Friday Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Tips – DS
Friday Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Tips
What a weekend of racing we have ahead of us. The Cambridgeshire, Middle Park and Cheveley Park at Newmarket and the Arc and Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp. Dave Stevos has already posted an ante-post tip for the Arc, see who he fancies here. You can check out his Friday Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting tips below.
1.50 – Rosemary Stakes (Listed)
Last time out Naomi Lapaglia ran a blinder in a heritage handicap at York (7f gd/fm). Racing off 84, she finished 4.5L behind Nigiri who was racing off 80. She has since gone on to run huge in a G3 behind Matilda Picotte and she is now rated 100+.
Coco Jamboo was a head in front of Richard Spencer’s filly and she hacked up in a handicap next time out. The 5th Nizaaka was subsequently placed in a Listed race in Sweden so it was an excellent effort by Naomi Lapaglia.
This daughter of Awtaad won on debut over 8f at Kempton so this step up in trip should pose no problems. Oisin Murphy keeps the faith after riding her for the first time at York and you’d imagine he had a big say on whether she was worth trying in stakes company.
She is certainly bred to be a black type filly. Her half-brother Rogue Millenium has won at Listed and G2 level and was runner up in the G1 Matron Stakes. Her dam also won at Listed/G3 level so connections will be very keen for this filly to pick up some black type too. On that York form I have no doubt that a mark of 84 underestimates this filly’s ability and I think she’ll outrun her odds of 22/1.
Friday Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Tips: Naomi Lapaglia e/w @ 22/1 (4 places) NB
2.25 – Princess Royal Dubai Stakes (Group 3)
Surely Scarlett O’Hara is too big here at odds of 25/1. Trained by Jessie Harrington, this daughter of Frankel is a very likeable, consistent filly. She has yet to run a bad race in five starts this season and she has run huge in a pair of G3s on her last two starts.
Over 14f at Leopardstown (gd) back in July she was beaten a length into 3rd by Shamida in the G3 Stanerra Stakes. She travelled into that race powerfully, hit the front 2f out but then she just got outstayed in the final 50 yards.
At Deauville last time out (12f) she ran another fine race, beat just 0.5L in a blanket finish in a G3 on soft. She should appreciate the return to a sounder surface at Newmarket. Her form figures on good ground read 213 compared to 246 on good to yielding or softer.
Her dam is a half to the classy performer Echo of Light and her sire Frankel needs no introduction. Interestingly, Nathan Crosse has travelled over to take the ride and he is the only jockey that has managed to win on this filly to date. She doesn’t have a massive amount to find on the figures to land place money here so at 25/1, back Scarlett O’Hara e/w.
Friday Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Tips: Scarlett O’Hara e/w @ 25/1 (4 places) NAP
3.00 – Rockfel Stakes (Group 2)
Up and coming trainer Ollie Sangster (who definitely hasn’t had the benefit of a silver spoon) has the favourite here. Shuwari, a twice raced unbeaten daughter of New Bay, is 2/1 to make it 3/3. She landed a Listed contest at Sandown on her last start (7f sft) and she landed her maiden on good to firm at Newbury. The good ground today should pose no problems.
Ylang Ylang is next best in the betting for Ballydoyle. She has arguably achieved more having landed a Leopardstown G3 on her penultimate outing. However, she bombed out in G1 company at the Curragh last time and that run has to temper enthusiasm about her chances today.
At bigger odds, Zenjabeela could go well. When connections splashed out 220k for this daughter of Too Darn Hot I doubt they expected her to shed her maiden tag at Southwell. To be fair to her, she did make a pleasing debut on the July course (7f gd/sft). She was beat 2.5L into third behind Race The Wind with an 84 rated horse in second.
Facile win
It was a facile win in an average race next time at Southwell but she could only beat what was in front of her. Last time she returned to the turf at Beverley (7.5f gd) and she won that novice by a neck carrying a penalty. The runner up, in receipt of 6lbs, landed an Ayr handicap next time out off 84.
This filly’s half sister (By Kingman) picked up black type at Longchamp last month. Her Galileo dam is a half to Alpha Centauri, Alpine Star and Discoveries, all winners at the top table. Too Darn Hot is really starting to find his stride as a sire and the G2 May Hill winner Darnation is by him and also out of a Galileo mare.
Too Darn Hot is 1/1 with his runners in G1s and 5/15 overall in Euro Stakes races. Hopefully Zenjabeela can improve that very impressive record at odds of 14/1. Incidentally, Carolina Reaper is also by the same sire so maybe a cheeky Too Darn Hot reverse forecast might be worth a look if you are into that sort of thing.
Friday Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Tips: Zenjabeela e/w @ 14/1
3.35 – Joel stakes (Group 2)
Just six runners in this G2 and the longest priced runner is just 10/1. I have no strong opinion on this one. Mutasaabeq does look too short given his recent form and it is hard to know what to expect from Maljoom after over 400 days off. Epictetus would surely prefer softer ground, Mighty Ulysses isn’t the most consistent and while Regal Reality is getting on a bit now, he’ll enjoy this ground. Chindit looks the most solid of them but I’m happy to swerve this one. No bet.
