Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Friday: Dave Stevos
Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Friday Tips and Preview
It was another poor day for us on Thursday at Newmarket and Pontefract. Olympic Theatre drifted to 9/1 but at least salvaged something for us in 2nd. Archie Perkins paid the price for being too close to the pace and the ground went against Caspian Queen. Amazing Red ran a stinking race and Sleeping Lion was a non-runner. Let’s hope for better today, check out Dave Stevos Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Friday Tips below…
Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Friday: 1.50pm – Rosemary Stakes (Listed)
This race bucks the trend of the week so far with 17 fillies and mares going for black type. There is rain forecast and with some juice in the ground, Romola could go well for Stoute and Moore. This filly hosed up on her only previous start on heavy. By Pivotal, she has also won on good ground but she is one of the few fillies in this contest that has proven soft ground form.
Yes, she has to carry a penalty due to her Listed win at Pontefract in July (Posted and Lady Bowthorpe well behind) but that is not a worry. She carried 9st 9lbs and 9st 8lbs to victory in her two handicap wins so 9st 5lbs won’t over burden her. Stoute is in flying form with 11 winners in the past 2 weeks, including a double at Kempton last night. Romola has to rebound from a poor effort last time but that is more than possible with her trainer going so well. At odds of 14/1, Romola is the each way selection.
Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Friday Tips: Romola e/w @ 14/1 NB (5 Places)
Newmarket Friday: 2.25pm – Princess Royal Stakes (Group 3)
Antonia De Vega could be the answer in this Group 3. This 4yo filly loves to get her toe in so it was a fine effort to win on good on her comeback. That should set her up perfectly for a back end campaign and she should have more of an ease in the ground today. She was narrowly beaten in a German G1 (12f sft) on her final start of last season and she also ran really well behind Star Catcher in another G1 at Ascot (11f sft).
This filly is 4/7 overall and her trainer, Ralph Beckett, is in flying form. He has had three winners from his last six runners and six overall in the past fortnight. Harry Bentley retains the ride on Antonia De Vega and he has been on board for every one of her seven runs. She does have to give weight to a couple of smart 3yos, but they have yet to prove they like juice in the ground. With trip and ground to suit, Antonia De Vega is worth backing for the win at odds of 7/2.
Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Friday Tips: Antonia De Vega win @ 7/2 NAP
Newmarket Friday: 3.00pm – Shadwell Rockfel Stakes (Group 2)
Another dire turnout for this Group 2 with just 5 due to go to post. That is the lowest number of runners since 2000 at least and it really takes the gloss of the race, especially for each way punters. O’Brien and Moore team up with the 5/4 favourite Monday who won a Listed heat at Leopardstown last time. That was on good though and she was well beat on easy ground on debut. Isabella Giles has no worries about rain as she dotted up on soft last time at Goodwood in a G3. She should arguably be the favourite on the back of that, but she is 2/1.
Santosha is interesting for Loughnane and Tom Greatrex. She did disappoint behind Miss Amulet last time but her previous two efforts were quality and she is proven on soft. If she can break better this time she has a squeak. Alba Rose won very well last time but she will likely show her best over further in time. If they go a scorching early pace it might bring her into the picture. Nazuna is another promising sort, but all her form is on good or quicker. If it doesn’t rain, she could run a big race. Santosha is probably a shade overpriced but with just 2 places available I’m giving this race a wide berth. No bet.
Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Friday Tips: No Bet
Newmarket Friday: 3.35pm – Shadwell Joel Stakes (Group 2)
This is the feature on Friday, an 8f Group 2, and with 2 non runners, only 6 go to post. It is a high quality affair and most of these would not look out of place in a Group 1. Kameko drops back to a mile after not getting home over 10f at York. His form at 8f is top class and he was unlucky on his last start at the trip when denied a clear run at Goodwood. Oisin Murphy will feel both he and the horse have a point to prove and they have obvious claims.
His biggest rival, on paper at least, looks to be the mighty Benbatl. Murphy usually rides this top class animal but today, Frankie gets the leg up. A three time G1 winner with a rating of 125, this son of Dubawi dotted up in this race last year after a similar absence. Oisin Murphy will know he can’t give him too much rope in front and it will be interesting to see what tactics are employed by both jockeys. The big worry for both of these horses would be soft ground.
Rain To Suit Prince
If more rain arrives, one horse that won’t mind an ease is Zabeel Prince. Roger Varian is another in-form trainer and this horse has plenty of form on soft ground. 4 of his 6 career wins came on soft or good to soft so he clearly enjoys a bit of juice in the ground. He also likes it at Newmarket, as he has form figures of 21 at the track, with the win coming at today’s distance of 9f.
He is also a G1 winner at the distance. Roger Varian’s charge beat a classy sort in Study Of Man in Longchamp in May last year (9f gd/sft). His 5 runs since then have not been of the same standard but his last run at York in a G3 was encouraging. On proper quick ground Benbatl and Kameko would be too classy for this fella. However, the more rain that falls the better his chance will be and if there is soft in the description (currently good, good to soft in places) then Zabeel Prince shouldn’t be too far away if back to his best. At odds of 14/1 he is the each way selection.
