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13:45 Newmarket
Hafit created a fair impression when winning on debut here on the other track and that race has thrown up winners since. Sent off odds on in a four-runner contest at Haydock the time after, he suffered a surprise loss although he still looked rather green and the winner may well be top class in his own right. Nudged up an extra two furlongs today, it is difficult to shake the impression that he has plenty left in the tank and it will likely take a smart performance for one to upset him.
Goldspur comes from the same yard as Hafit and he bolted up in a soft ground maiden at Sandown. Today's extra yardage looks almost certain to suit although the form of that debut victory looks fairly questionable.
Bluegrass made short work of his rivals when powering away towards the end of his race at the Curragh last time and he represents the all-conquering yard of Aiden O'Brien. Beautifully bred and partnered here by Ryan Moore, one suspects he will develop into a useful type although improvement is required.
Unconquerable has twice placed in Group races since winning his Maiden at Naas, most notably so when third here in the Royal Lodge (Group 2) last time. Strictly speaking and on the book, he probably ought to be shorter in the betting although he is the most experienced in this line-up and it would be slightly disappointing if one or two of the others couldn't progress past him.
The rest appear up against it and it is worth bearing in mind that no winner of this has returned at double figure odds since 2003, on that note it is probably worth concentrating on those towards the head of the market and Hafit is suggested to atone for his defeat at Haydock the last day.
HAFIT (WIN)
written by Chris Connolly
14:02 York
Canonized represents connections who are in very good form and wasn’t disgraced when stepping up to six furlongs. That form from the Group Three means she sets the standard for this race and she gains weight off most of her rivals. However, she’s yet to win over course and distance and comes up against more experience rivals in this division. She seems opposable.
Edward Cornelius has enjoyed a nice start to his career, wining on debut and being runner up in his following two. He was upped to the same class as today, last time out at Ayr, and struggled. That being said, he wasn’t far away from Canonized and interestingly, Keith Dalgleish has decided to place a hood on him. He’s unexposed at this trip, ground and course and could be worth an each way shout.
Ever Given has everything going for him in this race. He has a nice draw, course and distance form and is suited by the ground. He went down by a neck in a race of a similar level at Doncaster, last time out, so he shouldn’t be deterred by the class. Moreover, connections are in good form. Everything seems to be in his favour and he seems hard to beat.
EVER GIVEN (WIN)
EDWARD CORNELIUS (E/W)
written by Kieran McHugh
14:20 Newmarket
Coroebus looks to be a top class horse in the making. Chinned close home when looking to have put the race to bed last time here at "Flat HQ", he looks unopposable today and one would imagine William Buick may bide his time a little more this afternoon.
So that leaves us with who is going to fill the forecast spot?
Imperial Fighter finished second to Royal Patronage (who beat Coroebus) at York last time. That was a decent effort obviously, but Dubai Poet looks to be a nice improving type. He bolted up at Newbury after a promising debut effort. He probably didn’t beat much that day but he’s certainly going to improve with time and he’s taken to follow home Coroebus.
COROEBUS (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
14:37 York
This is a decent handicap with some potentially classy types on show. Bay Bridge a New Bay colt trained by Sir Michael Stoute is the current favourite. He hasn’t been seen since May and seems to have been given a break to wait for the soft ground he gets here. He has had two runs this season and has won both in style, his last run was a win at Newbury where he won impressively on his first run in a handicap, he gave King Frankel eight pounds and a four-length beating. He has been raised fifteen pounds for that but is unexposed.
Faisal is a Golden Horn colt who has won three of his four races to date. His one defeat came last time out when he was beaten a length and three quarters by Anmaat at Doncaster. The horse that beat him there franked the form when finishing a well backed second in the Cambridgeshire last weekend. Faisal is just a pound higher for that run, that was his first run since May so may come on for it. He is unraced so far on a soft surface.
Sinjaari won the John Smiths cup here last year and on his only course run since finished second beaten only a neck by Migration, that was his first run for Roger Charlton since moving from the William Haggas yard. He was then beaten by an even shorter distance going down by a head to Harrovian. He clearly goes well here, and his recent runs are good he would not be winning out of turn. His trainer hasn’t been in the best of form recently.
Tim Easterby has had a fabulous season and he runs two here, Dark Jedi looks to be his main hope but Fishable is also capable on his day but has done all his winning at Ripon. Dark Jedi is consistent but might find a couple too good here.
Two outsiders with a chance are Pythagorus and Akmaan but both need a return to form that they haven’t shown for a while. Pythagorus was sixth in the Dante here in May but hasn’t really developed since. Brian Meehans Akmaan had good form in two races as a two-year-old but has shown nothing in two races this year, he has been gelded since his most recent run and that may see a return to form.
