13:50 Newmarket
We have an ultra competitive cavalry charge to kick of proceedings on ITV this Saturday and with 20 runners set to tackle this sprint handicap it's going to be hard to pinpoint the winner.
The current market favourite is the Owners Club owned First Folio who represents the major syndicate. I understand that horses can improve but compared to the likes of Asjad, who won last time out and Jumbly, who’s been competed in group race company I’m struggling to find a reason to side with James Ferguson’s four year old. Although I’m personally not one for laying horses I just can’t see it even finishing in the top two let alone finding its head in front come the finish line. No doubt I’ve given it the dreaded curse and it’ll romp home in front but there’s others at bigger prices that make much more appeal.
If the old adage ‘horses for courses’ is anything to go by then you can’t ignore the veteran Summerghand. The eight year old has competed here at Flat HQ a total of eight times and he’s finished in the top two in seven of those outings. Although he’s got a high enough rating it’s not an insurmountable mark and with a winter in Meydan under his belt he should have a fitness advantage over most of today’s rivals.
Another runner in the lineup with a previous course success is the Ryan Moore ridden Tactical. He may be burdened with top weight but The Queen’s runner has won on seasonal reappearance before and as he makes his handicap debut (competing at listed or higher grade in all of his runs since his debut) he looks to have plenty of untapped potential still left in him.
SUMMERGHAND (E/W)
TACTICAL (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
14:05 Thirsk
Not many horses rated over a hundred have won this in recent times and Astro King bids to become only the second horse of the last twenty years, after Farhh, to defy a three-figure mark. Clearly talented and a winner on his comeback last season, one suspects this has long been the plan although he arrives here with questions to answer after bombing in last seasons Cambridgeshire. Three times a winner to date and from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, his record fresh makes plenty of appeal though he will have to be bang on it to win and his price is shortening all the time.
Copper And Five has progressed nicely since joining Ruth Carr and he can be easily forgiven for his latest effort at Ripon as he got no luck when beginning his run. Just two pounds above his last winning mark today, he looks likely to play a part and should not be dismissed for a trainer who knows what it takes to land the race.
On A Session ran fourth in this last term off a two pounds higher mark, clearly well weighted, he arrives in decent form although he does rather struggle to get his head in front. Proven on most types of going, his fans could be rewarded with yet another place though he looks vulnerable for win purposes.
Trais Fluors has been quite well backed during the week and he would be on a handy mark if rediscovering his best form, however, his yard have been very quiet lately and he hardly arrives in the sort of form one might want for a horse trading at single figure odds.
Starshiba makes his first start since leaving David Elsworth and his new handler (David O'Meara) is well known for his exploits with similar types. Allowed to race off eighty-two and having gone well fresh before, he is respected as the potential dark horse though he is difficult to select.
Empirestateofmind shrugged off a career high mark when winning with a little to spare at Ripon earlier in the month and could well follow up off an eight pounds higher mark. Certainly from a yard going well, his form has been well advertised this week and a big run looks on the cards.
Delgrey Boy and Dubai Love are others with claims though a chance will be taken on Astro King proving a cut above these and winning first time up for the third season in succession.
ASTRO KING (WIN)
written by Chris Connolly
14:25 Newmarket
A competitive handicap run over the intermediate Cambridgeshire trip of one mile one furlong.
We haven’t seen the four yr old Dhababi on a racecourse since his two yr old campaign. He’s clearly had some issues, but deemed to have enough ability to keep him in training. His past form is good enough for him to warrant being at the top of the market, and with Godolphin in red hot form, he’ll be an obvious player here.
Fast Medicine was a ready winner on seasonal debut. But this is a significant step up in class. There’s a chance he may be up to it, but there’s others in here that look to be potentially better value.
Forest Falcon looks the type to enjoy this type of test if ridden positively, which is likely. He was progressive last season, and looks the type to improve with age.
