Hello & welcome to the first of my blogs for Newmarket's Cambridgeshire Meeting starting on Thursday running through to the big race itself on Saturday; The Cambridgeshire Handicap the first leg of the Autumn Double.
The opening 2yo maiden features 4 youngsters who made their debut in a Doncaster maiden a couple of weeks ago that could turn out to be very useful indeed Game Pie was 4th, Mohatem 5th, Secateur 8th & Kitten's Red in 14th;
all 4 ran with promise but for me the most promising & taking of the 3 has the strong powerful Mohatem who looks a genuinely class animal.
Of the others that have run Mike De Kock's Baroot appears to need more time to mature after pulling to hard on debut at Yarmouth just over a week ago.
Indomitable Spirit has shown little on either start & is best watched in this field.
The rest of the field is made up of newcomers;
Captain Navarre (Excellent Art x Quantum) £11,000 Tatts Book 2 Oct 13. Half brother to 1 winner, from the family of Power & Thakafaat.
Chorus Of Lies (Teofilo x Cherry Orchard) 2nd foal, Half brother to The Last Drop, Nebula Storm & Ardlui.
My Strategy (Strategic Prince x Mythie) £26,250 Tatts Foal Dec 2012 / £32,500 DBS Premier Sale Yearling 2013. Half brother to Group 3 winner Esentepe.
Nosey Barker (Rip Van Winkle x Cold Cold Women) £58,415 Yearling Goffs Orby. Dam Listed winner in the US. Half brother to 2 winners. From the family of Aljamaheer.
Tawaasheeh (New Approach x Sana Abel) Dam was the last foal out of 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner Midway Lady. Dam was half-sister Oaks winner Eswarah. 2nd foal, half brother to Reesha.
Tempus Temporis (Dynaformer x Tempus Fugit) £193,566 Yearling Keeneland Sept 2013. Dam 3 time Listed winner in US. Half brother to 2 winners.
Mohatem (WON 11/8f) to win this before moving up in grade.
The second race on the card is a 1 mile Nursery;
Top weight Prince Gagarin never threatened when stepped up to Group 3 company at York last time, a race that is working out well. He was taken off his feet by the frenetic pace on the fast ground. He is better than that & is worth another chance from what looks a more than fair mark.
Percy Alleline has been well beaten on his last 3 starts & needs the fitting of blinkers to have a positive effect to get involved.
Azmaam has been raised from an opening mark of 77 to 81 after winning an average Chester maiden, more needed here.
A mile should be the ceiling of Orlando Rogue's stamina & he faces a step up after winning his Windsor maiden in decent style after showing progress in 2 maidens previously.
Al Rayyan struggled from this mark on his last start & was well beaten by Azmaan the time before.
Landwade Lad stepped forward last time at Thirsk when getting collared late on after making all, he is quite a keen going sort & will need to settle better here. If he does then his opening mark looks fine.
Black Granite took advantage of a lenient opening mark when winning nicely at Salisbury on his last start, he has been raised accordingly but young Cam Hardie's claim offsets that somewhat, player if his stamina holds.
Mr Shekells was well held in a Class 4 last time at York after winning previously, this is a Class 2 so I cannot see him getting involved.
Prince Gagarin (2nd 4/1) is worth another chance, whether he is a bet is price dependent.
A 1m4f older horse handicap is the 3rd race;
Old Proud Chieftain has struggled badly on his last 2 starts since a staying on 2nd on Shergar Cup day, as a result he is now on his last winning mark so a better run here would come as no surprise although it would take a braver man than I to call this as a win for him. Barwick arrives in excellent form on a hat trick after a win in the Amateurs Derby at Epsom last month on testing ground, he has also won at Brighton & Newbury this season. Cam Hardie's offsets his rise in the weights so he can get involved despite never having operated above Class 4 company before.
Missed Call looked well held from this mark when last seen in July but has been given plenty of time to recover since, she looked an improver early in the year so is worth another chance. Old Town Boy has not been seen since late May when chasing home Captain Morley at Chester from a mark of 85, should be capable of getting involved.
Oasis Fantasy remains on a nice mark after his last run where he pulled too hard in a top 3yo handicap at Goodwood last time, previous to that he had run the useful Battersea close, has to be involved here. A 6lb higher mark should just hold up Cape Caster who showed plenty of stamina to win in a lesser grade at Salisbury last time.
