Saturday's Selections For A Big Day At Newmarket

Friday's selection was unfortunately a non runner, as perhaps connections would have preferred quicker ground. He is still one to keep a close eye on, especially if Fallon is rebooked for the ride.

Saturday is a big day at Newmarket, and there are top class pattern races as well as some ultra competitive handicap action in the Cambridgeshire. Below are my views on some of the day's biggest races.


2.00 Newmarket Royal Lodge (G2) 8F

The last four runnings of this have gone to horses priced no bigger than 11/4, and some useful types have won it in recent times. Elm Park won it last season, and the mighty Frankel is also among the previous winners.

Deauville is the one that comes here with the biggest reputation for Aidan O'Brien and Fitri Hay, and O'Brien  will be delighted to have Ryan Moore back in action to take the ride on this son of Galileo. As one would expect there is no shortage of black type in his pedigree, and indeed his brother, The Corsican, won the Arc Trial last week. He is a G3 winner already, and the form of that win was boosted by the runner up Sanus Per Aquam during the week.

The bookies reckon it is a two horse race, and Gosden and Dettori team up yet again with the unbeaten Foundation. This son of Zoffany has looked flawless in his two starts so far, and like his Irish rival he is versatile regarding ground. He is two from two, both wins by over 3 lengths. This will be a much tougher test today though and his form is not as strong as Deauville's.

Of the remainder Beast Mode is probably the one with the best chance of upsetting the two market leaders. He is regally bred, by Cape Cross, and is out of a dam from the family of Group 1 winner Favourable Terms. He won well on his 2nd start, the runner up has gone in since, and he looks well worth a shot at this level.

STEVOS' SELECTIONS: 1. DEAUVILLE 2. BEAST MODE. 



2.35 Newmarket Cheveley Park (G1) 6f

I have opposed Besharah twice already this season, and its fair to say she has cost me a few quid. She has taken each step up in class in her stride, and she has yet to run a poor race. She is versatile when it comes to underfoot conditions, and Pat Cosgrave knows her inside out. She is the most solid option in the race and to be honest I am surprised she is as big as 5/2 at the time of writing.

One of Besharah's two defeats came at the hands of Illuminate, who reopposes today. There was the width of a rizla between them on that occasion but crucially that came on rattling fast ground, and the conditions will be a bit different today. She will have her supporters though and if she handles the ground she ought to go well.

At a bigger price Sunflower is an interesting filly. I had a few quid on her for her debut, and she did the job well. She only won by a neck but in my opinion she had plenty more in the locker if it was required.  She seemingly picked up a knock back in the Spring, and that is why she didn't appear until the start of September. Her trainer thinks a lot of her and there is black type in her pedigree. She could outrun her odds of 33/1. With eight going to post she is a speculative each way selection.

STEVOS' SELECTION: SUNFLOWER (E/W) 33/1. 



3.50 Newmarket Cambridgeshire (Handicap) 9f

35 will got to post for this valuable handicap, and it is one hell of a competitive race. There are a host of horses that cases can be made for, but there are a couple that have caught my eye and the first one of interest is Energia Davos for the Chapple-Hyam's and Jamie Spencer. Spencer won on this 7yo gelding last time out off 99 at Ascot (8f good to soft) and the manner of the victory suggests that a 4lb rise might not be beyond him.

Spencer settled him out the back, and he was always travelling well within himself. When the eventual runner up kicked for home from the front Spencer was still travelling well. He made ground smoothly then about a furlong out started pushing Energia Davos gently along. He quickly went by the leader, and won without any smacks of the whip from Spencer. In a bigger field today things will admittedly be different, and his racing style means luck in running will be required. Spencer keeps the faith, and as it was his first run back after almost 9 months off he should strip fitter too. At 25//1 he could run a big race.

At an even bigger price Examiner may well be worth a few pennies each way. He has been lightly raced this season, and looks as though he has been campaigned with this race in mind. He has yet to win on turf, but he has plenty of form on it, and good/good to soft looks to suit him best. He ran well to a point on his last start (10f soft) but it seems a combnation of soft ground and a lack of race fitness took it's toll and he stopped quickly in the closing stages. He had previously run a very encouraging race at York (10.5f good) and was beaten less than 5 lengths in a very competitive 18 runner handicap.

That trip of 10.5f on soft ground stretches his stamina and the drop back to 9f should suit him well today. His best run  last year came last October at York over this trip on good to soft, and he was beaten just a length off a mark of 87. He also was just a length behind The Corsican off level weights at Goodwood last August.  He is just 1lb higher today than for that York run, he has the considerable assistance of Harry Bentley in the saddle, and at an enormous price of 50/1 he should give us a run for our money.

STEVOS SELECTIONS: ENERGIA DAVOS (E/W) 25/1, EXAMINER (E/W) 50/1.