Movin Time is the selection. He looked a horse of real potential when winning his three yr old maiden at HQ. Things didn’t quite pan out for him in two subsequent runs, however with another year on his back, he could easily get back on an upward curve. He carries top weight, but that burden is eased by Harry Davies seven pounds claim. Group races course be the objective once again this season.
MOVIN TIME (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
14:40 Goodwood
Mrs Fitzherbert has a little bit to find on the initial ratings and comes into this race off a near six month break. She finished last season in progressive fashion and she retains that potential upside. Additionally, she probably has the best draw of those in the race today. She warrants intrigue but might well be looking at place money today.
Almohandesah has had the benefit of a recent run and ran respectively well in the race, when chasing home Cachet. She’s likely to set the pace today under Andrea Atzeni and could prove difficult to peg back. She’s improved her finishing position with every run at Newmarket and she isn’t out of contention to take home the gold medal today.
Primo Bacio hasn’t ran for seven months but has some rather solid form, including Group One class, which puts her in prime position for this race. Richard Kingscote has won on his sole attempt when partnering this filly and a four grade drop should be enough to see her home today.
PRIMO BACIO (WIN)
written by Kieran McHugh
15:00 Newmarket
This years renewal of the Palace House Stakes looks a very open contest with several runners holding good claims for this prize.
Tis Marvellous comes into this race as the best horse on official ratings having been very consistent over the last 12 months, he should handle conditions and is an interesting contender today.
Similar remarks could also apply to Came From The Dark who had a stellar 2021 and finished second in this race last year. He beat Aceribo at Sandown in his final race of the year and I fully expect him to uphold that line of form today.
In addition to Aceribo, Robert Cowell also runs Atalis Bay and I fully expect him to pose more of a threat today making his first start for the yard having switched from Marco Botti’s stables.
Twilight Calls will probably start as favourite for this event despite having to find a lot on ratings. He is very unexposed, however, and has already won over this course and distance so warrants consideration for this race.
I’m siding with Tis Marvellous today as he has a perfect draw for his style of running and conditions should suit him perfectly for him to provide another solid effort to give trainer Clive Cox a group race success here.
TIS MARVELLOUS (WIN)
written by Tom Bates
15:40 Newmarket
There is a reason that Native Trail sits head and shoulders above the rest in the markets for this race – he is unbeaten in five, is a dual Group 1 winner, is proven over the trip, is twice a winner at Newmarket, has already beaten a number of today’s rivals and has looked an impressive individual throughout. There is never such a thing as a certainty in racing but Charlie Appleby’s runner has done everything right so far and there is every reason to believe that he is still capable of improving even further so should take a fair bit of stopping.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien is no stranger to success in this race, having been responsible for nine winners since the turn of the century, and runs two with the unbeaten Luxembourg the pick of the duo. He has posted three wins from three with all victories coming over a mile and was a Group 1 winner when last seen at Doncaster in October. Although not seen since, he is unlikely to be short of fitness on his return and looks sure to be in the mix at the business end of the race.
Royal Patronage was beaten four lengths by Native Trail when they met at Sandown in June, however improved on that performance to notch a hat-trick which culminated in Group 2 success over track and trip where he held off the challenge of the re-opposing Coroebus, who himself is a dual course and distance winner. They both look pretty closely matched and although are both high class individuals i feel they would both have to take another step forwards to reverse the form with the favourite.
At a much bigger price I am opting for an each way play on Checkandchallenge who caught the eye with an impressive victory at Wolves on debut and stepped up in both distance and class when taking his tally to two from two in a Listed race at Newcastle earlier in the month, winning with what looked to be plenty in hand and beating favourite Imperial Fighter by almost two lengths. The form of that rival looks significant given he had previously got to within two lengths of Coroebus when second in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes and then finished just over two lengths behind Luxembourg in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity at Doncaster in October so with decent back form in the book and the promise of more to come he gets the vote in the first Classic of 2022.
CHECKANDCHALLENGE (E/W)
written by Dean Kilbryde
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