A fabulous Friday of racing action incorporates a race for Group 1 glory at Newmarket and the spiritual return of the jumps at Chepstow. GG’s in-house man Joe Napier has picked out five selections across a whopping ten races live on ITV.
1.47 Newmarket – Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3)
This is very open and a great betting race for those seeking each-way contenders. La Bellota is fascinating having run in the all-age Group 1 sprint at Longchamp last weekend, but the ground may be drying too much for him come Saturday.
Of most interest is ZAYER for Archie Watson, who is the same price in the current market as Kullazain despite beating him by eight lengths at Ripon in August. That rival has won easily since, franking the form, but that came on heavy over 6f, so his improvement surely has not levelled him up to the selection’s standard so quickly.
Zayer himself was fifth next time out in what looked a good renewal of the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster, and ticks another box as a prominent racer for Newmarket. He was mixing it with plenty of prior Pattern winners that day and more than held his own, so with this race looking weaker, he should be a strong candidate for the first three.
2.25 Newmarket – Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3)
Cathedral comes with a tall reputation and hails from a yard that is flying after their Arc success at the weekend. However, even though three of the last four winners had only raced once before, this is a tall enough task on her first run on turf, with FLIGHT preferred for Ollie Sangster.
As a new trainer on the scene, a large percentage of his runners have been on the younger end of the spectrum, but he has still sent 2yo winners out at a 21% strike rate, which is impressive. The likes of Simmering have impressed particularly, but Flight herself has recorded the highest RPR of his juvenile runners in Britain so far when third in Doncaster’s Group 2 May Hill Stakes.
That looks to be the standout form by some margin, and she finished five lengths ahead of a former Group 3 winner that day. She had won comfortably to get off the mark at Sandown previously, beating a Beckett runner who has won since, and she looks another who should sit prominently and have every chance in the latter stages.
3.00 Newmarket – bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Group 1)
It’s a boost to Desert Flower’s chances that Ryan Moore has opted to ride January, who the Godolphin filly beat comfortably enough for her May Hill Stakes victory at Doncaster. Other than Ballydoyle sending two others, Dreamy and Ballet Slippers, to potentially make things awkward, there should not be a reversal of the form, but a Godolphin filly has not won this since 2012 despite having significant success in other juvenile races at this time of year.
Charlie Appleby’s juveniles have begun to pick up the mantle of a disappointing season, but she is opposable with an unexposed type in TABITI, who looks the only viable alternative with the other O’Brien inmates probably already wanting further.
For Ralph Beckett and Juddmonte, the daughter of Kingman is two from two, winning easily on the July course before a more workmanlike win in a Salisbury Group 3 over 6f. She shaped like further would be needed though and she is bred to be a miler, so with the promise of more to come, she is worth at least a small interest to upset the favourite.
3.50 Chepstow – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase
The jumps are truly back with this veterans’ chase. Good Boy Bobby will likely make a decent fist of defending his title from last year, but one who is interesting at a big price is DIOL KER, who has been transferred into the very capable hands of Evan Williams after a lengthy career carrying the Gigginstown silks in Ireland.
While he found last season broadly quite difficult, he was competing in contests that exist in a totally different stratosphere to this race. Indeed, on his final start for Gordon Elliott, he turned into the straight of the 3m7½f marathon handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival with a big chance, only fading over the last couple of fences.
He races off 129 here, 6lb lower than that day, and a better surface could well suit; less than two years ago he was runner-up in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting on yielding, going down by a short head off 145. It is a speculative punt, but one with substance given this drop in class, while he should also see out the 2m7½f trip very well.
4.10 – bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap
It has been a surprisingly long wait for BRIONI to tackle this trip, but he is certainly bred for it, with plenty of stamina on both sides of his lineage. He has also come into his best form of late since being gelded.
A narrow second at Goodwood preceded a ready success at Ascot last month. That may have been on soft, but his runner-up effort in Sussex was on good-to-firm, so he does not look too reliant on any going.
He is up 8lb for that four-length victory, but his profile is progressive and it is easy to see him improving further for this distance too. Man of the moment Rossa Ryan, on board for one of the horse’s two victories, takes the mount, which is another positive.
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.