STAR PREVIEW Sat: Newmarket

Dubai Future Champions Festival Day 2 – Featuring the Cesarewitch and Dewhurst Stakes from Newmarket:
Live on ITV 1HD and ITV Hub from 1:25pm and Racing TV from 12:45pm

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As expected, the first of the two fixtures that make up Future Champions Day provided us with thrilling action, although we were unfortunately on the wrong side of two tight finishes as Indigo Girl was just beaten by Pretty Gorgeous, whilst Louganini found Kingrbook just too strong in the Old Rowley Cup.

The Fillies Mile had the look of a strong renewal on paper, and both Pretty Gorgeous and Indigo Girl (who has a slow start) have obviously bright futures based on this, having proven themselves on varying types of ground. The time analysis should help us give further context as to what both achieved, but at the least they appear to be likely Guineas contenders who should get further with ease.

Louganini has a big future in handicaps at 12 furlongs, with cut ideal but presumably not essential – perhaps the November Handicap could work out for him. It goes without saying that Oh So Sharp winner Saffron Beach is a horse we’ll be hearing a great deal more of in the future judged by the way she went 2-2 there.

Over at Chepstow, Mcfabulous was suitably impressive in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle and should progress rapidly; He gave 3lbs and a good three length beating to Courtandbould with little fuss and he’s an exciting addition to an interesting staying hurdle division, even if his future may lie over fences.

The opening maiden hurdle was taken in fine style by Thyme White, who looked much better for a summer away after travelling powerfully through the contest and proving to be much the best up the hill, and he could be one to follow early through the season. A shout out too for Present Man, who was the receipt of a brilliant Bryony Frost ride in the veterans Chase.

Jumping fans have plenty to look forward to today, including an excellent Listed Novices’ Chase (3.22) and a competitive renewal of the Silver Trophy (3.22) but preference for selections is at Newmarket, given that these are very early days for the jumpers and there’s more to be learned by watching for now.

The race of the day is undoubtedly the Dewhurst Stakes (2.55), a contest which is sure to crown the champion juvenile. There are 14 contenders, with only Devious Company and Tactical really exposed as juveniles, and the majority of the field need to be taken very seriously.

It could be important that few of the contenders have notable form on soft ground – there was plenty of cut in ground described as soft yesterday and rain is set to hit the course from 2pm tomorrow too. That could have an effect on the race with most of these colts having shown their best on good so far, and one to benefit could well be Cadillac.

He was turned over by the rank outsider Mac Swiney in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on soft ground, but the ground here may well ride better than it did at the Curragh that day, and it’s entirely possible that he found a much more experienced colt too streetwise on his first real battle on his second start. He was an impressive winner of the KPMG Juvenile Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend, looking very bit like a potential Group 1 horse, and whilst some might be against the drop back in distance (he did much of his best work in the final furlongs) he was a nine length winner on debut over 7 furlongs on good ground, and he may handle the conditions better than most too. All told, 8/1 is more than tempting enough to chance him doing so.

Of the two favourites Thunder Moon, who was so impressive when flying past Wembley and St Mark’s Basilica when he got a run in the National Stakes, is the clear pick for all that Chindit, a game winner of the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last time when beating the reopposing Albasheer by a length, is respected.

Wembley has won on soft to heavy ground so will be advantaged by any rain and was a creditable second in the National Stakes, so has to be considered a big threat, especially if the ground rides softer. Etonian was a super smooth winner of the Solario Stakes and probably needs more respect in the market, whilst Mill Reef 1-2 Alkumait and Fivethousandtoone aren’t without their chances too. St Mark’s Basilca, third in the National Stakes, is another soft ground winner whilst it’s fascinating that Poetic Flare, who took one of the earliest maidens of the season on soft/heavy ground (and an excellent race at that) runs for Jim Bolger, who has a line on the best of the Irish juvenile form.

There are no shrewdie prices to be won by putting up Not So Sleepy for the Cesarewitch (3.35), but there’s very little not to like about the eight-year old’s chances. Sent for home too soon when fourth last year off a 4lb lower market, he then made amends over hurdles twice at Ascot, the latter of those victories coming with a romp in the Betfair Exchange Hurdle.

The Betfair Trophy and the Champion Hurdle didn’t work out for him, but he was an impressive winner of a warm-up at Pontefract and assuming he races with a little more restraint this time around, will have every chance.

The second choice is also from the top of the market. Mondain’s only run on soft ground was a ten length second to Believe In Love on the July Course, but he bumped into a literal group horse in a handicap that day (Believe In Love since third to Group 1 runner up Pista) and was seven lengths clear of the 94 rated Entangling in third, who would then go onto be a close fourth in a decent Ascot handicap next time. Last time out at Ayr, he hammered the veteran Fun Mac (who was well handicapped on previous best form) and if he handles the big field test, he can go well.

Last but not least, take a bash at a really big price with Author’s Dream. His debut was his sole race on soft so we’re taking a chance here, but he really appreciated going past 2m for the first time at Glorious Goodwood when mixing it some fine names and only losing out on a place in the last 100 yards, and he took full advantage of having the run of the race at Lingfield last time. This won’t be the case, but he beat Fun Mac nearly as easily as Mondain did on good to soft ground and now has Megan Nicholls taking off 3lbs to give him a lightweight of 8-4. He should have plenty of pace to track and could be unexposed racing over 2 miles plus; At 50’s he’s worth chancing.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK Cadillac 1 pt win in 2.55 Newmarket at 8/1 with
BACK Not So Sleepy 1 pt win in 3.35 Newmarket at 7/1 with
BACK Mondain 1 pt win in 3.35 Newmarket at 10/1 with
BACK Author’s Dream 1 pt win in 3.35 Newmarket at 50/1 with

PROFIT/LOSS SINCE JAN 1 2017: PROFIT 138.84 points
(Excluding Cheltenham 2021 antepost, Six Nations Outright, Six Nations Specials, Premier League 2020/21 Ante Post)

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