Bay Bridge is open to any amount of improvement but needs it after being raised fifteen pounds. Sinjaari offers value and loves York, but his trainer has been a little cold lately, so I am going to go with the Gosden horse Faisal. The only time he has been beaten is when finishing a narrow second to Anmaat who franked the form in style when second in the Cambridgeshire. That was his first run after a break so could improve for it. If being gelded has an effect Akmaan could run into a place.
FAISAL (WIN)
written by Steven Marriott
14:55 Newmarket
This Saturday's premier race of the day is the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes where we see some serious potential 2,000 Guineas contenders for next season.
The clear odds-on favourite in this year’s renewal is the Charlie Appleby trained Native Trail. The unbeaten, three-time winner has gone from strength to strength and claimed the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at The Curragh last time out. According to the bookmakers he’s unlikely to be beaten and it’s hard to disagree based on what he’s shown so far. For those that are happy to back horses at odds-on prices then I’d be hard pressed to put you off but I have to look for a horse with better value.
Fellow unbeaten contender is Irish raider Straight Answer who heads to Newmarket off the back of a very convincing victory in a listed contest at Fairyhouse. He produced a dominant performance last month and deserves his shot at this level. Of course, he needs to improve further to tackle opposition of this nature, but he’s shown little to no chinks in his armour. At current odds of 6/1 he seems unlikely to finish out of the money and could provide an alternative each way bet to those looking to take on the favourite.
Of the remainder, another unbeaten Irish entry, could go much better than his 14/1 price may suggest. Glounthaune hails from the powerhouse yard of Aidan O’Brien and holds a record of one win from one career start. His maiden success has been franked with the second subsequently going on to claim both listed and group race glory as well as other former rivals also finding their way into the winners enclosure. With Ryan Moore booked for the ride it’d be foolish to discount this well connected runner and despite his need to improve looks generously priced. Although he’s somewhat of a longshot with eight runners set to go to post I’m happy to side with him potentially finishing in the top three.
GLOUNTHAUNE (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
15:15 York
Gulliver arrives here looking for a hat-trick of victories in this event, however hasn’t won since taking last years renewal and hasn’t been done any favours being drawn in stall 21. Given his record both in this race and at York in general he can’t be ruled out, however his trainer also runs Nomadic Empire who on recent form looks to hold a stronger chance having won at Leicester mid-September before following up over course and distance just four days later.
Mr Wagyu has had a busy but very productive season and also has winning form over track and trip, while Laugh A Minute has already been very well supported in the early markets and both need to be taken seriously, however for our selection we turn to Strike Red who ran a cracker when just a head second to Bickerstaff at Ascot last weekend and with conditions, trip and draw in his favour he looks more than capable of another big run here.
STRIKE RED (E/W)
written by Dean Kilbryde
15:35 Newmarket
33 Runners go in the Cesarewitch Handicap one of the biggest handicap races of the flat season. It's a mixture of Flat Trainers but also National Hunt Trainers like to target this race and Willie Mullins, is looking to win it for the 4th year in a row.
Willie Mullins has 6 horses entered and you could make a case for every one of his six runners in this race. It's a highly competitive field and it would be impossible to write and talk about every horse in the race.
Great White Shark last year's winner missed his prep run for this and has been of the track since March 10 pounds higher now than his win here last year seems a big ask. Current favourite M C Muldoon won last time out at Galway in what was his prep run for this and a Royal Ascot 2nd in June you can see why he is favourite and the booking of Ryan Moore who probably had the cherry pick of Mullins Horses to choose from.
One of Mullins I do like and fancy to go well and is near the bottom of the weights is Foveros
Ray Dawson takes the ride and is more than capable of riding with the pressure that comes with Willie Mullins horses. Question marks maybe about the ground and may want it ideally softer than it is but has won on good ground before albeit a shorter distance. Ran a solid race at the Galway festival which should put him spot on for this.
Buzz we know has won at this distance and was decent over the winter jumps last season. Calling The Wind has to be respected winning at 2 mile 4 Furlongs at Goodwood couple races back and you could argue should have won last time out at Newbury albeit at a shorter trip. Be very surprised to not see Call In The Wind running into the places and looks well handicapped.
I'm surprised to see Reshoun at around 40/1 when you consider he beat M C Muldoon few races back at Royal Ascot and he is the favourite for this race currently. Again, will have similar conditions to that match up last time at Royal Ascot with the ground looking like it'll dry up.
You could make a case for so many of the horses in the race and there can be a lot of hard luck stories in this type of race just because of the sheer volume of horses that run in this race. I would look around for extra places (skybet paying 8 places) so you can definitely get value if you look around if you're backing each way
FOVEROS (E/W)
RESHOUN (E/W)
CALL IN THE WIND (E/W)
written by Luke Tucker
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