is the class act.
The feature race of the day is the Group 1 Group 1 Fillies’ Mile for two-year-olds over 1m at 15.35. All eyes will be on Quadrilateral here, but Jessica Harrington’s CAYENNE PEPPER will be hard to pass from the front. She was a decent Group 3 winner last time and looks super-tough for an in-form team.
We end the terrestrial coverage at Newmarket with a tough 1m 4f handicap at 16.10. DEREVO is up in the weights now but looks a strong stayer and has fine each-way claims for Sir Michael Stoute again. Ryan Moore rides the recent Newcastle and Pontefract winner.
A 1m handicap gets the ITV action underway at 14.40. Conditions are right for a huge run from previous course and distance winner FIRMAMENT for David O’Meara who has a strong challenge. Danny Tudhope takes the ride and my each-way hope ran a perfectly respectable race in a smaller field last time. Every chance of hitting the frame or better.
The 15.50 at York is a handicap over 1m 6f. The Melrose Handicap winner over this course and distance is HAMISH who is up 6lb for that win 48 days ago. That should not stop the William Haggas-trained runner.
He is lightly-raced and improving and has every chance.
We’ve once over the jumps at Chepstow – Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle over nearly 2m 4f at 14.10 – where the new NH season comes under orders. HARAMBE really got his act together towards the end of last season and ran a fine second at Sandown. Alan King will have him ready and he looks a fine each-way chance.
It’s a marathon on Friday – not a sprint. You hear me Paddy?
*Prices correct at time of publishing
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