Saturday 28th September 2024
1.15 Newmarket: British Stallion Studs EBF ‘Jersey Lily’ Fillies’ Nursery Handicap: We kick things off on Saturday with the 1.15 at Newmarket which is a Class 2 nursery handicap over seven furlongs. I’m chancing Naina here for John Ryan and Christian Howarth who takes off three pounds. She’s been in great form as of late, winning three of her last four starts with one of those victories coming here on the July course and another coming on soft ground at Brighton. She’s rising in the weights but could have more to offer yet. Naina – 7/1 (Each-Way)
1.50 Newmarket: Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes: It’s up in grade at 1.50 with the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over the mile. I like Puppet Master here who represents the team of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He progressed in impressive style last time out when winning at Galway by four lengths and that success also came on soft ground. This requires a sizeable step up from him on all-known form, however, he looks typically progressive for a powerful yard and is already proven on a testing surface. Puppet Master – 4/1 (Win)
2.25 Newmarket: Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes: The third race of the day is the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes which is contested over six furlongs. This is billed as the big match-up between the unbeaten Babouche and Lake Victoria and both have excellent claims. I’ve taken them both on though, and I’ve done that with the French raider Daylight who’s the mount of Mickael Barzalona. She’s only a couple of pounds below the top two on ratings and was a length and a half behind Whistlejacket last time out at Deauville in Group 1 company. She’ll also have no issues with a very testing surface and I think she has leading claims. Daylight – 7/2 (Win)
3.00: Newmarket: Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes: It’s more Group 1 action at 3.00 with the Middle Park Stakes which is also ridden over six furlongs. It’s hard for me to see past Whistlejacket here for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He tasted Group 1 success last time out when winning the Prix Morny in France and he also took the Group 2 July Stakes on the July course here earlier in the season. He’s got form on all types of ground and if he turns up in the same kind of form as his latest success he should prove very difficult to beat. Whistlejacket – 8/11 (Win) (NAP)
3.40: Newmarket: bet365 Cambridgeshire: The feature race of the day comes up at 3.40 and that’s the Cambridgeshire Handicap over a mile and a furlong. In this year’s renewal of the extremely competitive affair, I’ve sided with Norwalk Havoc who’s an Irish raider for Jessica Harrington and the mount of Jim Crowley. He’s one of the highest-rated horses in the field here having plied his trade in group company prior to his latest run, where he returned to handicap company to finish a neck second in a competitive Galway handicap. He’s just three pounds higher than that Galway effort and I think he can make his presence felt here, he’s got form on heavy ground and looks to have a solid profile. Norwalk Havoc – 12/1 (Each-Way)
4.15: Newmarket: Blandford Bloodstock Maiden Fillies’ Stakes: The penultimate race of day and the meeting is the 4.15 which is a Class 2 fillies’ maiden over seven furlongs. This looks like a good opportunity for Wild Angel to build on her debut run for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. She finished third when well-fancied on her first start earlier this month at Kempton and should naturally progress from that effort. Her yard have bundles of winners around here and it would be disappointing should she not post a bold showing. Wild Angel – 5/2 (Win) (NB)
4.45: Stradivarius First Foals 2024 Handicap: We sign off with the 4.45 which is Class 2 handicap action over a distance of seven furlongs. I like Granger Bay here for Jane Chapple-Hyam and Billy Loughlane. He made a big impression last time out Ascot when bolting up by six lengths in what was just his second start within handicap company. He’s received a hefty hike in the weights for that success, however, he looks to have significant potential. That Ascot victory also came on soft ground so the testing conditions here shouldn’t be an issue. Granger Bay – 7/2 (Win)
