The final day of the Cambridgeshire meeting features the big handicap itself. The 1m1f contest on the Rowley Mile has attracted 28 runners, but there are two juvenile Group 1 prizes on offer on Saturday too.
Matthew Sutcliffe has previewed all three of those titanic contests in his Saturday preview of the Newmarket action.
13:22 Newmarket – British Stallion Studs EBF ‘Jersey Lily’ Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (Class 2) (2yo)
William Haggas has won this race twice in recent years and interestingly backs up Next Of Kin eight days after a dubious handicap debut at Newbury.
The Kingman filly caught the eye on debut when a two length second to Al Samsama, who she now has a 9lbs swing in the weights with. She shaped as though in need of experience there, and certainly put it to good use when a neck winnier of an Ayr Maiden next time out. She made all there and hit the line strongly, always looking to hold the rallying Myesme who won well next time out, beating an 88 rated Wathnan filly who was fifth in the Lowther.
Next Of Kin then raced in rear on her handicap debut despite those successful prominent tactics, and she conveniently found enough trouble to prevent her from a clean run down the middle and had to switch to the outer. By then it was too late, but she came home strongly under hands and heels to suggest there was another day in mind.
She’s bred to be talented from the family of 1997 Cheveley Park winner Embassy, and she looks thrown in off a mark of 76 if she can step forward from that last outing at a track that should suit.
13:55 Newmarket – Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo)
These silks were carried to victory in this race by Bow Echo, who was unbeaten in two starts going into the contest and lightning can strike twice with Burning Up.
The Too Darn Hot colt won comfortably on debut at Haydock despite taking a while to get the hang of racing. He looked to be in danger of going backwards at one stage, but he displayed a smart turn of foot late on clocking a quick 12.10 second final furlong, 0.6 seconds quicker than anything else.
He then backed that up under a penalty next time out and I don’t think he looked particularly in love with the ground, but regardless he travelled much more fluently throughout and one hitting the front, the turn of foot was immediate.
He gave 7lbs to a Group one entered colt there winning just shy of two lengths eased down, and they pulled six lengths clear of the third. That mightn’t have been the strongest of races, but he looks a very talented colt (has a Futurity entry) and has shades of the owners Bow Echo.
14:27 Newmarket – Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) (Class 1) (2yo)
The build up to this contest will no doubt concern the top three in the betting in particular Sun Goddess, who was described as a ‘freak’ by her handler.
However, Moonrise has done very little wrong in her career and has intertwining form with all the protagonists to suggest she looks way overpriced here.
A comfortable winner at Kempton on debut, she then ran an excellent race from the front in the Chesham Stakes to be beaten half a length in a race that’s worked out very well. She then landed the Princess Margaret Stakes by a neck, always looking in command.
Lezoo won that contest before Cheveley Park success, and she had Velozee a length behind there. She was only three quarters of a length behind Sun Goddess next time out.
She then stepped into open company to land the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes by nearly four lengths carrying a 3lbs penalty, beating Shimmering Sun into second. That one was beaten the same distance in the Queen Mary, and on that form, Moonrise would hold Señorita Bonita.
While she does have to improve on her bare form to take this, the collateral form suggests she isn’t way off for a yard who won this with Alcohol Free in 2020.
15:00 Newmarket – Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) (Colts) (Class 1) (2yo) – Inner City Blues 15/8 2pt WIN
I was at York when William Buick made the journey for just one ride on Inner City Blues despite Godolphin having multiple horses elsewhere and I thought we’d seen something a bit special.
He broke slowly and raced greenly early on, before travelling strongly into contention on the farside flank into a headwind without cover. He asserted with any amount of dominance late on there to fend off two subsequent winners shaping very much like a work in progress.
He improved to take the July Stakes next time out despite again racing keenly in rear, but he again picked up sharply once switch and hit the line strongly. The runner up had already shown strong form such as second to Great Barrier Reef in the Coventry Stakes, and he also franked the Inner City Blues form when a length behind Man’s Best Friend in the Richmond Stakes, with Doncaster Sales winner Night In Vegas in third.
There is still a ton of improvement left, and a strongly run contest against better opposition can suit for a yard seeking a hattrick in this race.
15:40 Newmarket – bet365 Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – First Ambition 66/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
First Ambition looked to be something above average when making it two from two in his career last August, but despite some credible efforts since, is now 0-9.
He stepped into handicap company off a mark of 91 and wasn’t disgraced at all when second to Fondo Blanco who’s placed twice since in Pattern company. He’s been largely disappointed since and has switched hands to Michael Keady for just 22,000 gns, but he’s caught the eye the last twice.
He caught the eye in a competitive handicap at the Goodwood festival when rallying home late on the wide outside from rear having travelled well in behind, and that form has worked out nicely with the third winning a valuable handicap at the Ebor meeting, the fourth winning since after his fourth in the Finale Handicap at York, and the seventh also performing well at York since.
First Ambition again caught the eye when a rallying third at Wolverhampton under hands and heels, and the suspicion is he’s been primed for a big pot. He’s now 8lbs below his peak handicap mark and being a daughter of Laurens, who improved with age, he could prove better than his current mark with this strongly run big field scenario to suit.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Five Eyecatchers for Saturday 26 September @ Newmarket
13:22 Newmarket – British Stallion Studs EBF ‘Jersey Lily’ Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (Class 2) (2yo) – Next Of Kin 9/1 1pt EW 3 places
13:55 Newmarket – Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo) – Burning Up 11/4 1.5pt WIN
14:27 Newmarket – Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) (Class 1) (2yo) – Moonrise 20/1 1pt EW
15:00 Newmarket – Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) (Colts) (Class 1) (2yo) – Inner City Blues 15/8 2pt WIN
15:40 Newmarket – bet365 Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – First Ambition 66/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
FAQs
When was Matthew Sutcliffe’s article published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 9.30am on Friday 25 September.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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