Saturday's Selections

A bumper weekend of action this weekend as the English and Irish Cesarewitchs are run at Newmarket and the Curragh. There is also Group 1 on the menu with the Dewhurst. You can find my in-depth preview and selections for the Dewhurst at Bettingtools. Below are my selections for a truly Super Saturday of equine action.

2.50 YORK ROCKINGHAM STAKES (LISTED) 6F

The one I like at a price here is Dutch Mist for Kevin Ryan and Graham Lee. Ryan won this race all the way back in 2005 with Balthazar's Gift, and he plotted a similar route to Dutch Mist. He came up short in a couple of group 2s before dropping in class and winning this race.

This filly won her first three, including a handicap by a length off 85. His young claimer gave her a shocker off 95 next time in a deep handicap at Newmarket, giving her far too much to do. She stepped into group 3 company on her next two starts, and there was plenty of encouragement to be gleaned from the second effort when 6ls behind Shaden in 5th place.

The drop back to Listed company should help her, and she gets a handy weight allowance from the colts. She hasn't got a huge amount to find on the figures, and with eight runners going to post she looks worthy of a little e/w support.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.50 YORK DUTCH MIST (E/W) 20/1


2.35 NEWMARKET AUTUMN STAKES (GROUP 3) 8F

All those punters that have smashed Emotionless during the week for the Dewhurst will be watching this race with great interest. Ibn Malik finished 3ls behind the Godolphin horse when they met at Doncaster and how he runs here will be very revealing about Emotionless' chances for the group 1 contest.

The interesting one here is the Jim Bolger trained Acclamation colt Clear Cut, who was narrowly denied on debut by a Mick Halford filly who is highly rated by connections. The Bolger colt was sent off favourite, and usually that would indicate that Mr. Bolger has a high opinion of the horse.

He is from a family his trainer has done very well with. His dam is a sister to two group 3 winners who also had placed form at the highest level. Mr. Bolger doesn't usually travel across the pond just for the craic, and at odds of 10/1 Clear Cut could well run a big race.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.35 NEWMARKET CLEAR CUT 10/1


3.10 NEWMARKET DUBAI DEWHURST STAKES (GROUP 1)

You can see my in depth preview and selections here.


3.50 NEWMARKET CESAREWITCH (HERITAGE HANDICAP) 18F

Saturday's highlight, and a mammoth field of 36 means this is a devilishly difficult puzzle to solve. However, there is one horse that sticks out like a sore thumb, and that is Bayan who sneaks in right at the foot of the handicap.

This horse is highly rated by connections (which include Gary O'Brien) and he looks as though he has been laid out for this race. He was being mentioned as a potential Melbourne Cup animal in the not too distant past, and he has arrived for this race somewhat under the radar after a couple of defeats over hurdles.

His sole flat win came over 14f at Leopardstown in a handicap off a mark of 80, but he has a couple of efforts since that would suggest that this step up in trip will bring out the best in him. On more than one occasion he has been outpaced over 14f, but he usually stays on well in the closing stages.

He has been given a couple of months off since his last run, another positive as his best runs have come after similar breaks. He races off a feather weight of just 8-2, and Elliott has booked the services of Cam Hardie, a more than capable jockey. Elliott has a habit of landing big handicap pots in both Ireland and the UK, and Bayan loos like he could be primed to run a big race here. At 16/1 he looks worthy of each way support in a wide open handicap.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.50 NEWMARKET BAYAN (E/W) 16/1