Toptempo has not been seen since May when tailed off behind Poyle Thomas over 15f at Newmarket, she is higher than her last winning mark & this looks a strong race for the grade. Dance Of Heroes lost out to a couple of better weighted rivals in a ice Sandown handicap last time where the slight cut in the ground was also against him, plenty in his favour here. Knife Point has been raised from 77 to 80 after a good 2nd in a nice race at Thirsk behind old boy Pintrada, stamina clearly a strong suit & is another who will appreciate the slightly better ground.
Almerzan has 6lbs extra for a decisive win on the AW just a week ago, it was a huge improvement after a gelding operation form a low opening mark after showing next to nothing in 4 previous starts, respected under a penalty which on breeding alone he should be more than capable of running up to.
Isabella Liberty has had her last 4 starts in France at various provincial tracks, she also broke her maiden nicely at Saint Cloud during that spell. Well beaten in a handicap last time & work to do here.
Der Meister is bred to be pretty smart & pacey (Mastercraftsman (Irish 2000 Guineas) x Agnetha (King George Stakes)) yet instead looks as though stamina is his strong suit & is working his way through handicaps on his 4th racecourse start, worth another chance to confirm promise of his maiden win at Windsor as he was blocked 3 times in the race won by Cape Caster at Salisbury last time, dropped a pound as a result & could be well in.
A race I will be leaving well alone.
The big race on Thursday's card is for 2yo's over 7f The Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes;
Azraff has won his last 2 starts in Nursery company including a decent win in The Blaydon Race at Newcastle, more needed upped in grade but respected in any case.
Dancetrack is a fine looking son of First Defense, he ran with promise on his debut in a maiden which has yet to work out (he is the only winner from the race so far). On his 2nd start he was a warm order to win at Leicester, he duly did & was not extended to do so, respected upped in grade from a stable who has been involved with the winner of this twice in the last 10 years (Barry won it with a similar type Rerouted a few years ago).
Maftool is a well put together strong 2yo who appeared to be outpaced in The Sirenia last time before staying on for a never nearer 2nd, race has already produced Listed winner Accipiter & he will relish going up in trip here.
Godolphin should have the measure of Make It Up having had 4 horses run against him on his last 2 starts, he made all to outpace Good Contact in a 4 runner event at Goodwood last time & before that was made to look ordinary by Good Place at Lingfield. In his 3 race career he has already won at Epsom & Goodwood so downhill courses appear to suit already.
Markaz represents Barry Hills as he continues to train in the stead of his departed & much missed son John who died earlier in the year; Markaz has useful form but this is a step up.
Sheikh Hamdam's other runner is Mubtaghaa who was a late non runner in last Saturday's Mill Reef, he steps up another furlong here which on his run style should suit & his trainer has long held him in high regard, chances.
Natural Order a big chestnut son of Munnings will be much happier back in this smaller field than he was in the extended 6f sales race at Doncaster last time where he struggled to go with the speedier animals, earlier pattern form gives him a chance & he is likely to be improving more than others at this time of the year. Stable sent out runaway Mill Reef winner Toocoolforschool over the weekend.
William Haggas is also represented by Valley Of Fire who was a fast finishing 3rrd from an uncompromising position behind Mubtaghaa last time, previously he had won his maiden well, entitled to still improve with 7f looking an optimum.
Was hoping it would be a betting opportunity but they all have chances of a sort, Mubtaghaa brings some of the best form into the race but does face some unexposed sorts here like Maftool (WON 7/2), Make It Up, Natural Order & Dancetrack.
A small but select field goes to post at 4:15 in The Listed Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes over 2 miles.
Flying Officer makes his long awaited return to the track after winning The Further Flight Stakes way back in the first week of April, he stayed on strongly that day in the style of a stayer certain to take high rank but has clearly been difficult to train since, form from that race has worked out well with High Jinx & Continuum winning in Listed company plus Mighty Yar a decent handicap at Newmarket.
Overall in his 4 races he appears to go well fresh so he needs respecting despite his 3lb penalty.
Novirak will enjoy the step up in trip for the first time & is improving but on the negative side he has been found a particularly strong Listed race to attempt it in.
