ITV Racing Tips for Newmarket & Chepstow on Friday 13th October 2023

1:35 Chepstow

The NH is back and the first race on ITV is a decent Veteran’s handicap chase over just shy of 3 miles.

The selection is GOOD BOY BOBBY (7/2) NB. The Twiston-Davies yard have started the season in fine fettle operating at a 39% strike rate in recent weeks and the early market moves for Good Boy Bobby here have to be encouraging that he’s ready to roll. He’s won four times in his career after a break of over 100 days so he obviously goes well fresh. A mark of 132 at this level could seriously underestimate him on a going day and I’d be confident today may well be a going day based on stable form and the horses form when fresh.

 

1:50 Newmarket

The first of four races from Newmarket is the Cornwallis Stakes, a Group 3 race over 5f for 2 year-olds.

It’s INQUISITIVELY (3/1) here for me.  He showed plenty of promise in his first two career starts for Ollie Sangster when finishing second and third in decent races despite being easy to back. He then moved to the De Foy yard and put that experience to good use when booting up at York. He’s all speed and will relish the fast ground here at Newmarket. A lot of his main market rivals would prefer softer ground as well. William Buick takes the ride which is a further positive.

 

2:10 Chepstow 

We head back to Chepstow for the Group 2 Persian War Novices Hurdle over the intermediate 2 and half miles.

I think ROCK HOUSE (9/2) EW is an each-way bet to nothing here. Captain Teague could be anything but odds-on on his hurdles debut at Grade 2 level isn’t for me. Rock House brings a solid level of form to the table and is unexposed himself. He has a fitness edge after marking a winning seasonal reappearance at Worcester bolting up by 13 lengths. That was only a maiden but I think he’s most likely to serve it upto the favourite based on that and he should be filling the places at the very least.

 

2:25 Newmarket

The 2:25 from HQ is the Oh So Sharp Stakes, a Group 3 for the 2 year-old fillies over 7f.

I like CHIC COLUMBINE (7/2) who is improving at a rapid rate this season. She has always been well thought of and her homework must have been good to go off a short priced favourite on her first two racecourse appearances. She ran respectable finishing in the places on both occasions there and managed to get her head in front at the third time of asking. Since then she has managed to win her next three starts making it four on the bounce. She looked good at Doncaster two starts back finishing strongly to reel in the leader there. However, last time out at Goodwood she travelled powerfully and picked up like a really good horse. She’s improving with every run and we may not have got to the bottom of her ability yet. She’s proven on all ground.

 

3:00 Newmarket

The 3:00 is the Challenge Stakes, a Group 2 race over 7f for the elders.

It’s SHOULDVEBEENARING (9/2) I like in this contest. He is coming here off the back of a career best when finishing third at Group 1 level on Arc Day at Longchamp and he looks capable of going close back at Group 2 level. I like the fact he’s ran well over 6f as though could become quite tactical and his speed could be a key asset. He’ll get similar fast ground as last time out and I think he’s been overlooked in the market on the first showing.

 

3:35 Newmarket

The 3.35 on ITV is the competitive Old Rowley Cup Handicap over 1m4f.

It’s HUMANITY (3/1) for me in this. He’s very unexposed coming in here off the back off just 4 career starts but he’s come on for each outing and based on his impressive 6 length victory at Kempton last time out, he’s ready for a race of this nature. He stayed on strongly over the 1m3f trip there last time out so this step up to 1m4f will help bring on even more further improvement in my opinion. There is sure to be more to come and connections will be disappointed if he doesn’t proof to be a lot better than this current mark of 88.

 

4:10 Newmarket

The finale is the feature, the Group 1 Fillies Mile for 2 year-olds.

I like CLASSICAL SONG (7/2) NAP in it. Second on debut at Goodwood, she shown a lot of improvement to beat a solid yardstick in Beautiful Love last time out by 3 lengths at Sandown. That was over 7f and she’ll be even better over the mile judged on that and her breeding. Shy wait and Ylang Ylang were beaten by Carla’s Way last time out and I’d be disappointed if Classical Song isn’t a better filly than her. Beckett is having a career season and he knows how to get the best out of his fillies. It has to be eye-catching to see him pitch Classical Song into Group 1 level already. She could be really good.

 

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