Looking ahead to the day’s racing, we feature a detailed preview on selected races from Newmarket and York.
We also turn our attention to the jumping at Chepstow, and take a look at some British-based horses looking to win in France.
Aidan O’Brien runs three over in the USA this evening, whilst Charlie Appleby also features across the pond, having been so successful in North America last month.
Hafit leads the market for Godolphin in the 1:45 Zetland Stakes over 1m2f at Newmarket.
The Dubawi colt won on debut at this track, before finishing second of four over a mile at Haydock.
He steps up in trip and could improve.
Aidan O’Brien runs Bluegrass (Galileo), following his maiden win at the Curragh in August.
On debut he finished sixth, over 7f on yielding ground, behind some promising two-year-olds including Jack Rose who won easily at Dundalk this evening.
On form, it looks as though he’ll need to improve on his runs to feature here, however he has plenty of potential and should do well having had two starts already.
Goldspur is Godolphin and Charlie Appleby’s second runner, another colt by Dubawi.
He won impressively on debut in his only racecourse run to date, beating the runner-up Wolsey by six-and-a-half-lengths.
James Doyle takes the ride, as William Buick opts to ride Hafit.
Donnacha O’Brien sends over Unconquerable, who has had plenty of racing experience, making his seventh appearance on his debut season.
Frankie Dettori will ride, having ridden him to third-place as a 33/1 outsider in the Royal Lodge Stakes.
He looks to be improving and could certainly stake his claim here.
Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy rides Berkshire Rebel who finished third from four last time out, having won his debut race by a fine margin at Goodwood in August.
Knight Rider has experience over a mile, but this trip is a bit further than usual for most of the other outsiders.
In the 2:20 Autumn Stakes over a mile, another Godolphin colt by Dubawi heads the market, in the form of two-year-old Coroebus.
Making his third start, he won on debut before finishing second to Royal Patronage in the previously mentioned Royal Lodge Stakes.
He did beat some progressive types in behind, such as the aforementioned Unconquerable who is one of the fancies for the Zetland Stakes.
Second favourite in the market is Imperial Fighter, who finished second last time out also behind Royal Patronage.
The form line is interesting as Imperial Fighter finished two-and-a-half-lengths behind Mark Johnston’s colt in the Acomb Stakes, over 7f, whilst Coroebus finished a neck behind over 8f.
Royal Patronage looks to be a horse that will relish travelling over a further distance, therefore it’s difficult to decipher which of the colts in this race has the best form against him.
However on that occasion Imperial Fighter did finish two-lengths in front of Dubawi Legend who had previously won easily on debut, and also three-lengths ahead of Sunday’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Noble Truth.
Dubai Poet won well in novice company in September, and should keep improving, but this is a step up.
Ballydoyle have three runners who are looking for their second win in as many races.
United Nations (Galileo) pairs up with Ryan Moore having won on debut at Naas, whilst Seamie Heffernan rides Scriptwriter (Churchill), who won his maiden at Naas last month.
At a bigger price, Aikhal (Galileo) finished second on debut, before winning his maiden at Listowel, and Colin Keane takes the ride.
Alice Haynes is represented by outsider Mr Professor who has been running well in nursery handicaps of late, but steps up to Group company here.
In the Dewhurst Stakes at 2:55, Godolphin have yet another strong favourite in Native Trail.
The colt, by Oasis Dream is three from three so far, having won impressively on debut and again last time out at the Curragh in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.
He beat Masekela by short head in the July meeting at Newmarket.
His strong favouritism is justified given his obvious class and exciting potential.
Bayside Boy won on debut at Newbury, before being headed by Masekela on reappearance.
He won last time out at Doncaster, beating The Queen’s promising colt Reach For The Moon, Twilight Jet who won a Group 3 at Newmarket this afternoon, and dual Group 2 winner Lusail.
Irish-raider Straight Answer represents Ger Lyons stable here, and he is also unbeaten having won both of his first two races.
He steps up in trip from 6f, and has been supplemented for £32,000.
Dubawi Legend was impressive on debut at Doncaster, before finishing third last time out behind two impressive colts, as mentioned, which puts him right in the frame here.
Aidan O’Brien runs Glounthaune, who has been absent since his debut win at the Curragh in April.
Dhabab has been outside the top two since winning on debut in June, but finished third, a length-and-a-half behind Native Trail, in the Superlative Stakes.
Berkshire Shadow was disappointing last time out, but is capable of better if returning to earlier form.
On that form however, he is a justified outsider here.
The exciting Cesarewitch Handicap returns at 3:35 and Willie Mullins’ M C Muldoon is the favourite for the 2021 renewal.
The six-year-old gelding will be ridden by Ryan Moore, and finished second in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Master trainer Mullins has won the last three renewals of the race, most recently in 2020 with the striking grey Great White Shark who aims to be the first horse to win the race back-to-back.
Nicky Henderson’s Buzz has been consistent since switching from flat to jump racing, but had won four times without obstacles.
He is certainly one to consider.
Calling The Wind has shown great staying prowess over the past two seasons, and is another with plenty to like about in this race.
Burning Victory, Foveros, Whiskey Sour, Micro Manage are other representatives for the Willie Mullins’ yard, whilst Takarengo runs for Thomas Mullins.
