Newmarket and York Friday Tips by Dave Stevos
Newmarket and York Friday Tips
The Arc didn’t quite go to plan for either of our selections. Raabihah got stuck on the inner and never got involved. Sealiway had to travel very wide and that probably cost us place money as he finished 5th. At least Times Square ran a super race for us, nicking second advised at 40/1. The spotlight switches back to the UK this weekend and you can check out Dave Stevos’ Chepstow, Newmarket and York Friday preview and tips for all live ITV races below.
1.50 Newmarket – Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3)
We go straight into the good stuff at Newmarket on ITV4 with this G3 for the 2yo fillies. The ground is good to soft at HQ and a fair few in this field would prefer faster conditions. We backed Twilight Jet last time and he ran a blinder. He missed out on place money in 5th in that G1 but he was only 1.5L behind the winner. His previous run on good to soft over 7f was a fine effort too. It will be interesting to see how he fares back at the minimum trip. He clearly has plenty of speed so he will likely make a bold bid from the front.
Michael O’Callaghan’s inmate will ensure this is a properly run race and I think that might suit Albion Square. Jessie Harrington is in great form in recent weeks. This son of Acclamation was conceding 2lbs to subsequent G3 winner Sacred Bridge when finishing 2.75L behind him over 6f in the Ballyhane Stakes at Naas. His maiden win came at Navan on yielding (5f) and he shaped nicely enough when he was a shade outpaced behind Head Mistress in a Listed contest at the Curragh last time out (5f gd).
Cut In The Ground
This will be the first time he has had cut in the ground since his Navan win. A first time tongue tie could bring about a bit of improvement too. The fact he is running in this company rather than handicaps suggests that Harrington rates him because on a couple of his runs, he would be thrown in off his mark of 89. The likes of Princess Shabnam, Papa Don’t Preach and Twilight Jet should ensure this is run at a furious pace and hopefully they’ll set it up for a closer. Hopefully, Albion Square doesn’t get taken off his feet early on. If he doesn’t, he could hit the frame at odds of 40/1.
Newmarket and York Friday Tips: Albion Square e/w @ 40/1 (4 Places)
2.10 Chepstow – Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Is it really that time of year already? Yes, the jumpers are back this weekend and we’ll be taking in a couple of races from Chepstow on ITV4. First up is a Veterans’ Chase which will be contested by 11 old favourites. Our Becher hero Vieux Lion Rouge makes his return to action off top weight. He is rated 148 and he won the Becher off 140. No doubt that is his main aim again and today’s ground is too quick for him anyway.
Bourne Supremacy?
Nine of the eleven old boys are having their first runs of the season. One horse that won’t lack for race fitness is the elder lemon of the contest, Asockastar. Trained 20 miles up the road by Daniel Bourne, this horse has been kept busy over the summer. The 13yo won over hurdles at Worcester (20f gd) in May off 121. He subsequently ran a couple of decent races off his revised mark of 127 at the same track over 23f and 20f. His last two runs over the bigger obstacles came at Bangor (20f gd) and Worcester (23f gd).
Those two runs came within a week of each other off 131 and he is now rated 125. That is the same mark he last won a chase off at Worcester in July 2019 (20f gd) and he was subsequently placed off 137 on his last chase outing for Milton Bradley. His local trainer has given him over a month off to get over those quick runs and unlike a good few of his rivals, this race has likely been the plan. Bourne is 1/1 at Chepstow and Shane Quinlan takes off a handy 5bs too. At odds of 25/1, Asockastar could surprise with a big run off his last winning chase mark.
Chepstow Friday Tips: Asockastar e/w @ 25/1
2.25 Newmarket – Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3)
Another stakes race for the 2yo fillies, this time over 7f. Just the nine will go for black type in this Group 3 and again, form on a softer surface is thin on the ground. Beckett and Dettori team up with the fav, Good American. She won nicely over 7f on debut at Salisbury on good to firm. Will she be as effective on good to soft? There are mixed messages in her pedigree and this is a big step up in class. So, at the odds, I’d rather just watch her.
One who has better form than the favourite (on good to soft ground) is Fast Attack. A wide margin winner on debut at Kempton, she got stuck in the mud in a G2 at Deauville on her second start. It was much more like it last time at Newbury (7f gd/sft) when she lost very little caste in defeat in a Class 2 conditions race behind two pretty talented sorts.
She was 0.5L behind the winner Heredia who remains unbeaten after her two runs. Silk Romance was a short head ahead of her in 2nd and she hacked up by 5L in a maiden here on her previous start. James Doyle keeps the faith in this daughter of Kodiac and I think she is capable of following in her dam’s hoofsteps and picking up some black type. At odds of 16/1, Fast Attack is the each way selection.
Newmarket and York Friday Tips: Fast Attack e/w @ 16/1
2.45 Chepstow – Persian War Hurdle (Grade 2)
This Grade 2 hurdle has been won by Paul Nicholls for three of the past five seasons. He won it with Mcfabulous in 2020 and this year he relies on Paso Doble. Rated 129, he was a solid performer on the level for Jim Bolger and he has run well both starts over timber. His debut came in the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton (16f gd) and he wasn’t disgraced in 3rd. On his second start in May he landed a Novice over the same C&D on good ground. A 12f winner on the flat, this trip should be ok for him too. It is no surprise to see him installed as the favourite.
Up For Parol is actually rated 2lbs higher than the fav. He hosed up in a pair of Novice Hurdles in March/April and the former P2P winner is an exciting prospect for Jamie Snowden. It was a pity the Munir horse fell at the final hurdle at Ffos Las on his last outing. It was shaping up to be a good battle but I think the Snowden horse had plenty left in the tank and he should be even better over this longer distance.
