Newmarket Cesarewitch Day Selections

RACE 1

First up on a superb day of racing are the fillies, for what looks an ultra competitive 6f Listed contest. Mise En Rose is the favourite for last year's winning connections, and she has been running well at a higher level. She will be trying this trip for the first time, and she shaped as though 6f would suit when fading late on over 7f in a G3 last time.

She looks well treated on the figures, and she would be conceding weight to the rest of these in a handicap. Gravity Flow has risen to a mark of 99 from an opening rating of just 77, and she comes here in search of a fabulous five timer. Kassia and Symposium will also be looking to continue winning sequences, and those four are rightly at the head of the market.

One that could run well at much fancier odds is Futoon for Kevin Ryan and Silvestre De Sousa. On her last run at Pontefract she was behind quite a few of these, and she is much worse off with those at the weights tomorrow. However, she ran a cracker to be beaten only a short head here over the July course in a handicap off 80 on her penultimate start (Aclaim a couple of lengths behind), and if she can get back to that level she could sneak a place.

Ryan has had some near misses at huge odds over the past couple of weeks, including places at 16/1, 40/1 and 50/1. The booking of De Sousa has to be seen as another positive, and he has ridden 10 winners and been placed on 20 of his 100 rides for the Northern handler. She has a lot to find at the figures, but if a couple of the market leaders have an off day she could sneak a place and, at odds of 25/1, she is the each way selection.

STEVOS' SELECTION: FUTOON E/W 25/1

RACE 2

The girls take centre stage again in this 7f fillies' nursery, and the one I like here is the Mick Channon trained Harmonise. This daughter of Sakhee's Secret has been very consistent in her four race career, and she has yet to finish out of the first three. She made her handicap debut off a mark of 70 over course and distance in a class 2 contest last month, and she ran a huge race to be second, beaten just half a length.

She didn't enjoy the clearest of runs that day,and she got a little bit outpaced too after pulling quite hard early on. However, she finished her race off really well, and with a smoother passage tomorrow she should be well capable of reaching the frame. That form looks decent too, with the 7th home getting beaten just 2L in 5th in a Listed heat next time out.

Harmonise has been raised just 2lb for that run last time out, and I think that could underestimate her. There are a couple of trailblazers in the race tomorrow, and that should enable Morris to get this filly to settle a bit better. She is drawn in stall 11 and that should be no problem, as she was drawn 12 of 12 here last time. With trip, ground and draw all perfect I think things could fall just right for Harmonise tomorrow, and at odds of 12/1 she is worthy of each way support.

STEVOS' SELECTION: HARMONISE E/W 12/1

RACE 3

My nap of the day goes in this race and you can find out what it is by clicking here.

RACE 4

Churchill is the hardened fav for the G1 Dewhurst, and he hails from the all conquering Aidan O'Brien yard. This 2yo son of Galileo will be looking to complete a 5 timer and he is already a G1 winner. However, his very best performances have come on ground with a bit of give, and he only prevailed by a neck in a G3 at Leopardstown on his only encounter with good to firm ground.

O'Brien also runs Lancaster Bomber and, while he has been used as a pacemaker on easy ground for Churchill the last twice, he could last a bit longer out in front on this fast ground. He is by War Front and his progeny are usually a stone better on quick ground. He won his maiden on his only try on good, and the even quicker conditions will be perfect tomorrow. He is priced up at 100/1, but a big run wouldn't come as a massive surprise.

South Seas brings an unbeaten record into the race having won all three of his starts so far. He handled the step up to 7f in Group company with no real problems last time in a G3 at Sandown, but the common denominator for all his runs has been soft ground. He has it to prove on a quicker surface, but if he takes to it he could give the favourite something to think about.

Thunder Snow looks an interesting contender for on fire Saeed Bin Suroor and Jim Crowley, and those two teamed up for a winner at Chelmsford in midweek. This fella was edged out by Rivet by a head last time in a thriller of a G2 at Doncaster (7f gd). He is twice the price of that rival here at odds of 20/1, and I think he has every chance of reversing the form on slightly quicker ground. This half brother to Group 1 placed performers Always Smile and Ihtimal could improve again, and further enhance the reputation of hugely promising first season sire Helmet.

STEVOS' SELECTION: THUNDER SNOW E/W 20/1

RACE 5

The Cesarewitch is one of those races that you either love or you hate. If massive fields, gruelling trips and handicap plots are your thing, then this is the race for you. It has proved to be a minefield for punters down through the years, and three of the four last winners have been priced up at 50/1 (Grumeti last year), 66/1 and 66/1 again.

Only one fav has obliged since 2007, and jumps yards have traditionally done well in this 18f handicap. Only one winner since 2009 has carried more than 9 stone, and there are more than a few runners that fit that description this year.

One horse that could be potentially well handicapped and that looks sure to handle the trip is The Minch, who was sent off at just 16/1 for the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot. This son of Flemensfirth was seen as good enough to make his debut in the Champion Bumper at Aintree (17f soft). He showed he wasn't just there to make up the numbers by producing a superb effort in 3rd at 100/1, and immediately after that Royal Ascot was nominated as his target.

He ran with great credit in that race, and this 5yo stayed on well in the closing stages for 8th. Off level weights, he was only 5L behind Clondaw Warrior who finished 3rd, and that horse is rated 108 on the level. He was a neck behind First Mohican, also off levels, and that horse has since gone close at Doncaster off 98. His dual purpose trainer Jim Goldie would have been delighted with that effort, and a mark of 92 for his handicap debut looks very reasonable if the Ascot form is taken literally.

He was poor last time out in a listed race at York (14f gd) but that likely came too soon after his big effort at Ascot. He has been given plenty of time to get over those exertions, and the draw has been kind to him as he finds himself in stall 9. William Carson has gone close on a couple at big prices for Goldie already this season, and hopefully he can steer The Minch into the places tomorrow. He is a speculative each way selection for what looks a typically wide open renewal of the Cesarewitch.

STEVOS' SELECTION: THE MINCH E/W 50/1