Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m looking at best of the action at Newmarket this afternoon.
The Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes is the highlight of the second day of action at Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival. The supporting card includes three Group 3 races and the weekend’s big betting race the marathon Cesarewitch Handicap (2:40).
ITV are covering five races from Newmarket and four more from York. It’s the final day’s racing at York for 2023 the flat season just seems to fly away doesn’t it.
ITV aren’t covering any races from Chepstow’s jump fixture. However, there are a couple of handicap chases on the card which almost tempted me to have a look at. However, on such a busy day as today it’s probably wise that I have left it alone.
City Of Troy’s big moment
City Of Troy will be a short price for the Dewhurst Stakes (2:00). We haven’t seen the Aidan O’Brien trained colt since he won the Group 2 Superlative Stakes on the other course 91 days ago. He looked a certainty at the beginning of the week when it looked like we would have a sound surface. However, the rain has arrived in larger amounts than expected and he could be vulnerable if the ground eases further.
Nearest mark rival Iberian seemed to relish the soft softened ground when winning the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last month. That’s the best form on offer after the favourite and on easy ground may cause a surprise.
Arabian Crown followed up a Sandown maiden success with a win in a Listed race at Salisbury 59 days ago. He looked a useful colt in the making last time and is the one to beat in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes (3:15). Gasper De Lemos looks the main rival to Arabian Crown. The Aidan O’Brien trained colt won a testing ground maiden (7f) at the Curragh last month. A likely middle distance prospect for next season but shouldn’t be far away here.
Solving The Cesarewitch Puzzle
The weekend’s big betting race is the marathon Cesarewitch Handicap (2:40). Although going at Newmarket on Friday at Newmarket was being described as soft. I think it was closer to good to soft. That doesn’t mean it will be any less of a stamina test, but at least it won’t be too testing for the 34 runners.
I mentioned in Wednesday’s preview that I had an initial shortlist of 12 for the race taking into a account the draw I have managed to whittle it down to three. The race hasn’t been kind to me in recent years and I haven’t found the winner in the past ten years that’s for sure. I have cut down ny shortlist to three: The Shunter, Temporise and Geremia.
Saturday’s Selection:
Today’s selection isn’t from Newmarket it’s from York.
York
3:35 – Titian is a previous C&D winner (1-1) who shaped last time his turn wasn’t too far away when a 2 ¼ lengths 3rd of 16 at Redcar (1m) 7 days ago. The return to further and rain softened ground will suit the 5-year-old who is 3 wins from 6 runs + 34.7, 5 placed in September & October.
Titian – 15/2 @ Coral.
Good luck with your Saturday bets.
John