This 5yo is a full brother to Letsbeclearaboutit, a three time bumper winner who has placed in Listed and Grade 2 company for Gavin Cromwell. His dam is related to a couple of black type performers too so this horse is bred for this task. Snowden has had horses finish 3rd and 2nd in this race in 2018 and 2019 so it is clearly a race he targets. He might finally have found the right horse for the job with Up For Parol and he is the each way pick.
Chepstow Friday Tips: Up For Parol e/w @ 7/1
3.00 Newmarket – Challenge Stakes (Group 2)
With trip, ground and most importantly track to suit, I think Jouska is worth a punt in this 7f Group 2. Henry Candy’s 4yo daughter of Cable Nay hasn’t won yet this season but she has run some solid races in defeat. She loves a bit of an ease in the ground and her last win came over 6f in a Listed heat at this track almost exactly a year ago. That wasn’t the first time she has run well at this meeting either.
Back in 2019 she ran in a Group 3 (5f gd/sft) and Shane Foley rode. She ran a huge race at odds of 20/1 to finish a close 3rd behind Good Vibes. The form of her Listed 2nd at Musselburgh (7f gd) behind Just Beautiful looks alright now too. She was conceding 13lbs to the Furtado filly and she went on to score in a Group 3 at Doncaster.
Jouska clearly likes it at this time of year and her form figures on the Rowley course on ground with no firm in the description reads 12. A rating of 99 leaves her with plenty to find with the favs but she ran a lot better than her form figures of 66 suggest the last twice. She had Vadream in behind at Goodwood two runs back and she was only 4.75L behind Saffron Beach (conceding 6lbs) last time at Sandown. This is a decent race but Jouska’s form and liking for the track are enough to justify an each way interest at 33/1.
Newmarket and York Friday Tips: Jouska e/w @ 33/1 NB
3.15 York – Casumo App Handicap (Class 2)
A nice and handy first race from York, a 20 runner mile handicap. All three of the Easterby runners are entitled to respect given the form of the yard and his track record. Given his liking for easy ground, Poet’s Dawn looks the most likely of his trio. However, this is a higher level than he usually operates at. At absolutely huge odds, it might be worth taking a small chance on Alexander James.
Mick Appleby is a shrewd operator and he has his string in great form. In the past two weeks he has had 7 winners from 38 runners. He had another 11 finish in the first four so clearly his horses are in fine fettle. Alexander James would have no chance on his last five flat runs. He has had two runs since moving to Mick Appleby’s from France and there wasn’t much to take from either of them.
This Listed winner was rated 98 over a year ago and he is now 13lbs lower. He enjoys cut in the ground so in fairness to him, the conditions were probably a bit quick for him the last twice. He has had a 4 month break since his last run and his yard couldn’t be in much better form ahead of his return. Maybe this 5yo is on the downgrade but he wouldn’t be the first horse Appleby has revived. At odds of 50/1 a very small e/w interest is advised.
Newmarket and York Friday Tips: Alexander James e/w @ 50/1 (6 Places)
3.35 Newmarket – Fillies’ Mile (Group 1)
An intriguing Group 1 and I think Magical Lagoon could be another good ride for Dusty Foley at Newmarket. A 305k purchase as a yearling, this Galileo filly is a half sister to four time G1 winner Novellist. She was clueless on debut when finishing 3.25L behind Albula. However, she turned that form around decisively on her next start in a G3 at the Curragh (8f gd). Admittedly, that form hasn’t worked out but she could do no more than beat what was in front of her.
A furlong from home there was no way you’d have thought she was going to win that day. Dusty Foley was rowing away from the 2f pole and it took her an age to hit top gear. However, when she did get going she showed a smart turn of foot to reel in the leader. The way she finished off suggested that next year she’ll definitely be going up in trip.
Cachet and possibly Majestic Glory and Prosperous Voyage all like to go forward so hopefully they go a good strong gallop. Magical Lagoon clearly has plenty of stamina so she’ll enjoy the stiff finish on the Rowley Mile, especially coming off a strong pace. She should be more streetwise after her last run and while the likes of Inspiral in particular have achieved more, I think Magical Lagoon has lots of improvement to come. At odds of 14/1, she is the each way NAP of the day.
Newmarket and York Friday Tips: Magical Lagoon e/w @ 14/1 NAP
4.10 Newmarket – Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Class 2)
I studied the 3yo handicap at York for over an hour and I just couldn’t pick a value bet. However, I think Farhan could go well in this at a decent price. Trained by John Butler, David Egan rides and this horse is due a win. A 10f novice winner on soft at Pontefract on his final run of last season, he has rattled the crossbar on three of his four starts this year. He has tried 12f just once and he finished 4th at York, admittedly well behind the winner Kondo Isami.
His best run so far came at Chester last time out (10.5f gd). He was conceding over a stone to Bookmark and he stayed on nicely for 2nd, 1.75L behind the winner. The 4th from that race won on his next start and the winner went close off 6lbs higher subsequently so it was a fine run.
The booking of David Egan is another positive. He has had 45 rides for Butler returning 5 winners and 17 top 4 finishes. This is Farhan’s toughest test to date but he is clearly a horse with plenty of potential. He’ll be carrying just 8st 1lbs (compared to 9st 7lbs last time) so he will think he is running loose. With 5 places on offer from a few firms, Farhan is the each way pick at 18/1.