Live Your Dream showed his staying ability by finishing second, eight-lengths ahead of Themaxwecan, in the Cesarewitch Trial Handicap.
Elysian Flame has finished behind Withold and Calling The Wind this season, and Prince Alex makes his first run further that 1m6f.
Paul Nicholls’ Scaramanga won well on the flat at Newbury in July before finishing a disappointing ninth at York, behind Rajinsky, Platform Nineteen and Themaxwecan, all of whom he reopposes.
Reshoun beat M C Muldoon at Ascot, but is currently 50/1 for this race, following two unplaced runs in behind a few others featured on this card.
Nicholas T won the Northumberland Plate in June and is another 50/1 shot, whilst 100/1 outsider Land Of Winter is an interesting horse at a low-weight.
The last race on the card is the Group 3 Darley Stakes over 1m1f, at 4:45.
Mostahdaf (Frankel) heads the market for Shadwell and trainers John & Thady Gosden, having won four of his first five runs to date.
He has won two Listed contests at Sandown but finished twelfth in good company in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, in a race won by Poetic Flare.
Bedouin’s Story was a surprise winner of the Cambridgeshire Handicap, and is reunited with Frankie Dettori.
Aidan O’Brien runs Khartoum, Lough Derg and Military Style, with Ryan Moore’s mount, Khartoum, the more fancied of the three Ballydoyle hopefuls.
Brentford Hope’s best form has come on softer ground, and may not be at his best in predicted conditions.
In the York Class 1 Listed Rockingham Stakes at 2:02, course and distance winner Ever Given heads the market.
He has been having a fine season, consistently finishing close and winning on four occasions.
Witch Hunter, by Siyouni, has finished second and third respectively on his only two starts, finishing close in behind the winners, whilst Canonized is a filly capable of winning this contest if at her best.
Edward Cornelius impressed on debut at Musselburgh, then placed twice before finishing seventh in a Listed race last month.
George Boughey’s Cashew is another worth mentioning, and will be ridden by Hollie Doyle.
Laugh A Minute is the Britain-bred Irish raider leading the market in the 3:15 Sprint Trophy Handicap.
He ran well last time out at the Curragh, finishing strongly in fourth, and will be looking for his first win since April.
Gulliver has been a regular in handicaps this season, but has been somewhat inconsistent, however is capable of running well at his best.
Magical Spirit finished fourth in last year’s renewal, and in last month’s Ayr Silver Cup, whilst top-weight Commanche Falls beat Gulliver by a neck in July’s Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.
Hollie Doyle rides Popmaster, who has been in good form before finishing a long way back on last outing in the Ayr Gold Cup.
Mr Wagyu won well on soft at Goodwood in July, and has managed five wins this season, but hasn’t been able to finish better than third since.
Nomadic Empire, Copper Knight and Strike Red are all capable of featuring on their day, whilst Ayr Silver Cup winner Staxton is back to winning ways following a disappointing season on the whole.
Another Irish-raider in Verhoyen has some form in big handicaps at the Curragh and could be one to watch.
Punchbowl Flyer is another of the outsiders capable of each-way claims if able to bounce back to form.
In the 4:25 at York, the market is headed by Fergal O’Brien’s gelding Gumball.
The eye-catching grey is making his debut for new yard after finishing third last time out at Salisbury in May.
There are questions surrounding Buriram’s staying ability, having raced only once over further than 1m4f this season and finishing seventeenth of twenty.
Eagle Court is without a win this season, but hasn’t been finishing too far behind, whilst Midrarr is another with stamina concerns and needs to bounce back after finishing last in hat-trick bid last time out.
Solo Saxophone has each-way claims at 12/1 if able to rediscover last year’s end-of-season form.
At Chepstow, Allmankind makes season debut over hurdles for Dan Skelton in the 1:50 and opposes Olly Murphy’s Restandbethankful who is looking for a hat-trick of wins.
Other rivals include Flic Ou Voyou for Paul Nicholls and Fergal O’Brien’s Valentino Dancer, in what looks to be a competitive race.
Over in France, Bastogne is a 13/2 shot for the 1:33 (BST) Listed race at Chantilly, whilst Gis A Sub and Desert Dreamer both line-up in the 2:50 (BST) Group 2 contest.
Across the pond, Empress Josephine (9:44 BST) and Order Of Australia (10:46) run for Aidan O’Brien in Keeneland, whilst Japan (8:47) makes an appearance at Belmont Park.
Althiqa for Charlie Applebly opposes Empress Josephine in the Grade 1 at Keeneland.
Golden Pal and Extravagant Kid go head-to-head in Race 6 (8:40) in Keeneland.
Our selections:
1:45 NEWMARKET – 9. Unconquerable 4/1
2:02 YORK – 2. Edward Cornelius 25/1 (EW)
2:25 NEWMARKET – 1. Bayside Boy 7/1 (EW)
3:35 NEWMARKET (Cesarewitch Stakes) –
5. Calling The Wind 8/1
15. Buzz 8/1
14. Great White Shark 25/1 (EW)
31. Land Of Winter 150/1 (6 places), 110/1 (7 places), 90/1 (8 places) (EW)
1:33 CHANTILLY – 3. Bastogne 13/2
10:46 KEENELAND – 10. Order Of Australia 2/1
KM
THE CONDITIONAL 