Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting-Day 1

It was a bitterly disappointing effort from Nobility earlier, and my reading of the race was way off. He wasn't dropped in, instead racing prominently and when push came to shove he didn't want to know. He still looks slightly green, and all hopes lie on him wintering well and improving from 2 to 3. Tomorrow is the start of the Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket, and there are some interesting races scheduled, including the Group 3 Sommerville Stakes. Below are my thoughts on what should be a cracking day of racing.

RACE 1

Martyn Meade is a trainer I have a lot of respect for, and he is well able to ready a 2yo first time out. He usually holds his best types back until the tail end of the season, and he has a fascinating son of Frankel in Eminent to go to war with in this race. The former Henry Cecil star has had a storming start to his career at stud, and he is operating at a 59% strike rate (10/17).

This colt is out of an exceedingly well related mare, who herself showed excellent form at pattern level. He was snapped up at the sales for a cool 150,00gns, and he makes his debut at a track that has been lucky for Meade with his 2yos. He is 5/11 at Newmarket with his juvenile runners, and Eminent has already been backed to make it 6/12. The double figure odds available on Wednesday evening have disappeared, but even at 7/1 he is still worth a small win bet in what looks a decent maiden.

STEVOS' SELECTION: EMINENT 7/1 WIN

RACE 2

This looks an extremely competitive little nursery, and the one I like is one of the least exposed runners in the field. Balgair ran out an impressive winner at 20/1 on his debut, and he had a couple of subsequent winners in behind so the form is not half bad. That win came over 7f at Sandown, and he certainly wasn't stopping at the finish. He ran pretty freely that day, so his trainer Jonny Portman can be excused for dropping him in trip to 6.5f next time out at Donaster in a hot class 2 contest.

He was out of his depth in that race, and he was outpaced 3f out and, once his chance had gone, Fran Berry was pretty easy on him. He steps back up to 8f here on his handicap debut off a mark of 80, and that looks sure to suit on the evidence of his debut win. His sire Foxwedge has a strike rate of 31% with his runners from 7f-9f, and his half brother is a triple 10f winner. Champion elect Jim Crowley has been booked, and hopefully he can ride his first winner from 24 attempts for Portman. At odds of 18/1 he definitely looks worthy of a small interest each way.

STEVOS' SELECTION: BALGAIR E/W 18/1

RACE 3

This is another interesting race for the fillies, and Hugo Palmer's Unforgettable Filly could be aptly named if her 7L maiden win at Lingfield (7.5f gd) last time out is to be believed. The form of her debut 2nd has also worked out really well, with the 3rd home winning by 10L next time up, and the 4th also winning too. However, I am not in the business of tipping up even money shots, and at a bigger price I think Highland Pass is worth a second look for Andrew Balding.

His 2yos have a habit of hitting form once August and September come, and this year is proving no different. He was 6/18 with his juveniles in August, and he is 4/21 already this month. Another thing that Balding's 2yos often do is improve massively for their debut efforts, and there is no doubt that Highland Pass has to do just that. However, she showed signs of ability on her first run at Kempton, and she is bred to be good enough for this sort of contest. Her half brother Elm Park won the Racing Post Trophy, and if this filly is anywhere near as talented as him she could make the frame at a nice price.

STEVOS' SELECTION: HIGHLAND PASS E/W 14/1

RACE 4

This is the main event of the day at Newmarket, and it is a cracking Group 3 contest. Hugo Palmer again supplies the jolly, and plenty will fancy Escobar to remain unbeaten and complete the hat trick. However, he is short at just 11/10 and, at a much bigger price, I like the look of Best Solution for Saeed Bin Suroor and Godolphin. Bin Suroor is hitting form after a bug hit his yard this summer, and he is sure to have lots of ammunition for the closing stages of the season. Bin Suroor has traditionally been prolific in the Autumn, and he had a strike rate of 39% last September (29% the year before).

Best Solution looked like a proper battler when winning his maiden on his second start at Goodwood (6f good), getting the better of Rich And Famous after a sustained duel in the last couple of furlongs. He won going away at the finish, and he gave the impression that 7f would be no problem at all. He again shaped as though 7f would be ideal last time out in a Listed contest in Turkey, when he was slowly away and staying on stoutly at the finish over 6f. There is plenty of stamina on the dam side of his pedigree and at odds of 16/1 he is the each way suggestion in what should be an exciting race.

STEVOS' SELECTION: BEST SOLUTION E/W 18/1 NAP

RACE 5

Justice Belle is the each way selection here, for Ed Walker and Frankie Dettoi. This daughter of Montjeu takes on some useful types in this Listed contest, but she made a big impression on me with the manner of her handicap romp at Kempton last July (11f). While it may have been only a handicap off a mark of 78, it was a visually stunning win and it convinced me she was a black type filly.

She has had some issues this year, and she only made her seasonal reappearance in a class 2 14f soft ground handicap at Haydock a couple of weeks ago. She ran a cracker to finish 7th, beaten just over 7L. She wasn't given an overly hard time but she stayed on really well in the final furlong, and she gave the distinct impression that 2m would suit her well. She is by Montjeu and out of an exceedingly well related mare, so she is well worth a shot at this level. At odds of 14/1 she is the each way suggestion in a wide open looking race.

STEVOS' SELECTION: JUSTICE BELLE E/W 14/1

RACE 6

Zamperini did the blog a favour on his last start, but he didn't have a lot to spare and I'm not sure if he can cope with a 5lb rise. In saying that though, he needed every inch of the 10f to get up, so he should benefit from the step up in trip. He is a tentative each way selection with Ryan Moore booked. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: ZAMPERINI E/W 10/1

RACE 7

Patrick Chamings is far from a household name, but he is as shrewd as they come and he isn't afraid to have a big priced winner. On the face of it, Directorship looks to have it all to do in this 8f class 3 contest. He is a 10yo now after all, and he is up against some promising types with youth on their side. However, I don't think Chamings would be persisting with this son of Diktat unless he thought there was one last touch in him, and hopefully today is the day.

He ran a cracker behind Sir Roderic three runs back at Sandown (8f gd) off a mark of 90. He was ridden forward that day too, so to be beaten less than 2L was a cracking effort. Nothing went right back at the same venue on his penultimate run. He stumbled at the start and lost lots of ground, but he actually stayed on quite nicely in the closing stages to be beaten just over 4L off 89.

A line can be put through his last run in a class 3 conditions race at Ascot (8f gd/fm) as he was coming back from a break and it was likely a blowout to put him right for this contest. He won a class 2 contest here off 92 last July, and he gets in off 87 today. Fergus Sweeney was on board for his last run, and it has to be seen as a positive that he has been booked again today. Hopefully Directorship can show that age is nothing but a number and reward each way support at odds of 25/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: DIRECTORSHIP E/W 25/1 NB