The UK Classic season may well be over, but there’s still plenty of interesting racing going on and attention turns to Newmarket this weekend.
The feature race at the Suffolk venue is the Middle Park Stakes which sees some of the most exciting two-year-old juveniles around in action.
Our horse racing betting expert previews tomorrow’s and Saturday’s card.
Day Two – 1.50pm – Rosemary Stakes
The opening race on day two of the meeting could go the way of Maqsad at 2/1 with trainer William Haggas having won the race on the last two runnings and, three of the last five.
Having won a maiden over track and trip, she then followed that with an impressive success over Pretty Polly here in May.
She’s not quite been the same since, and this represents a drop in class in a bid to get back to winning ways.
The main danger could well be John Gosden’s She’s Got You at 6/1 with Frankie Dettori preferring her to Lady Lawyer. Gosden also has previous in the race, winning the race in 2015 and 2016.
Day Two – 2.25pm – Princess Royal Muhaarar Stakes
Frankie Dettori and Promissory can land this one at 6/4 having been placed in all three of her runs to date.
Her form has been franked with Sir Ron Priestley, who she chased home in the March Stakes at Goodwood going on to finish second in the St Leger.
Star Terms at 6/1 is the big threat having won a Listed race at Longchamp before being unlucky at Deauville last month
Day Two – 3.00pm – Rockfel Stakes
It’s tough to look past Daahyeh at 5/4 who comes in with the best form of the lot, including a second to Raffle Prize in the Duchess of Cambridgeshire Stakes on the July course.
Cloak of Spirits at 6/1 shouldn’t be overlooked though as she drops down in trip following a disappointing effort in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster
Day Two – 3.35pm – Joel Stakes
The preference here is for Zaaki at 7/2 as Sir Michael Stoute chases a double, having won this race last year with Mustashry.
The four-year-old stayed on well to win a Group 3 at York in August and has only finished outside the top two once.
Benbati is a danger at 5/1 despite a lengthy absence as he has form at the highest level, while King Of Comedy at 5/4 is also feared having finished a close second in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before finding the 1m2f in the Juddmonte at York a little too far. A drop back to a mile could suit.
Day Three – Cheveley Park Stakes – 2.25pm
Aidan O’Brien took this race last year with Fairyland and rests his hopes on Etoile and Tango this time round.
The former is his best chance at 8/1 as she is open to improvement after quickening late on to take the win in the eight-runner Sprint Stakes at Naas on racecourse debut.
The class horse of the field is Raffle Prize who justifies favouritism at 11/10 with wins in the Queen Mary and Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, with the latter coming on the July course at today’s venue.
The main danger looks set to be Tropbeau at 9/2 who is targeting a four-timer after picking up three good wins over in France.
Day Three – Middle Park Stakes – 3.00pm
The fact this encounter is billed as the race of the season tells you everything you need to know.
Earthlight is Andre Fabre’s main contender and comes here unbeaten in four starts in France.
She won a hot contest in the Prix Mourny back in August and is expected to run well here at 15/8.
Mums Tipple looks to be a danger after bolting up in a York Sales race by 11 lengths, and everything pointed to the fact that he’s likely to be a Group One performer.
Siskin is another unbeaten in four starts and comes into the race on the back of a Group One win and is versatile when it comes to the ground.
Aidan O’Brien has won this race for the past two years and saddles Monarch of Egypt and Lope Y Fernandez, who both have strong claims.
The former finished just behind Siskin in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh but at 9/1 looks good value to potentially reverse the order here.
You can’t rule out Lope Y Fernandez, who won at the Curragh last time, and the six furlongs could be ideal, although it will be a big step up if he is to land this one.
While the five I have run through previously are in with a shout, I will opt for Threat at a great price of 12/1.
He didn’t fulfil his potential when finishing second at both Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood but has since bounced back with good victories in the Gimcrack and Champagne Stakes.
Day Three – Cambridgeshire Handicap – 3.40pm
This wide-open renewal has 33 runners set to go to post.
Good Birthday and Le Don De Vie are the current market leaders, but preference is for Lord North at 8/1 – the mount of Frankie Dettori and trained by John Gosden.
Gosden is targeting the race for a fourth win, having struck with Wissahickon last year. Lord North was an eye-catching second to Bless Him in Ascot earlier this month.
Mordin is also a great each-way shout at 16/1 having barely put a foot wrong all season and having previous success in double-figure fields.
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