Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador previews the key contests at Newmarket on Friday and Saturday, including the Group 1 Cheveley Park and Middle Park Stakes.
New York to gain reward in Friday highlight
I’m looking forward to a great weekend of action at Newmarket, including the mouthwatering Group 2 Betway Joel Stakes (3.00) – for me the highlight of an exciting card on Friday.
Godolphin’s 116-rated colt Talk Of New York is the one I believe they all have to beat following his eyecatching run at the Qatar Goodwood Festival when he made up a lot of ground to be second in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes.
Before that he got within two lengths of the brilliant Bow Echo in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and can gain his reward at the probable expense of the ever-reliable Persica – such a solid horse who has done nothing wrong this year.
He had Hankelow behind in a Group 3 at Haydock Park last time and can confirm that form with Karl Burke’s colt, who hasn’t hit the heights expected of him this year but showed a glimmer that day and should appreciate a sounder surface.
Dawn can put her name in Lights
The Group 2 Betway Rockfel Stakes (2.25) on Friday can go to Wathnan Racing’s Goodwood winner Light Of Dawn who relished the step up to this seven furlongs when taking the Group 3 Prestige Stakes so emphatically.
Karl Burke’s filly steps up in grade but has hopefully taken another step forward since we last saw her and can get the better of Eve Johnson Houghton’s Sugar Yes Please – another filly I admire.
She also won a Group 3 over seven furlongs, taking the Sweet Solera on Newmarket’s July Course, while Ed Walker’s Siena Storm could have more to offer after finishing three lengths behind Light Of Dawn in the Prestige.
Class dropper tough to beat in Princess Royal
Inis Mor has been keeping some pretty hot company this season and can enjoy the spotlight in the Princess Royal Stakes (1.50) on Friday.
David Menuisier’s filly has been placed in both the French and Irish Oaks since scoring at Listed level and has been found a great opportunity to win in Group 3 company with Ryan Moore on top and a 7lb weight for age allowance in her favour.
David Menuisier, trainer of Inis Mor
Coedana has made strong progress this season and showed her potential behind subsequent Irish Champion Stakes hero Hotazhell and close second Wimbledon Hawkeye in a Group 1 in Germany. That’s solid form and this big, galloping track will play to her strengths.
Goddess to have another day in the Sun
The race of the day at Newmarket on Saturday is the Group 1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes (2.27). The fillies’ showpiece pitches Aidan O’Brien’s prolific Sun Goddess against runaway Prix Morny winner Senorita Bonita and Albany heroine Libertango.
Sun Goddess
Sun Goddess was behind Libertango in the Albany but has since gone on to win two Group 1s as well as the valuable Sales race at York’s Ebor Festival and sets the standard for me.
George Boughey’s filly found Senorita Bonita too good in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket so there’s not a great deal between the principals, but I do think Aidan’s filly can edge it.
At a bigger price, I’d love to see Andrew Balsing’s Moonrise get into the act. I’ve followed this tough filly closely this summer and expect her to pay the form of her Group 3 win on Polytrack a huge compliment.
Blue is the colour in Middle Park
Clive Cox’s concerns about testing ground in France were vindicated when his Norfolk Stakes star Orthodox lost his unbeaten record in the Group 1 Prix Morny last month and he can prove that run all wrong in the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes (3.00) on Saturday.
Sun Goddess
That said, it’s going to take a big performance to put a dent in the flawless record of Godolphin’s Inner City Blues, who has been kept under wraps since taking the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket.
The Dewhurst entry gets my vote just ahead of Orthodox while Aidan O’Brien’s Marco Polo is a fascinating runner after putting his Gimcrack disappointment behind him in a Curragh maiden. Aidan wouldn’t be pitching him in at this level if he didn’t think he had the class to go well.
First Law to extend unbeaten run
The Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes (1.55) on Saturday is a strong renewal, with Aidan O’Brien’s proven Group winner Haffner stepping up to 1m for the first time. The Acomb hero is better than he showed in testing ground last time in the National Stakes and is a threat to all.
However, I like the progressive profile of Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin colt First Law who won his maiden at Sandown before seamlessly stepping into Listed company at Haydock Park at the beginning of the month.
Karl Burke’s Burning Up is also unbeaten in two starts and has a similar profile but has a bit more to prove at this stage so I’m pinning my hopes on First Law staking his Classic claims under William Buick at a track where the Appleby team excels.
Banking on Harry in Cambridgeshire
There’s a big handicap in Hand Of God who can come good in the £200,000 bet365 Cambridgeshire (3.40) at Newmarket on Saturday. Harry Charlton’s five-year-old confirmed the promise of his Newbury win in the spring with a huge second in the John Smith’s Cup at York when he didn’t get the rub of the green.
He can be forgiven his defeat in Group company in France lasty time and looks better value than likely favourite Gavriel, whose Ascot win for Team Gosden has been franked. Though penalised for that, he’s progressive and should be in the mix.
I’d like to see Alan King’s Alcarath go well at bigger odds with conditions in his favour. He’s been running well without winning and remains well handicapped off a mark of 92, particularly if the first-time cheek pieces give him an edge.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.