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13:50 Newmarket
We kick off today’s ITV action from “Flat HQ” where we have the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes. A top-class contest for 2yo colts and geldings where the current market leader is the Andrew Balding trained Masekela. He went close in a Group 2 race here earlier in the year and was able to improve on that effort when winning at Newbury last time out. He developed a big reputation after his maiden success and was hotly tipped at Royal Ascot. He flattered to deceive that day but put that poor performance behind him and has done much better since.
On form lines he looks the standout choice but with four races under his belt this term I fear he’s had a much harder season than some of his rivals. For all I’d be shocked if he finished outside of the money I’m hoping that siding with a runner with less experience could pay dividends.
Coroebus remains unbeaten after winning here at the July Course last month. The form of that effort looks solid with the second and sixth placed runners going on to win subsequently. With the yard in fine form I expect this locally trained runner to improve further and show he belongs at this level.
Of the remainder Royal Patronage aims to make it a hat-trick of victories and it’d be foolish to discount the Irish raiders Howth and Unconquerable.
COROEBUS (WIN)
written by Rory Paddock
14:05 Haydock
Unfortunately with only seven set to go to post those looking for an each way bet might be better off looking elsewhere and as such I’m left with two at short prices that look the most likely to finish with their heads in front.
The Richard Hannon trained Nugget has been super consistent having not finished outside of the top three since his debut performance 8 starts back. A solid victory in the Spring Cup at Newbury was followed by a close second in Thirsk’s Hunt Cup. That form looks by far the best on offer but I’m not sure if the handicapper may have him within his grasps now and as such I’m hoping younger legs may prevail.
Noble Dynasty hails from a yard who have been on fire all season and with the very capable amateur Adam Farragher taking an additional 5lbs off the horses back, as well as a weight for age allowance, he has a few things stacked in his favour. He undoubtedly needs to improve on what he’s shown so far but with only a few races under his belt I’m hoping he has the space to improve enough to add to his winning tally and beat his more accomplished rivals.
Of the remainder veteran Afaak would be a threat if he recaptured some of his best form.
NOBLE DYNASTY (WIN)
written by Rory Paddock
14:25 Newmarket
Ten Years ago, Ger Lyons won this contest with Lightning Pearl who came here after winning a group three at the Curragh. Lyons has gone the same route with Sacred Bridge this term and arrives here unbeaten after four runs. Prior to winning the aforementioned Group 3 contest she won a very valuable race at Naas. She displayed improvement once again at the Curragh and looked impressive there. She seems to have something special and is more than ready for Group 1 company. Her owners Juddmonte have a much scaled down operation this year following the death of Khalid Abdullah and can take their own cash home here and win a welcome group one by winning a race they sponsor. She is a confident choice and my Nap today.
Sandrine was a Royal Ascot winner and then followed up at the July course here before finding todays rival Zain Claudette a length too good but is three pounds better off today neither of them will be far away but I expect them to be fighting out second place.
Flotus has been well beaten on a couple of occasions by Sandrine but looked to have improved last time when making all to win a Ripon listed race. Of the rest Karl Burkes Illustrating could go well at a big price she has stacks of stamina in her breeding and should improve for the step up to six furlongs.
SACRED BRIDGE (WIN)
written by Steve Marriott
14:40 Haydock
Copper Knight looked like he had done enough here earlier in the month before tiring close to home and just losing out to the re-opposing Mondammej. Separating the pair today appears a rather thankless task although strong cases can easily be made and respect is afforded to both.
Jawwaal finished just in behind the aforementioned duo above when fourth that day although he did very much catch the eye having been slowly away and poorly positioned throughout before rattling home under a tender ride. Sent to Doncaster the time after, he attracted very strong market support although the heavy rain in the build-up was far from ideal and he was ultimately withdrawn as a result. Michael Dods six-year-old would require a personal best to land this race though sprinters often get better with age and the potential of rain would be more off-putting than his mark.
Premier Power often travels well before finding little for pressure, this drop in trip looks almost certain to suit though he faces competition for the lead and a few of these are proven sluggers when it gets tough.
Be Proud lost nothing in defeat when second in the Ayr Bronze Cup and arrives here off just a one-pound higher mark, quite why the handicapper was so lenient is anyone's guess and respect must be afforded.
Mountain Peak and Lihou would have claims of sorts if on song but this looks as good a chance as Jawwaal will get and he is taken to nail them all late in the day.
JAWWAAL (WIN)
written by Chris Connolly
15:00 Newmarket
There have been no less than seven Prix Morny winners since the turn of the century who have followed up with victory here, so its no surprise to see Perfect Power head the market especially as he had a couple of these in behind when victorious in France. There's no doubt that was a taking performance however everything seemed to fall in to place for him there so given his short price I would be tempted to take him on.
Dr Zemph, Go Bears Go and Castle Star finished second, third and fourth in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August and all look to hold solid each way chances for all they are pretty closely matched on that form, so it is Asymmetric who I feel is most worthy of giving another chance to today. He wasn't disgraced when third behind Perfect Power last time out, was an impressive winner of the Richmond Stakes on penultimate run and has previous form here at Newmarket (albeit on the July course) so looks the most capable of giving the favourite a race.
ASYMMETRIC (E/W) written by Dean Kilbryde
15:40 Newmarket
The Cambridgeshire Is one of my favourite and most competitive handicaps of the season at HQ.
Lucander has been a long term fancy for me in this event since his second to Majestic Dawn (reopposes) in last year’s renewal.
He has slowly been running himself into form just in time for another attempt off a three pound lower mark than last year.
He’s drawn high on the stands side which looks the place to be, with most of the fancied runners drawn high and Fridays racing suggests middle to high should be the place to be.
The only concern with Lucander is he is almost certainly better with cut in the ground and the rain hasn’t arrived.
Majestic Dawn is well drawn again in an attempt to double up in this race. There’s no doubt he’s been laid out for repeat and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t go close apart from he’s not so well handicapped now. However this is a race which suits certain types and a few horses have run well in multiple attempts in this particular race.
There are a few unexposed types in here and the one that gets the nod is Long Tradition.
Not too dissimilar to connections hunt cup winner Real World. This horse has been progressing nicely and duly won with consummate ease on his fourth start after being gelded. Obviously he lacks some experience in these type of races but a mark of 90 for his handicap debut could look generous.
It’s also interesting that connections must have seen plenty to like about this horse, keeping in training as an unraced four year old. He could also end up with the perfect draw hard against the stand side rail. At the time of writing he’s approx 14s but it would e no surprise to see this horse go off at a single figure price.
LONG TRADITION (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
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