The Cambridgeshire meeting begins on Thursday, two days in advance of the big race itself. Beginning the search for winners early, here are Matty Sutcliffe’s best bets for Thursday on the Rowley Mile.
Published: 11.45am, Wednesday, September 25th (Odds correct at time of writing)
2:10 Newmarket – Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Nursery Handicap (Class 4) (2yo 0-78) – Gap Year 9/2 1pt WIN
Connections of Olympus Point won this last season and this half brother to Blue Point could easily prove better than 78 in time and has to be considered with Buick aboard for the first time, but he’s been headed in all three of his runs this season and we might not see the best of him until he’s mentally matured next season.
GAP YEAR has been contesting some hot maidens this season, including when beat a length on debut in a 22K contest at Windsor when faring best of those racing in rear, finishing a length ahead of the now 98 rated Brian. The drop back to 5F didn’t look an obvious move at Bath next time out when splitting subsequent winners, shaping as if he needs much further to be winning. Better could have been expected when 15/8F for a 15K Epsom maiden, but he was ahead of a subsequent winner there and the eventual winner was evidently a class apart having bolted up next time out now rated 96. The four length gap there suggests this opening mark of 72 is more than workable, and he shaped as if this mile trip will suit when faring best of those in midfield over a mile at Windsor.
The son of Elzaam didn’t look all that in love with the sharp track there having been outpaced early on, and given he finished a length behind the 87 rated Calyxoh, again this opening mark looks fair for all that ones rating may be inflated. This wide galloping track looks to suit, and given he has somewhat of a high knee action then this forecast softer going (dam handled soft) will also play into his favour for a yard who are among the winners of late.
2:45 Newmarket – British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105) – Executive Decision 5/1 1pt WIN
With pace guaranteed from front runners Sophia’s Starlight and Geologist, along with Kinta, Pinafore and Dance And Romance who’ve also been prominent of late, this looks like the time to catch the keen going EXECUTIVE DECISION who needs a strong clip to be seen to best effect.
The daughter of Ardad is 3lbs below her last winning mark which came in a racing league contest last August, and has shaped the last twice as imminently returning to the winners enclosure. She was dropped two pounds for a four lengths defeat at Ascot last time out when unsuited by coming down the far-side without cover, but that race has worked out well given the winner is now rated 17lbs higher having won cosily next time out at the Shergar Cup, the second is now 4lbs higher having just been touched off in the International Stakes before taking an Ascot handicap off 93 last time out, and the 5th and 6th have both won since.
Executive Decision was far from disgraced in this 0-105 company on her penultimate effort when beaten two lengths in the JRA Tokyo Trophy at Epsom, faring best of those to come from midfield in a competitive event. Both of those efforts would stand her in good stead here, and dropping back into fillies company is a positive angle given she’s 2-2 when racing against her own sex. She placed on heavy ground as a two year old and all three of her wins have come with soft in the description so there’s not ground fears, and she should put up a bold bid provided she grabs plenty of cover early on.
3:20 Newmarket – Tattersalls Stakes (Registered As The Somerville Tattersall Stakes) (Group 3) (Colts And Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo) Diego Ventura 7/1 1pt WIN
Monumental looks well worth taking on here as the Champagne Stakes feel a part with the favourite breaking out of the stalls and the other evidently not giving his running, and I’d say his mark of 109 is highly inflated particularly given his stablemate show was two lengths behind had only ran to an RPR of 76 when second at Newbury on debut behind one beaten 29L next time out when 28/1 for a Listed contest.
Symbol of Honour and The Waco Kid are closely matched on the Flying Scotsman form, but they’re more exposed than DIEGO VENTURA, who overcame serious adversity last time out to take a strong looking Ascot Novice earlier this month.
Prior to that, the son of Mehmas landed a Naas maiden at 33/1 despite looking far from a furnished sort, getting up well on the line to lower the colours of the 6/5F Magnum Force who’s now rated 104 having been beaten a length in the G2 Flying Childers Stakes. He switched hands from Cromwell to Al Jehani and Wathan Racing, and backed up that promise at Ascot. He broke slowly from stall two and was bumped early on by a host of green horses, and had to suffer in rear while the plan would likely have been to go forward.
He travelled well enough into the race though still looked green when popped the question, but he showed battling qualities when angled out wide for a run and getting up from a supposedly nice Eve Houghton 2yo, who improved on RPR’s when third in a Newbury maiden last week. Diego Ventura gave 10lbs to the second there in soft ground which was undoubtedly a smart performance, and with any natural progression this promising unbeaten sort can prove a solid contender in here despite having something to find on ratings.
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