Katie Midwinter (07/10/22)
(All prices are correct at the time of publishing)
Newmarket
1.50pm – Zetland Stakes (Group 3)
Flying Honours was disappointing last time out in a four-runner field in the Royal Lodge Stakes. They finished in a heap at Newmarket and it may be worth forgiving the beaten Godolphin favourite and sticking with him in this Group Three contest.
Prior to that run he had recorded back-to-back wins that included a Listed success over Stormbuster at Salisbury.
He has the best form in the race and is the one to beat once again as he steps up in trip to 1m2f.
His pedigree suggests the step up in trip will likely suit and bring improvement from the Sea The Stars colt who is out of a Group Three-winning Dubawi mare.
Flying Honours 11/10 – Charlie Appleby, William Buick
2.25pm – Autumn Stakes (Group 3)
Chesham Stakes-winner Holloway Boy has been in decent form since his Royal Ascot success, finishing second in two runs in Group company.
He chased home Marbaan in the Group Two Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, finishing ahead of Mysterious Night who went on to win a Group Three at Deauville and recently demolished the field in the Grade One Summer Stakes in Canada.
When last seen, the Karl Burke-trained colt was only beaten by Nostrum in a four-runner affair in which he finished ahead of the promising Victory Dance.
A step up in trip could allow him to improve further and gain his first Group victory.
His sire, Ulysses, stayed 1m4f at the top level and as a stallion has notably produced Piz Badile and Mighty Ulysses, both of whom have won over a mile.
There are dangers in the field however and it will be a tough test for the colt. John & Thady Gosden’s Epictetus has only been seen once when winning on debut over 7f.
The Kingman colt could show plenty of improvement on his second start and will be one to watch, whilst Charlie Appleby’s Group Three-winner Silver Knott is another capable of claiming the prize to record another high-class success.
Holloway Boy 11/4 – K R Burke, Clifford Lee
3.00pm – Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1)
A high-quality renewal of the Dewhurst Stakes is run at 3pm and the market is headed by Sir Michael Stoute’s unbeaten colt Nostrum.
The son of Kingman recorded a Group Three success in the Tattersalls Stakes at the track last month, beating three rivals.
He is a warm favourite and appears the one to beat with plenty of excitement surrounding him. Also unbeaten is Charlie Appleby’s Naval Power who is bidding for a five-timer.
He drops back in trip following a win over a mile at Haydock recently where he showed great heart to prevail.
Isaac Shelby’s record is also untarnished, with two wins from two, and he appears a big price at double figures considering he recorded a Group Two success in the Superlative Stakes when last appearing on a racecourse.
Frankie Dettori takes the ride onboard Chaldean who recently recorded a hat-trick of wins with success in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Marbaan and Aesop’s Fables can be forgiven for disappointing runs at the Curragh in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes on soft ground.
Both should fare better on a firmer surface and the latter, for Aidan O’Brien, is a particularly interesting contender.
The No Nay Never colt has contributed to his sire’s success with this current crop of juveniles with a win in the Group Two Futurity Stakes in August.
He put in an exceptional performance to rally in the closing stages, showing an electric turn of foot to beat his stablemate Hans Andersen and favourite Proud And Regal.
There could be plenty more to come from the promising colt who is available at an enticing price.
Aesop’s Fables 7/1 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
3.40pm – Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage Handicap – Class 2)
Twenty-three runners head to post ahead of the 2m2f trip in the Cesarewitch Handicap. The market is currently headed by Ahorsewithnoname who appears a lively contender for an in-form Nicky Henderson yard, currently performing at a 56% win-rate.
Ryan Moore has been in excellent form this season and retains the ride onboard the seven-year-old mare bidding for three successive wins on the flat.
She was last seen winning at York in May and is 10lbs higher this time out and, with seemingly plenty in her favour, she appears the one to beat in the field.
There are many runners capable of posing a threat however, in such a competitive handicap. Gibraltar, the shortest-priced of a Willie Mullins trio, is the mount of 3lbs claimer Saffie Osborne and is another horse attempting a hat-trick of wins, coming into the race in excellent form.
Stablemate Baby Zeus could only manage sixth at Leopardstown when last seen over 1m5f but stayed on well and should improve with a step back up in trip with William Buick onboard.
One of the outsiders of the field is Land Of Winter who could be able to outrun his odds for trainer Rae Guest who has saddled two winners from five in the last two weeks.
With the yard in healthy form, the six-year-old gelding could be able to hold his own in this class following a fourth-placed finish at Chester recently, running off the same mark of 86 here.
Ahorsewithnoname 9/2 – Nicky Henderson, Ryan Moore
York
3.15pm – Sprint Trophy Handicap (Heritage Handicap – Class 2)
Dual-winner Gulliver lines up attempting to record a third success in the contest, 8lbs lower than when recording his second win in 2020. He is drawn higher this time out but must be respected as a horse with plenty of good form at the track.
Last year’s winner Volatile Analyst is a huge price to record back-to-back successes and does appear to have a difficult task ahead of him if he is to repeat his performance from twelve-months ago, this time 1lbs higher rated.
Course and distance winner Lucky Man runs off the same mark as when fourth in the Ayr Gold Cup and has a decent draw coming from stall six.
The last four winners of the race have all come from either stall five, six or seven, which could be a good omen for the Richard Spencer-trained colt.
Popmaster is another worth mentioning following a number of unlucky handicap runs in which he has been drawn on the wrong side or hasn’t been able to gain a favourable position in the early stages of a race.
The talented gelding is due a change of fortunes and could be able to put in a winning performance from stall eight.
Lucky Man 11/1 – Richard Spencer, P J McDonald
Popmaster 14/1 – Ed Walker, Tom Marquand
Chepstow
2:17pm – Native River Handicap Chase (Class 2)
The ever-consistent Kitty’s Light is a lively contender in this contest once again, having been narrowly beaten when lining up in the race last year.
He is only 1lbs higher-rated this time out, running off a mark of 144 which should make him tough to beat if on song.
The likable gelding was tough and hardy as a five-year-old and could be even better at six, with plenty more to come from him and many big races in sight this season.
Last year he came close on a number of occasions, often losing out to his stablemates or other horses who were better handicapped.
There could be a big win on the cards for him this season and he’s well positioned to start his campaign on a high.
Kitty’s Light 11/4 – Christian Williams, Jack Tudor
THE CONDITIONAL 