1:15 Newmarket
First up at 1:15 is the Group 3 Too Darn Hot Darley Stakes over 1m1f.
The one for me is DAMYSUS (7/4). Easily the most unexposed in the line-up, I think he can continue on an upward curve and improve past his rivals here. The son of Frankel was a decent winner on debut, and he followed that up with an eye-catching effort when finishing second in the Dante Stakes at York. Things didn’t go to plan in the Derby, and that run is best excused. Freshened up since, he returned to action with a win at listed level over in France and he can follow up again here.
1:30 York
We have three live races from York. The 1:30 is the Rockingham Stakes, a listed contest for 2 year-olds over 6 furlongs.
It’s FLYING COMET (7/1) EW I like in here. An experienced sort who brings a decent level of form to the table for this type of race. A winner on two of his five starts to date, it was his third placed effort last time out in the Mill Reef which is the best piece of form on offer. He might not be the flashiest but if he can runs to a similar level to what he ran last time, that will be enough to hit the frame here at the very least.
1:50 Newmarket
Next up is the Zetland Stakes, a Group 3 contest for 2 year-olds over 1m2f.
The one I like is ALLEGRESSE (9/1) EW for the red-hot duo of Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding. In typical Balding fashion, he came forward from a promising debut effort when second to win at Kempton on his second start over the mile. He then went back to Kempton again on his third and last start and made all under a forceful ride from the front. He looks all stamina, and this step up to 1m2f will bring out more improvement. I’d expect Murphy to go to the front again, and he’s very good at getting the speed right. Allegresse looks sure to make a bold bid here.
2:05 York
It’s back to York for a tricky handicap over the extended 1m2f trip.
I think compensation awaits ERZINDJAN (10/3) here. He was definitely the horse to take out of the Cambridgeshire last week. Drawn on the wrong side, he easily won his group and was absolutely flying home at the death to finish a never-nearer 4th. This race today looks significantly weaker, and you’d be disappointed if he’s not winning this if he gets a decent pace to aim at again.
2:25 Newmarket
The 2:25 from Newmarket is the Group 3 Autumn Stakes. Again, a race for 2-year-olds but this time over the mile.
The one for me is STRAIGHT UP (10/3) NB. A really impressive winner on debut for Aiden O’Brien over at Listowel, travelling strongly before showing a decent turn of foot to win going away. We know the yards operation can come forward a chunk for their debut efforts, and this son of Wootton Bassett can do just that. He’s an exciting sort who certainly looks up to this level.
3:00 Newmarket
The feature Group 1 comes up at 3:00, the Dewhurst Stakes. A 2 year-old contest over 7f.
The one for me is ZAVATERI (4/1) NAP who comes here having done nothing wrong and improving all the time. He’s gone from strength to strength in winning all four of his starts this season. A winner at Group 2 level here at Newmarket was followed with another Group 2 victory at the Glorious Goodwood meeting, where he did very well to win. His Group 1 breakthrough came last time out over in Ireland against Gstaad and I think he can confirm that form over this 7f trip back on home soil.
3:15 York
The 3:15 from York is a competitive sprint handicap over 6f.
It’s BINHAREER (6/1) I have landed on. I don’t think we’ve got to the bottom of this horse yet and I think he has plenty of scope off his current mark. He was last seen finishing a staying on sixth in the Ayr Silver Cup last time out, which was a fine effort given he was slowly away there. He can’t afford to do that here at York, but it’s a track Haggas thrives a,t and Binhareer looks to have a decent draw in stall 6 based on what we’ve seen here at York over sprint trips. He’ll be staying on strongly, and hopefully, Marquand can weave his way through the pack in time for us.
3:40 Newmarket
We close the ITV coverage with the always competitive Cesarewitch Handicap over the marathon 2m2f distance.
The one for me is REVEREND HUBERT (7/1). This Charles Byrnes horse looks thrown in to me. A solid operator over hurdles, he ran a career best here at Newmarket three weeks ago when bolting up over this course and distance. I don’t think a 4lb penalty will be enough to stop him if he returns in similar form. De Sousa is a positive jockey booking and he’ll do for me off 8’3 here.
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