Thursday 25th September 2025
NEWMARKET CAMBRIDGESHIRE MEETING SELECTIONS (DAY 1)
1.50: Hunters Prestige British EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 4):
Kicking things off for me at Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting will be the opener at 1.50, and this is a Class 4 maiden that’s contested over a mile. I like Maltese Cross in this who represents the team of William Haggas and Tom Marquand. He posted a very encouraging effort on his racecourse debut at Ascot earlier this month, finishing a neck second of five to a horse who’d already had a previous run. He should naturally progress coming into his second start here, and he represents a top yard who are once again in fine form. I think he’ll go very close in this
MALTESE CROSS – 6/5 (Win)
2.25: Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Nursery Handicap (Class 4):
Next up it’s the 2.25, and this is handicap action and another Class 4 affair, which is contested over a mile. I’m with Gold Dawn here for Hugo Palmer and is the mount of Oisin Murphy. He’s still a maiden after five starts; however, he’s run two very solid races since being gelded, both of which came within competitive handicaps at York’s Ebor Festival and Doncaster’s St Leger Meeting. He was second behind Wechaad at Doncaster last time out, and that rival goes for the Group 3 contest later in today’s card. That’s solid form, and these are calmer waters, and I think he’s a player with Oisin Murphy booked on this occasion.
GOLD DAWN – 13/2 (Each-Way)
3.00: British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2):
My third selection of the afternoon comes within the 3.00, and this is a Class 2 Premier Fillies’ Handicap that’s contested over a distance of six furlongs. I’ve come down on Arabian Leopard here for David Simcock and Sean Levey. She seems to save her best form for Newmarket, whether that be the Rowley Mile or the July Course, with form figures of 113 here, and she ran well once more here last time out when finishing a length third of seven here last month. This is a stronger race; however, she’ll contest this off a pound lower mark than her run here last time out, and she has to be considered a player given her likeness for a course that will find some of these out.
ARABIAN LEOPARD – 6/1 (Each-Way)
3.35: Tattersalls Stakes (Class 1) (Group 3):
The feature race of the opening day of the Cambridgeshire Meeting comes up at 3.35, and this is the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes that’s ridden over seven furlongs. I think that Distant Storm could be tough to beat here for the team of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He’s a two-year-old Night Of Thunder colt who looked a very exciting prospect when getting the beat of the equally Constitution River on the July course here. He was too keen at York last time out in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes when finishing third; however, I still think that there should be plenty more still to come from here. If he settles better, he’s the one they have to beat here for connections who farm winners at this course
I also think that Wechaad deverses a mention here for Roger Varian and Silvestre De Sousa. I like him as an each-way alternative to the favourite here, as he’s a well-regarded sort who I put up when he won last time out at Doncaster. That was a competitive handicap he won at Doncaster, and he won very comfortably by three and a quarter of a length. This is a significant step up in grade for him; however, he looks to be a very progressive sort, and he might just take this rise in class in his stride.
DISTANT STORM – 6/5 (Win) (NB) & WECHAAD – 8/1 (Each-Way)
4.10: Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes (Class 1) (Listed)
My final selection of the day comes within the 4.10 and this is the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes, which is ridden over two miles. I’m strong on the chances of Palladium here for John & Thady Gosden, who’s the mount of Billy Loughnane. He’s the top-rated here and has several pounds in hand against his main rivals, which should make him hard to beat for his top connections. He was last seen when bolting up by seven lengths in a conditions race in Salisbury, and earlier in the season, finished fourth behind Rebel’s Romance in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. That level of form could easily be enough to win this, and the Ascot effort came on quick ground, suggesting he doesn’t necessarily need it soft. He should go very close.
PALLADIUM – 6/5 (Win) (NAP)
