If it is quality you are after then look no further than Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire meeting and the first day of the three-day fixture features an eight-race card on Thursday. The Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes (2.45) headlines a competitive afternoon of action.
Watch all the action from Newmarket (1.00-5.05pm) via live streaming when logged into MansionBet, along with every race from the UK and Ireland.
Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway previews Thursday’s action at Newmarket exclusively for MansionBet.
1.00 – British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes
Dawn Of Liberation and Adjourn have the best form on offer, but they don’t set a fearsome standard for a Newmarket maiden and this might go to one of the newcomers.
Preference is for the Charlie Appleby-trained Symbol Of Light, who comes from a good family and represents a stable that has a 31 per cent strike-rate with juveniles here in the last five years.
Selection: Symbol Of Light @ 4/1
1.35 – Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Nursery Handicap
This will go to Noisy Night if he can reproduce his all-weather form on turf and it’s worth taking a chance that he can.
The lightly=raced son of course winner Night Of Thunder is related to plenty of turf performers and has looked a Group horse in the making at Kempton recently, winning his last three on the spin over 6f-7f.
The step up to a mile looks sure to suit and he has been underestimated by the handicapper after just a 5lb rise for his latest victory.
Selection: Noisy Night @ 10/3
2.10 – British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap
Gale Force Maya was second to Chil Chil in this race two years ago after being sent off favourite and is fancied to go one better this season.
The Michael Dods-trained mare had one of her main dangers, Zim Baby, well held in third when winning at Pontefract last week and will be better off with that rival at the weights when taking into account rider Adam Farragher’s 5lb claim.
Gale Force Maya has some solid course form and is fancied for a quick follow-up.
Selection: Gale Force Maya @ 4/1
2.45 – Tattersalls Stakes
Trident recorded a Racing Post Rating of 111 when second in the Prix Morny at Deauville last time and that rating would have been good enough to have won all bar two of the last ten runnings of this race.
He will be hard to beat, but the market hasn’t missed him and it might be worth looking elsewhere.
The value lies with Ribhi, who recorded a good time when winning at Salisbury on his debut and didn’t get a run when beaten at Doncaster last time. He is better than he was able to show that day and might improve for a mile on softer ground.
Selection: Ribhi @ 11/2
3.25 – Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes
This is a tightly-knit Listed race and Morando or Nayef Road could easily prove a class apart if they turn up at their best.
Neither has done so for a while, though, so it might pay to stick with Max Vega, who was fifth in the Ebor at York last time behind subsequent Irish St Leger winner Sonnyboyliston and easy Salisbury scorer Quickthorn.
That form looks strong in the context of this race and Max Vega might have troubled the front two had he got a clearer run.
Selection: Max Vega @ 11/4
3.55 – Discover Newmarket Handicap
This is a tough call between the form horse Lostwithiel and the improving Boltaway. Maybe a 76-day break since his last run will help Lostwithiel rediscover his best form.
The George Boughey-trained four-year-old has won first time out in both seasons and evidently goes well fresh.
His highest Racing Post Rating of 103 was achieved at this course on soft ground in May and a reproduction of that form under similar conditions will make him the one to beat.
Selection: Lostwithiel @ 7/2
4.30 – Come And Discover Newmarket Handicap
There are quite a few promising three-year-olds in this line up but they will need to be well ahead of their marks to contend with Gin Palace if he turns up on his best form.
The five-year-old has lost his way recently but is now 9lb lower than when a good second at Newbury in June and his last victory came over course and distance off an 11lb higher mark.
He seems to handle any ground and trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has her string in top form.
Selection: Gin Palace @ 18/1
5.05 – Newmarket Challenge Whip Handicap
This is a tough race. The consistent Bashful looks sure to run well again, but he probably needs to improve 5lb to get his head in front and it’s hard to see where that progress comes from.
Maybe it’s worth taking a chance on War Leader reproducing his all-weather form on turf instead.
He was impressive when winning at Chelmsford in June and will be hard to beat if he can repeat that effort on grass. He is a winner on the surface, so that gives hope he can.
Selection: War Leader @ 8/1
*All odds correct at time of writing