Soft ground for today's excellent Newmarket card with the
big betting race of the day the Cesarewitch he second leg of the autumn double.
Coltrane did us a big favour in the Melrose Handicap at York
when last seen back in August but is 11lbs higher in the weights this
afternoon, is drawn out on the wing in stall 34 and has to prove his stamina
for this extreme extended two-and-a-quarter mile trip.
Willie Mullins has saddled the winner of the race for the
last couple of years and I hope Great White Shark (3.35) can land
the hat-trick. The grey got loose before the race last year under William Buick
and ran as well as could be expected in the circumstances. The 6-y-old is 3lbs
lower this afternoon and I believe the 9/1 available is a fair each way price
with many firms offering six places.
In the opening nursery I think Inveigle (1.15) will
appreciate the step up in distance to 7f for the first time in the colours of
Her Majesty the Queen. The colt had a tall reputation before disappointing on
his racecourse debut at Ascot but is bred to appreciate soft ground and might
be well treated for his handicap debut. He is priced at 8/1 with William Hill
and is another ew recommendation.
Millisle won the Gp 1 Cheveley Park Stakes as a juvenile and
she carries a 5lbs penalty in the listed Boadicea Stakes for her fluent Group 3
success at Naas back in July. She is drawn next to the stands' rail in stall fifteen
and must go close if she is able to put behind a poor run behind Glen Shiel
last time.
At York, Crystal Pegasus (2.35) is unproven on soft
ground and has the worst of the draws in stall 13 but Sir Michael Stoute's progressive
three-year-old may still be well treated from a 4lbs higher mark than when
scoring at Yarmouth last time when he made all. The son of Australia is
unlikely to get to the front from stall 13 but has won from behind and does
have winning form on good to soft ground. Kevin Stott takes over in the saddle
on another each way selection.
The Jam Man (4.55) is 2lbs wrong at the weights in
the 2m handicap but I feel this Irish raider – who carries just 8st 2lbs – can
get his head in front having finished runner up to a well handicapped rival in
Ireland last weekend. Franny Norton takes the ride this afternoon on the
seven-year-old who is a multiple winner in Britain previously over jumps.
I still have nightmares about Imperial Aura getting beat in last
year's Silver Trophy at Chepstow but he went on to become the last winner of
the Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March following the
announcement this week that the race was being replaced by the Mares' Chase in
2021. A poor decision.
Imperial Aura finished third to Flash The Steel 12 months
ago and the latter looks sure to run a big race this afternoon from an 8lbs
higher mark. The ew vote, however, goes to Notre Pari (3.57) who can take
this on his seasonal debut for Olly Murphy in the colours of JP McManus. The
selection will jump a fence sooner rather than later, but he is a horse I have
had on my radar since his win at Aintree back in December.
