The horse racing broadcaster offers his finest bets for the second day of Dubai Future Champions Weekend at Newmarket.
The spotlight of Dubai Future Champions Weekend is the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes, a race that can seemingly play a serious position in shaping the ante-post pecking order for the 2-year-old colts heading in direction of subsequent 12 months’s 2000 Guineas.
Gstaad was the primary to stake his declare as prime of the tree with a dominant win within the Coventry at Royal Ascot, however he arrives right here off the again of two slim defeats—first to the filly Venetian Solar within the Morny, after which to right now’s rival Zavateri within the Nationwide Stakes. The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Zavateri has been one of many tales of the season, not least due to how constantly underestimated he’s been by the market. Unbeaten in all 4 begins, he has by no means began shorter than 11/2—even on debut at Salisbury.
Zavateri has proven exceptional tenacity in a end, notably at Goodwood when Morris Dancer regarded sure to reel him in, just for Zavateri to visibly dig deep when challenged. He confirmed that very same willpower once more in Eire. Nevertheless, given how intently matched these two have been, it will be a stretch to say both is head and shoulders above the sector. That is perhaps the case, although, for DISTANT STORM 2/1 (15:00 Newmarket).
Distant Storm first caught consideration not only for his debut win on the July Course at Newmarket, however for a way that race unfolded—six horses from that contest went on to win subsequent trip. He was a brief value to observe up at York within the Acomb however pulled far too onerous behind Gewan and Italy, having been requested to take an early place by William Buick. Final trip, ridden with extra restraint, he confirmed a contact of sophistication. His skill to deal with the Dip, mixed with the Buick/Appleby report on the Rowley Mile (134 wins from 400 rides, A/E 1.27), suggests he may stamp his authority forward of a return for the 2000 Guineas in Could.
Buick and Appleby can even staff as much as land the Zetland Stakes with LOOK TO THE STARS 100/30 (13:50 Newmarket). He’s not by one of many ordinary Godolphin stallions and will be the first son of Galiway to race within the blue within the UK. All his runs have screamed stamina — Galiway can also be the sire of Vauban — and this 10f journey must be supreme. He didn’t get off the mark till his third run, however a type of defeats got here towards Dewhurst contender Oxagon at Sandown. He was very robust on the end in each wins since then.
The road between top-level handicappers and lower-level Sample horses has blurred not too long ago. Boiling Level was an instance of this within the Cambridgeshire, and now the identical connections return with LIBERTY LANE 11/2 (13:15 Newmarket), who achieved the same feat. He adopted that with a second within the Darley Stakes and appears to go one higher on this 12 months’s renewal. That day, he was overwhelmed by Lead Artist, who went on to win the Group 1 Lockinge. Liberty Lane is ideally suited to the distinctive straight 9f of Newmarket. The primary concern can be if the bottom is simply too fast, however he’s uncomplicated by way of run model. Damysus nonetheless has inquiries to reply, notably his skill to deal with the Dip after wanting all at sea at Epsom within the Derby.
The massive handicap of the day is the Cesarewitch, although a area of 21 is smaller than ordinary. The Irish have dominated this race lately, and several other acquainted names return, together with The Shunter and final 12 months’s controversial winner Alphonse Le Grande. Nevertheless, one other main Irish contender is REVEREND HUBERT 11/2 (15:40 Newmarket), who ran away with the Trial right here final month. A large-margin prep win isn’t typical of Charles Byrnes, however it regarded like Reverend Hubert wanted a weight hike to safe his place within the area. He’s proven improved kind over hurdles since his earlier Flat efforts and will nonetheless be nicely handled. Beylerbeyi heads the home problem, with current robust finishes suggesting this excessive journey will swimsuit. Ian Williams does nicely in most of these races, however there’s a suspicion Beylerbeyi must be kidded into operating previous softened-up rivals—one thing he might not get away with right here.
Over at York, the Cambridgeshire kind could possibly be key to the 10f handicap, the place ERZINDJAN 5/2 (14:05 York) can acquire compensation for being drawn on the fallacious facet at Newmarket. He was clearly better of these drawn excessive—ending 4½ lengths away from the remainder of the 11 who raced stands facet—however when he broke cowl, these on the far facet had already gone past recall. Erzindjan has accomplished nicely in three runs since becoming a member of T.J. Kent, together with a fourth over course and distance within the John Smith’s Cup. There’s little doubt he’d be shorter out there if educated by a extra high-profile identify, however that may be unfair to a coach with a robust profession report (52 wins from 422 runners, A/E 1.21), who merely lacks the firepower to compete recurrently at this stage.
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