Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting-Day 2

What was a good day for the blog on Day 1 could have been a whole lot better if Best Solution and William Buick could have found a clear passage in the Sommerville Stakes. He was staying on with real purpose, and only for the interference I think he would have definitely placed at the very least. Eminent got us off to a flier in the opener, and it was an authoritative display from the strapping son of Frankel. Meade is as shrewd as they come, and he beat some horses that had shown a decent level of form already.

Justice Belle was the highlight, and she just held off the late surge from the luckless Seamour to prevail by a nose under an inspired ride from Frankie. After all the non-runners she was as short as 8/1 in the lead up to the race, but luckily for us she drifted out and returned at double that price. Directorship also drifted, and he ran a stinker. Balgair was much too free in the early stages of his race, and he faded out of contention late on. Tomorrow is another cracking card, and to find out my fancies just read below....

RACE 1

The ground has quickened up at Newmarket, and it will be good to firm for the opener at 13.50. This 17 runner 8f Listed fillies heat looks an extremely tricky puzzle to solve, and a case can be made for plenty of them. Godolphin run three here, and the Saeed Bin Suroor trained Promising Run looks the most obvious one. However, at a much bigger price I think Manaboo could run well for Charlie Appleby, with William Buick a significant booking.

This 3yo daughter of Hard Spun won her debut over today's trip, after finishing 5th over 7f first time out, at Goodwood, proving too good for Wilamina by 1.5L, and that filly re-opposes today. She ran really well over course and distance upped to Listed class next time when she was 3rd behind Lumiere. She ran no sort of race on her last start at Haydock, but that run was too bad to be true. She is bred to be a black type filly, her dam being a half sister to Listed and G3 winner Toscanini. I think she could bounce back from her last run after being freshened up, and Buick must think so too as he keeps the faith. At odds of 16/1 she is the each way suggestion in a wide open race.

STEVOS' SELECTION: MANABOO E/W 16/1 NB

RACE 2

Another Listed fillies race here, this time over 12f. John Gosden has the hot favourite in Journey, and she will be looking to repeat her 8L romp here last year. She comes here on the back of a Group 3 win at Haydock and on the balance of form she will be tough to beat. 6/4 is too short for me though, and at double figure odds I think her stablemate Lady Of Camelot could give her something to think about.

This 4yo daughter of Montjeu has been very lightly raced, and she returned from a 2 year hiatus with an excellent maiden win from Ajman Princess, who went on to go close in a G2. Lady Of Camelot was stepped up to G2 company next time and ran a cracker in 5th behind Endless time (12f) on grund that was likely plenty soft for her. She can be excused her run in a listed heat last time, and if she can get back to the form of her maiden win she would have every chance of hitting the frame. The fav will be hard to beat, but if she is not at her best Lady Of Camelot could be the one to capitalise.

STEVOS' SELECTION: LADY OF CAMELOT E/W 12/1

RACE 3

 The fav looks tough to oppose here and I have no strong fancy for this Group 2 contest.

RACE 4

Another small field and nothing appeals as being particularly overpriced. No bet.

RACE 5

Form is pretty thin on the ground for this 7f maiden, and those that have seen the racetrack don't set too exacting a standard. The Hannon horse will likely be sent off fav after a debut 3rd on soft, but at a huge price I like the look of Big Sigh's pedigree. This son of classic sire Raven's Pass is a February colt, and it is interesting that Chris Wall has waited until now to unleash him.

His dam is exceedingly well related, and her half siblings have won a host of Group contests between them. There are a number of juvenile winners in there too, so there is every chance that this fella could be a decent 2yo. Wall is not renowned for first time out 2yo winners, but when he does get them they usually win at rewarding odds. The booking of Ted Durcan is a positive (6/53 on 2yos for Wall past 5 seasons) and Wall has his string in decent nick too. 7f should be an ideal trip to start with, and at odds of 28/1 he is a speculative each way selection.

STEVOS' SELECTION: BIG SIGH E/W 28/1

RACE 6

Quloob is a token selection here, strictly on pedigree. New Approach is a favourite sire of mine (along with Teofilo) and this colt is very well related on the dam line. His mum was of little account, finishing well beaten her only start, but she is a half sister to Mafki and he is a sire that has made a splash in recent years.

His grand-dam is a half sister to none other than champion 2yo Alhaarth, so it is plain to see that this colt has the potential to be a more than decent 2yo. 7f should be the perfect trip at this stage of his career, though he should get further in time. Hanagan is on board, the quick ground should be fine and at odds of 8/1 a minimal win bet is the order of the day.

STEVOS' SELECTION: QULOOB WIN 8/1

RACE 7

Only six runners here and nothing really appeals from an each way perspective. Star Storm could improve for the drop in class, and he didn't find his best form until the Autumn last season. If he returns to the form of his Ascot Group 3 win he would be in with a good shout, but he needs to improve massively on what he has shown this season. Stakes should be kept to an absolute minimum, but at odds of 18/1 Star Storm is a very tentative selection.

STEVOS' SELECTION: STAR STORM E/W 18/1

RACE 8

Trying to find the winner of this 21 runner 9f Cambridgeshire consolation is a tough task, and there are a host of horses that can have a valid case made for them. I mentioned earlier that Teofilo was one of my go to sires, and one of his offspring appeals from an each way perspective in this 21 runner battle charge. Squire, a dual winner over 8.5f at Windsor (gd)  and 10f here (gd/fm), is a hard horse to win with, but he is likely to get the strong pace he likes in this race, and he could run well off a mark of 75 in a first time tongue tie.

This 5yo was the runner up in this contest last year off 78, and his form figures at Newmarket (bar his debut 8th) read 122. He is suited by quick ground and a strong pace over 9f, and he is guaranteed to get both tomorrow. Rob Havlin is back on board, he is 3lb lower for a 1.5L 2nd last year, and Havlin was the pilot for both Squire's previous wins. Attwater went close at Chelmsford earlier with Monumental Man, and hopefully Squire can make amends at odds of 16/1 at Newmarket.

STEVOS' SELECTION: SQUIRE E/W 16/1 NAP