Newmarket
Royal Lodge Stakes
Kameko was still green when just losing put in the Solario Stakes on just his second start, The well-bred son of Kitten’s Joy is an exciting type and is one to watch. Fitri Hay’s homebred Highland Chief was a surprise winner on debut and then ran well to finish behind “crack” two-year-old Pinatubo.
William Muir’s Pyledriver was won two of his three starts including the listed Ascendant Stakes. He’s a horse on the improve but may come up short here.
Selection: Kameko
Cheveley Park Stakes
Aidan O’Brien has won the last three renewals of this Group 1 contest and is the logical starting point for this year’s race. The master of Ballydoyle runs two in here with Etoile and Tango. The former won a Group 3 on debut at Naas which is very striking and she must be held in high regard. It’s very interesting that Ryan ride Tango who was beaten less than three lengths in the Moyglare and the addition of blinkers could bring about further improvement.
Raffle Prize is the clear horse on ratings with victories in the Queen Mary and Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes. She only went down by a beck in the Prix Morny and will be difficult to beat. French-raider Tropbeau is progressing nicely and snugly landed a Group 2 at Deauville back in August.
Living In The Past’s victory in the Lowther meant there was one hell of a party for connections and if improving again may be able to bag Group 1 glory.
Selection: Etoile – E/W
Middle Park Stakes
Yet another Group 1 where Aidan has won the last two runnings with U S Navy Flad and Ten Sovereigns. He runs Monarch Of Egypt who has come up short twice against the re-opposing Siskin on his last two starts and Lope Y Fernandez who’s been beaten twice by Pinatubo.
Ger Lyon’s rarely sends horses across the Irish Sea but runs Ireland’s hottest racing commodity Siskin. He’s always been talked about as a serious horse and has lived up to the hype with victories in the Railway Stakes and Phoenix Stakes.
Mums Tipple was the talk of the York festival with his eleven length win in the valuable sales race. It was arguably one of the most taking performances of the year. She could anything and I can’t wait to see what happens.
The unbeaten Earthlight was a fine winner of the Prix Morny beating Raffle Prize and could be tough to beat in his attempt to maintain his unbeaten record.
Selection: Mums Tipple
Cambridgeshire Handicap
This historic handicap was first run in 1839 and has been won by the likes of Wissahickon, Bronze Angel (2012 & 2014) and Third Time Lucky in recent years. The well-bred Good Birthday has been the subject of good support in recent days. He was a good winner of the Silver Cup on his last start but I think the trip could be on the sharp side for him.
The booking of Ryan Moore on Le Don De Vie is noteworthy and it’s not surprising given he’s won three of his last four starts. The manner of his victory at Goodwood was particularly taking and he must run well.
Fifth Position’s current mark of 100 looks very workable. Roger Varian’s three-year-old ran well in a Group 3 behind Duke Of Hazzard. This will be his first run in a handicap and I think he can go close.
Dark Vision took the Group 2 Vintage Stakes last season and ended the season on a mark of 113. He hasn’t won since but wasn’t beaten far in the Silver Cup and with the addition of a first-time visor and off a twelve-pound lower mark he could surprise a few people.
Selection: Dark Vision – E/W