Pallasator's new connections are clearly trying to transform him into a Cup horse which is understandable given his high rating & form, he was overfaced running as well as he could in The Irish St Leger last time after an excellent effort under his huge weight in the Ebor. My worry is the ground quickening as his very best form has come with cut & as he is such a big awkward horse I would not be that keen on another run on faster ground.
Could make the race & therefore make Flying Officer a backable price.
James Fanshawe saddles another runner in Shawiman who is clearly well regarded but has so far failed to live up to that although to be fair to him after a decent run in The Gold Cup earlier in the year his handicap mark was shot, taken out of the Mallard when due to run at Doncaster last time so another with drying ground a concern.
Times Up ran no sort of race in a bid for a 3rd Doncaster Cup last time, perhaps he has just had enough as there seemed to be no obvious excuses with that run.
Did win this race in 2011 & if the fire still burns he is the best horse in the lineup on old form.
I have been waiting for Flying Officer (2nd 13/8) Never since his win at Nottingham in April & he is finally back, still unexposed as a stayer. He should go very close despite the absence.
The Arkle finance handicap over the mile looks an extremely tricky contest;
George Guru has had an excellent 2014 & now races from marks in the high 90's as a result, has shown little since May & is better on the AW.
Billingsgate has been disappointing overall with some in & out form figures, recent run on the AW was better & with his stable clearly finally firing on all cylinders he has chances. Lawmans Thunder has been disappointing the last twice after rattling up a hat trick at Kempton earlier in the season, best watched at present.
Burano still only has a Meydan Classic win to his name & still gets backed which personally I have never fathomed, good luck to you if you decided today is the day with him. Master Of The World has been running consistently since a good win at York 3 starts ago, new mark does appear to hold him though. Did however win his maiden at this meeting last year. Consign is now attractively handicapped racing from his last winning mark with Ryan Moore booked, didn't run awfully at Donny last time & a big run would come as no surprise. Askaud is only a pound above her last winning mark which the handicapper has been slow to relinquish her from his grip, chances at best.
Dubai Dynamo has been struggling of late after wins from lower marks earlier in the season. Shafrah was clearly not herself when last seen in mid August as she was beaten a country mile, previous form gives her a chance.
Lawyer unseated his rider last time after just a furlong, his previous 2 runs would lead you to believe that the handicapper has his measure. Exchequer has not been seen since early April when finishing last in a good quality Newbury handicap, his 2yo form included a 2nd to Kingston Hill, with young Cam Hardie taking an extra 5lbs off his back he could be well in but it is a big ask after such a long absence.
Tough race but could easily see Consign (WON 8/1) & Exchequer (2nd 12/1) going well, not a betting race for me though.
The last race on the card at present looks a straight match between Aetna & Athenian; Aetna is due to return after a 134 day absence since winning The Infinity Tyres Stakes at York's Dante Meeting, plenty was expected of her over the summer but she stayed in her box either through injury or the fast ground. All her best form so far has come on soft bar 1 win on good, if the ground gets no faster you would expect her to run. Fascinating to see how she gets on.
Athenian just won a Baden Baden Listed race on her last start beating Cape Factor, she had previously been running well in good grade fillies handicaps after a cosy off 92 in July at Newmarket, should remain very capable from this mark here.
Remember should have won a nursery on the Saturday of this meeting last season but was slightly hampered, she has been running from marks in the high 90's all season but has been vulnerable to better fillies. Drop back in trip will help & should be involved in the places.
Links Drive Lady is a decent filly in her grade & on her ground, both of which she does not have here. Refuse Collette is due to race off a 6lb penalty after another win at Yarmouth last week, she has won 5 times at the East coast venue so far this season climbing from a mark of 46 to now race of 80, no telling where her improvement will end but this is by far the toughest field she has faced. but this is
Cordial is another racing with a 6lb penalty after a win at Yarmouth last week, she has been consistently racing from marks around the mid 70's & won well last week, place chances.
Augusta Ada is the 3rd runner in this field racing with a 6lb penalty after a win last week this time at Pontefract, she has shown good form from marks in the 80's before so she could be the one of the 3 horses with penalties who can put it up to the big 2.
Secret Hint raced alone in a useful Goodwood sprint last time keeping up with the field & eventually finishing a very honourable 4th. Better than that run especially off an attractive mark of 80, faces some proper fillies here though.
Not a race I will have a bet in, one to watch though.
@fttfracing
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