Saturday 5th October 2024
1.30 Newmarket: British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap: My first selection of the day on Saturday comes in the 1.30 at Newmarket which is a Premier Fillies’ Handicap over a mile and two furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Queen Of Soliders in this for Roger Varian and Tyler Heard. She’s still a maiden, however, ran well on handicap debut at Ayr last month when finishing third of seven and a length and a half behind the winner. She also finished a head second to the very useful Nakheel on her racecourse debut and I believe there could be a lot more to come from her. Queen Of Soldiers – 12/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
1.50 Ascot: BetMGM Rous Stakes: Next up for me is the 1.50 at Ascot which is the Listed Rous Stakes that’s contested over five furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Relief Rally here for William Haggas and Cieren Fallon. She returned from a mid-season break last month with a fine effort at Newbury when just over a length behind No Half Measures in Group 3 company. She missed the break that day and if she gets away better here she has to be considered a huge player. I think she’ll be tough to beat. Relief Rally – 6/4 (Win) (NAP)
2.05 Newmarket: £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes: My third selection of the afternoon comes back at Newmarket and in the 2.05 which is the valuable October Auction Stakes over six furlongs. I’m with Afentiko here for Paul & Oliver Cole who’s the mount of Rob Hornby. He takes a significant drop down in trip here having finished second over a mile last time out in a French Listed race. He has won over this distance earlier in the campaign though and has some of the best form on offer here, if getting some luck in the run he can prove a big threat to all. Afentiko – 5/1 (Each-Way)
2.25 Ascot: BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes: It’s up in grade now as now we take a look at the 2.25 at Ascot which is the Group 3 Cumberland Stakes over a mile and four furlongs. I’m siding with Al Aasy here for William Haggas and Danny Tudhope. He looked back to his best last time out at Newbury when taking the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes from Al Qareem in comfortable style, and whilst that was on fast ground he does have form on soft going previously. If he turns up in the same kind of form he should prove very tough to beat. Al Aasy – 5/2 (Win) (NB)
2.40 Newmarket: Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes: The feature race of the day comes up at 2.40 and it’s the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes that’s contested over a mile. I like Tamfana here who represents the team of David Menuisier and Colin Keane. She’ll have no issue with any cut in the ground and looks considerably progressive, most recently she won the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown and that followed on from when she finished fourth in a French Group 1 and two and three-quarters of a length behind Arc hopeful Sosie. I think her form looks a lot more solid than her market rivals here and she could well give Colin Keane his elusive Group 1 on these shores. Tamfana – 5/2 (Win)
3.00: Ascot: John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes: The sixth race of that day that we’ll be taking a look at is the 3.00 from Ascot which is the Group 3 Bengough Stakes over six furlongs. I’ve come down on Vadream here for Charlie Fellows and David Egan. This represents an ease in grade for her as five of her last six starts have all come within Group 1 company, all of her best form to date come on testing ground which she’ll get here and I think she looks like a very solid each-way play in the race. Vadream – 6/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Sky Bet)
3.20: Redcar: William Hill Two Year Old Trophy: My penultimate selection of the day comes from Redcar and in the 3.20 which is the Listed Two Year OId Trophy over six furlongs. I like Uncle Don here who’s currently trading at a best price of 9/2 for Richard Fahey and Oisin Orr. He got the better of subsequent Molecamb Stakes winner Mojo Star on his second start earlier in the season and returned to the track with a fine second behind Star Of Mehmas in Listed company at Ayr last month. I think he looks highly progressive and if handling the soft ground can have a big say in this. Uncle Don – 9/2 (Win)
3.35: Ascot: BetMGM Challenge Cup: Signing me off for the afternoon will be the 3.35 at Ascot which is the Challenge Cup, a Heritage Handicap over seven furlongs. I’m with Germanic here who’s another for William Haggas and Cieran Fallon. He ran a fine race on his handicap debut at Doncaster last month where he went clear two furlongs from home before being caught, and if he’s held on to for slightly longer here he’s got every chance of going a few places better. The handicapper has left him on an unchanged mark and I think he’s a big player. Germanic – 6/1 (Each-Way) (7 places – Sky Bet)
