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13:31 Newmarket
A competitive fillies handicap over one mile two furlongs.
Some progressive types in here, and we’ve reached that time of year that when fillies hit form they can improve rapidly.
Al Husn could be one of those. After winning in April, she had a break, but returned to this course in September and was a comfortable winner. Her pedigree would suggest this trip should suit even more and she’s open to plenty of improvement.
Two more three year olds could have more to offer. Firstly Crystal Estrella who won comfortably at Goodwood in May. She hasn’t been seen since which is a slight concern, however with the dry summer connections might just be waiting for the easier ground which she clearly handles.
I’ll Be There is the other. William Buick takes the ride, which is obviously a bonus. However purely on her form she needs to take a step forward.
There could be some each way value with Something Enticing. She’s probably handicapped to the hilt, but she’s a consistent filly who stays really well and will appreciate some cut in the ground. If this turns into a stamina test, she’ll be doing her best work at the finish, and the jockey booking is interesting.
SOMETHING ENTICING (E/W)
written by Matt Polley
13:51 Ascot
Tiz Marvellous boasts a record of four wins from nine over course and distance and won this race last season, however will need to bounce back from a slightly lacklustre performance when only seventh in a group 3 race at Newbury when last seen, finishing around seven lengths behind Manaccan and three behind Method. Although Manaccan was only third in that race, he travelled like a dream and had to wait patiently for an opening, before powering home and just missing out on victory in a blanket finish. He’s clearly still on the up and with a prior course and distance success to his name looks to have a great chance of returning to the winners’ enclosure.
MANACCAN (WIN)
written by Dean Kilbryde
14:06 Newmarket
The £150,000 Tattersalls October Sales Race will see 29 runners dash over the straight 6F on the Rowley Mile, a restricted race for horses who were entered into the October Book 3&4 sales at Tattersalls. The weights are sorted by sales price but there are also penalties for race victories and the grade of said victories. Union Court comes out best at the weight with an official rating of 91 but she is almost bottom weight with 8st 6lb, she won her first two starts but is yet to run over 6F so this a step into the unknown. Top weight Amichi is likely to head the market and is on for a hat-trick after wins at Kempton and more crucially over C&D in the 18 runner Sommerville sales race so deserves full respect.
Prairie Falcon certainly does not lack for experience as this will be his eighth run of his career and he has been on the upgrade as the season has gone on. Perhaps not the best treated as some at the weights going by official figures but his victory last time out was a lot more comfortable than the margin suggested. The runner-up Ramazan subsequently boosted the form with a third placed finish in the Goffs Million. Michael Dods will have likely targeted this race for the son of Belardo and the booking of champion jockey elect William Buick signals intent.
PRAIRIE FALCON (E/W) written by Michael Taylor
14:25 Ascot
Hard to predict the conditions going into the race with the weather potentially being hard to predict (at the time of writing)
Old boy Euchen Glen appears again but I think the 9-year-old who has run with credit this season without winning. Age has caught up with him at this level. Cresta won a listed event at Windsor and could be the potential improving type looks just about each way play.
Get Shirty was looking good in handicaps but the group / class 1 races have found him out and looks a difficult horse to place now at the top level or when he goes back down to handicap races.
High Definition will command respect having come 2nd in a group 1 at the curragh a few starts back though is another who seems to have lost his way last few races.
I don't really like backing short price horses in this sort of race but If the rain comes Hamish looks a solid option. The lightly raced horse this season came 2nd to Kyprios last time out at the Curragh that alone looks a strong piece of form given what Kyprios has done this season and Hamish hadnt ran since may before then. If the rain pours this will be right up Hamish street.
HAMISH (WIN)
written by Luke Tucker
14:42 Newmarket
A rather classy renewal of the Sun Chariot Stakes, with many in with a chance to land the spoils today. Prosperous Voyage would be the ‘outside’ chance, although she has been supported. She’s raced at Newmarket three times, placing second to Inspiral in the Fillies’ Mile and again to Cachet in the 1000 Guineas and downing the former in the Falmouth. Although she was down the field in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, she could bounce back again today.
Laurel adds an unknown quantity to today's race, given that she’s only been seen twice on a racetrack. She’s won both of those starts, one coming at Newmarket on good-to-firm and the latest one at Kempton. Surely Messrs. Gosden would not have entered her into such a high class race if they weren’t confident in her abilities but it is a large step up in class. She could be using this as a pointer, nevertheless she’s intriguing.
