Hi all,
Inside today's main piece I'm recapping Cambridgeshire Day at Newmarket. Plus, there's a preview of this afternoon's Class 3 handicap (5f) at Hamilton.
Cambridgeshire Day felt like a marathon especially if you weren’t landing on any winners. By the time the last race went off, Bow Echo’s win in the opener seemed a lifetime ago. The juvenile Group races were the highlight, serving up three future stars, while the Cambridgeshire itself went the way of the top-weight for the second year running for the same trainer/jockey/owner combination.
Bow Echo Makes 2,000 Guineas Case
Bow Echo stretched his unbeaten record to three with a decisive success in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes. He’d landed a Listed race at Haydock last time and made light of this rise in class. He’s not the biggest, but his trainer believes he’ll train on well and given how he handled the Rowley Mile he must be considered a strong 2,000 Guineas contender
The third, Action, is one to note. A son of Frankel and half-brother to Derby winner Lambourn, he was doing his best work late on his third career start. He looks a colt for 1m 2f+ next season and should develop into a smart middle-distance performer.
You can watch Bow Echo’s win here.
True Love Back on Song in Cheveley Park
Punters turned their backs on the Lowther form of Royal Fixation and America Queen, instead siding with Irish raiders True Love and Havana Anna in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
True Love had flopped as a long-odds-on favourite in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, found slightly lame afterwards, but quickly bounced back here. Havana Anna committed over a furlong out, but True Love found plenty for pressure to edge her out in the final strides.
The winner is a big filly who looks more like a colt. She has the build of a sprinter, but the way she stayed on suggests a mile may not be out of reach next year. Havana Anna confirmed she’s improving and was just outstayed by the winner in the final 75yds.
Royal Fixation didn’t really handle the dip or have the pace of the two who finished in front of her and needs further. America Queen looked even less suited to the track and should be seen to better effect on a flatter track. This has the look of solid Group 1 juvenile form.
Wise Approach Overcomes Early Trouble in Middle Park
The Group 1 Middle Park Stakes was full of drama. Favourite Wise Approach got squeezed and stumbled. Then he had to switch out wide for a clear run a furlong out. It was his class which enabled him to pull this one out of the fire. Despite covering more ground than his rivals, he still surged late to beat Brussels by three-quarters of a length, with Coppull bouncing back to form in third.
The front three pulled clear, but the winner can be rated at least three lengths superior to the second and third given the trouble he had to overcame.
Winning trainer Charlie Appleby seemingly ruled out the 2,000 Guineas afterwards. He’ll stay sprinting as a 3yo with the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot the target. His half-brother Perfect Power won the Middle Park before winning the Commonwealth Cup the following season. I don’t think this was as strong form as the Cheveley Park, but the winner is very useful.
Cambridgeshire Boiling Point
Karl Burke repeated last year’s Cambridgeshire success, once again striking with the top-weight. A smaller than usual Cambridgeshire field split into two equal groups.
Boiling Point made all the running on the far side, setting even fractions under Clifford Lee and holding on by a nose from Indalo, with Fort George a length back in third. It was a fine weight-carrying effort from the class act in the field, and another reminder that Lee is a master when dictating from the front.
The unlucky horse was the fourth Erzindjan, who stayed on strongly from the group that raced near side to finish within a length and a half of the winner. It was a massive run given how far in front he finished in his group. Had he been drawn closer to the pace, he would surely have gone very close.
Juvenile stars Bow Echo, True Love, and Wise Approach lit up Cambridgeshire Day, but it was Boiling Point’s front-running win under top weight that stole the show in the feature handicap.
September in the Red
September usually treats me well, even as a tricky transition month, but this year has been brutal. That was until yesterday, when I came off the cold list with two winners at the Curragh courtesy of Art Power and Black Caviar Gold.
In betting and tipping, losers are part of the game — there’s no shame in them, and I don’t shy away from mentioning them, unlike some social media tipsters.
Thankfully, my lays have been profitable during the month, keeping losses in check. Still, October can’t come quick enough.
Monday Racing: Hamilton Sprint in Focus
The Class 3 Sprint Handicap over 5f at Hamilton (4:10) is the Monday highlight. Eternal Sunshine heads the betting and rightly so. She’s in form, drops in class, is ground versatile, and is just 4lb higher than when landing the valuable Portland Handicap at Doncaster two starts ago. That said, this is her eighth run in six weeks, and at 7/4 she’s worth taking on.
Brummell catches the eye after back-to-back wins, including over C&D last time. His recent improvement has come on a sound surface, so soft ground remains an unknown.
Corolla Point won a Haydock handicap 24 days ago on good ground for Ed Bethell. Up 7lb for that success, the 3yo is still open to progress and did handle soft ground when winning for his previous yard last autumn.
Changeofmind returned to form over a stiff 5f when a 1¼-length third of 10 at Beverley 12 days ago. He hinted last time that a longer trip might suit, and with soft ground and a strong pace forecast, he should get a proper stamina test.
Al Hussar, hit winning form last autumn and was back in winning form at Chester nine days ago. He’s been nudged up 2lb but remains on a competitive mark. If the going is testing I think he’s got excellent claims. Tuesday’s column I’ll be highlighting.
Tuesday’s column I’ll be highlighting a few juveniles to keep on your radar from last week’s action.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John