Hi all,
A big thanks to Alex P for stepping in to do yesterday's column.
I’m back from the Isle of Man after being totally switched off from the racing for a few days. Until I looked at Friday’s cards, I hadn’t even glanced at the results.
ITV Racing are live with the first five races from Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting, including three Group contests. The Group 2 Rockfel Stakes (2:25) and the Joel Stakes (3:00) headline the card. Away from Flat action, ITV also show the £70,000 trustatrader.com Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2:42).
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on the five live ITV races from Newmarket.
Newmarket
1:15 – BoyleSports British EBF Rosemary Stakes (Listed) – 1m
Arisaig hasn’t won this season but has been unlucky on several occasions. She ran a career best when third in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood last time. The Rowley Mile doesn’t usually suit hold-up horses, but a strong pace here will help. She also goes well on a sound surface.
1:50 – Princess Royal Stakes (Group 3) – 1m4f
Charlie Appleby and the Gosdens dominate this with five of the 11 runners. Spirited Style, from the Appleby team, floundered in the mud in the Group 1 German Oaks but looked progressive before then and can bounce back on a sounder surface. Stablemate Silent Love landed the Listed Chalice Stakes on the other course last time, looks to be improving with racing, and is a strong contender for a hat-trick. The Gosden trio are Understudy, who shaped better when fourth in France last time, Juno Temple, runner-up to Silent Love on her latest start, and Miss Justice, a battling Listed winner (1m 2f) at Salisbury last time should be equally effective at this longer trip.
2:25 – Rockfel Stakes (Group 2, Fillies) – 7f
Touleen looked good when producing a good change of gear to win at Leicester, making her two from two and looks an exciting prospect. She’s the one to beat. Zanthos was favourite that day but wasn’t given a hard time once her chance had gone in a modestly run race. Likely capable of better than she showed the last day and is in the mix. Awaken runner-up in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot before winning at Leicester. The form of her Leicester success was franked by last Saturday’s Ayr winner Catching The Moon. She will be happier back on quicker ground having failed to handle soft at Salisbury last time and looks an each-way player.
3:00 – BoyleSports Daily Racing Rewards Joel Stakes (Group 2) – 1m
This looks between two progressive 3yo’s in Opera Ballo and Zeus Olympios. Opera Balloproduced a good turn of foot to win the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes (1m) on the July Course last time. Four from 5 and is open to further improvement. Looks the worthy favourite and could be a Group 1 miler in the making. Zeus Olympios took his unbeaten record to three when landing the Group 3 Superior Mile at Haydock last time. Like Opera Ballo he’s open to more improvement and is another exciting mile prospect.
3:35 – Godolphin Stakes (Listed)- 1m4f
This is a fascinating contest with two notable seasonal returns. By The Book is having his first start since last December and steps up to 1m4f, a trip that looks likely to suit him well. Isle Of Jura is returning from a longer absence, having last been seen when winning the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. On the best of last year’s form, including a defeat of subsequent dual Group 1 winner Goliath, he is the clear form pick if retaining his ability. Burdett Road made all to win this race 12 months ago. The Champion Hurdle runner-up has been below his best back on the Flat recently and may prefer softer conditions, but he could still be dangerous if handed another easy lead.
Staking Challenge Selection
Newmarket
1:15 – Arisaig – £1.60 win – 5/1.
Running Total: £72.80
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John