The column found a welcome winner yesterday with Bubbling in the Rockfel Stakes, so let’s hope this starts a train of momentum into Newmarket Cambridgeshire Day.
As of this morning, the ground is currently soft with a going stick reading of 6.3 which is expected.
So, let’s dive in.
1:50 Newmarket – Wimbledon Hawkeye @ 3/1 with William Hill – 1pt Win
As long as he handles the softer conditions, Wimbledon Hawkeye has form in the book that gives him a strong chance here.
Starting with the ground, although he has yet to race on the surface, his dam, Eva Marua, won twice on good to soft ground and once at Newmarket.
His dam is also a half-sister to the Group 1 placed James Garfield who won a Group 3 on good to soft.
His run when second in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes was good as he stayed on through the line over seven furlongs and he showed a similar trait when third in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes two starts ago.
He's exciting!
Sea The Stars colt The Lion In Winter remains unbeaten in the £165,000 @Tattersalls1766 Acomb Stakes for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/4H3kmftV8k
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 21, 2024
The form of the Acomb is working out as the fourth, The Waco Kid, won Thursday’s Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes and the seventh, Jouncy, finished second in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes next time out.
Let’s hope the ground is fine for him (it will quicken up throughout the day) because he’ll have a great chance if so.
2:40 Haydock – Woven @ 16/1 with William Hill (4 places) – 0.5pt EW
Heavy ground is the order of play at Haydock today, something that should work for Woven on his first start for 81 days.
Connections, and punters, know that this horse goes well fresh as he nearly won on seasonal reappearance and his last win came on last year’s seasonal reappearance.
Two runners on Saturday – Woven at @haydockraces and Dakota Gold at @RiponRaces. Thoughts on their prospects in our regular Weekend Preview at https://t.co/HPgsoom2kS pic.twitter.com/hcCcziRlCl
— Michael Dods Racing (@mdodsracing) September 27, 2024
He won off a mark of 83 that day, so today’s rating of 84 is workable and the horse who finished second that day, Aberama Gold, won five races later that season including the Stewards’ Cup.
He’s a typical exposed handicapper who has a rating that he can win off on ground that suits him. He’s the usual type I fall for, but I can’t leave him alone.
3:15 Haydock – Aberama Gold @ 9/2 with BetVictor – 2pt Win
Because Aberama Gold hasn’t won in 11 runs this year, the handicapper has dropped the seven-year-old 15lbs this year.
Despite what it may seem, the gelding by Heeraat has run some nice races in defeat all year without truly getting his preferred conditions.
His losing run includes a third at Newmarket, a sixth in the Listed Hever Sprint Stakes, and a third to the subsequent Ayr Silver Cup winner Alfa Kellenic in the Ayr Gold Cup Trial.
Aberama Gold lands the £250,000 @Coral Stewards' Cup!
He's only been with @omeararacing for less than a month but is now the winner of one of the biggest sprint handicaps of the season.
Big winner for @Atzenijockey too shortly before heading to Hong Kong #QGF @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/vGkD1oEHzP
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 5, 2023
Looking back on last year, he won a five-furlong handicap on heavy ground off 96, the Stewards’ Cup over six furlongs on heavy ground off 95, and the Dash Handicap at York off 88.
Today is an assignment over the minimum distance, which is a trip he has won over before, but he’s also won over six so we know he has stamina to use as well.
3:40 Newmarket – Poniros @ 10/1 with Sky Bet (8 places) – 0.5pt EW
London Gold Cup form in most years is worth plenty, and this year is working out rather nicely.
The winner, King’s Gambit, has a rating of 116 after three good runs in Group company and the fourth, Persica, won last week’s Listed Doonside Cup.
So, it’s worth sticking with Poniros who finished a staying-on second that day at Newbury.
Awesome performance!
King's Gambit sees daylight between Individualism and Chantilly and rockets home for victory in the London Gold Cup! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FZ2cphxdLl
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 18, 2024
The three-year-old by Golden Horn put in two poor performances subsequently, but his effort in the Chapel Down Handicap at Ascot earlier this month was good over 1m4f after a 56-day break.
It’s a big-field handicap today, but a mark of 91 could see him well-treated here.
4:35 Market Rasen – Our Champ @ 7/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win
Not only have the winter illnesses hit early this year, jumps fever is rising at a rapid rate of knots, so I’m going to Market Rasen for one selection today.
Our Champ looked like a high-class animal last year, and good ground allowed him to strut his stuff.
He started last year with a facile win at Plumpton before an equally easy success at Cheltenham off 117 on good ground.
OUR CHAMP bolts up in the Sussex Champion Hurdle at 4/1 to make it two winners and a 14/1 place 😃
Serious performance which marks a good day for Chris Gordon – proper horse on decent ground.
Good day to make up for yesterday.#HorseRacing pic.twitter.com/izGpyMYfjN https://t.co/9V4f5LI5GA
— Ash Symonds Journalism (@ASymondsJourno) March 31, 2024
His next win occurred back at Plumpton in the Sussex Champion Hurdle after a 50-day break where he bolted up before finishing the season with a good third at Cheltenham.
He arguably hit the front too soon at Prestbury Park and paid for that in the final furlong over 2m1f.
He runs well when fresh, as shown by his win on seasonal reappearance and after a break for the Sussex Champion Hurdle, and the good ground at Market Rasen will suit him.