Homeless Songs is a very smart three-year-old who floored the eventual Epsom Oaks winner Tuesday in the Irish 1000 Guineas. She’d been off the track for just shy of five months when last seen finishing fourth in the Matron behind Pearls Galore. She retains that potential but she’s two pounds worse off against Saffron Beach, who has an excellent record at Newmarket. She’s been a star for Jane Chapple-Hyam and has ran at Newmarket six times, winning three and placing second twice. She won this race in a course record time last year and she’s been in good form this season. She’s ran three times, winning a Group Two at Royal Ascot and the Group One Prix Rothschild in France. She was second in the aforementioned Matron Stakes. She has a good chance at extending her Newmarket record today and to put herself on the way to the Breeder’s Cup in November.
SAFFRON BEACH (WIN)
written by Kieran McHugh
15:00 Ascot
Rohaan is a three-time course and distance winner and had his finest hour when landing back-to-back victories in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting. David Evans stable star has since finished an excellent third in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. That’s arguably the best form on offer, he’s top-rated in the field and will be difficult to beat back at his beloved Ascot, back down in grade.
The three-year-old Flaming Rib finished runner-up in the Sandy Lane and Commonwealth Cup earlier in the season and doesn’t have much ground to make up with Rohaan on their running in the Sprint Cup. Hugo Palmer's charge is open to more improvement and can’t be discounted.
The improving Commanche Falls unseated leaving the stalls on his only visit to Ascot but he finished a very good second in the Ayr Gold Cup last month and should turn the tables with Summerghand, given they now race off level weights
Al Suhail is another that shouldn’t be underestimated given he finished third in the Group 2 Summer Mile on his only run at Ascot last season.
FLAMING RIB (E/W)
written by Peter Keogh
15:21 Redcar
This year's edition of the Two Year Old Trophy looks a typically competitive affair, and it should make for a very exciting race in prospect.
Cold Case will be the likely favourite at the off having scored in two of his five starts for Karl Burke. Clifford Lee takes over again in the saddle after the owner’s split with Andrea Atzeni earlier in the week. Clifford did ride him on debut however when beaten only a neck. Despite holding solid claims, I would look for better value in a field of this size, especially with him giving so much weight away today.
Another who has to give away a lot of weight here is Barefoot Angel who improved nicely to win at Ayr last month. She would seemingly hold Maria Branwell on that form even though that rival meets on better terms today. Richard Fahey has saddled two of the last five winners of this contest so she cannot be ignored.
Tim Easterby holds the record for the most wins in this race, however, and he sends out Misty Blues today. Though she has only won one of her seven starts, she has been placed on every start since and though this is a big step up in class, big fields seem to suit her and it would not be a surprise to see her run into a place, especially with firms who offer the first five or six.
My pick here though is going to be the very attractively weighted Maylandsea. Michael Bell’s runner has been very highly tried since finishing second in the Queen Mary and it was not a bad effort last week in the Cheveley Park Stakes from a poor draw. If she is over that run she can take all the beating in this contest and I am selecting her today to land the spoils.
MAYLANDSEA (WIN) written by Tom Bates 15:36 Ascot
Fresh is becoming something of a course specialist and he arrives here in great form after recording successive victories over the course and distance. Usually held up, the draw can sometimes rather throw a spanner in the works although all things considered, he deserves to go off favourite here and he will take some stopping if getting the gaps.
River Nymph probably wants rain but he is 1lbs better off at the weights for a narrow loss to Fresh last time and his yard have been firing in the winners lately. Still 2lbs above his last winning mark, he requires a career best to land this contest although you do rather suspect he has been laid out for today.
Safe Voyage finally showed some of his old spark when second at Leopardstown the last day. Ideally suited to going on the slower side of good, his chance would increase if the heavens opened although despite being 14lbs below his last winning mark, one would much prefer him if this was at Haydock.
Asjad has an eye-catching record of five wins from ten career starts and he bounced right back to form when winning at Doncaster last month. Still relatively lightly raced and open to significant improvement, there is every chance he will follow up here though he has twice under-performed at this venue.
Blue For You would have been very unlucky had he failed to catch the re-opposing Escobar at York when last seen and he has been given a break since then. Strictly speaking, Escobar would appear to have solid claims of turning the tables on his stable companion given he has a 4lbs swing in the weights but he has been much busier an the first mentioned makes more appeal.
Symbolize, Rhoscolyn, Orbaan, Boardman and Ever Given have the look of horses in the grip of the handicapper though all four could go close if on a going day. The rest are difficult to dismiss out of hand, however, our vote shall be split between Fresh and River Nymph who both look to have outstanding form claims.
FRESH (WIN)
RIVER NYMPH (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly