Neil Morrice brings us his best bets and tips from Newmarket, Cheptstow, York and Chelmsford on Saturday, 9 October 2021.
NEWMARKET
Race 2 Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes (Group 3)
No7 HAFIT
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
A colt with a tall home reputation, HAFIT looked the real deal when scoring on the July course on debut but was then overturned when odds-on for a Listed race at Haydock. He is better than that effort indicates, and can re establish himself at the main expense of barnmate Goldspur.
Race 3 Emirates Autumn Stakes (Group 3)
No3 COROEBUS
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
It should be Godolphin again in this fascinating contest, with COROEBUS a confident choice to get his own career back on track. He trod a similar route to Hafit by smoothly converting on debut on the July course, only to find Royal Patronage a neck too strong in a Group 2 over this course and distance last month. He can put his track knowledge to good use by going one better.
Race 4 DARLEY DEWHURST STAKES (Group 1)
No7 NATIVE TRAIL
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Godolphin could be starting to monopolise this Future Champions card by the time the featured Dewhurst Stakes arrives. The organisation’s only contender NATIVE TRAIL has looked the complete article by landing a fine hat-trick, highlighted by a three and a half lengths demolition of the smart Point Lonsdale in the National Stakes at the Curragh. The son of Oasis Dream revelled in the easy conditions and never more so than at the business end, and with cut in the ground again a factor he will surely prove very hard to beat. Straight Answer and Dubawi Legend are the ones that can follow him home in a race to savour.
Prediction: 1st NATIVE TRAIL, 2nd Straight Andwer, 3rd Dubawi Legend
Race 5 Together For Racing International Cesarewitch Handicap
No15 BUZZ
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The big betting extravaganza of the day can go to dual purpose operator BUZZ, who has been trained specifically with this contest in mind. This is the first time he’s run on the Flat since joining Henderson in early 2020, but some of his efforts over hurdles stamp him as smart, especially when following home Abacadabras in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle. Henderson knows what it takes to win the second leg of the Autumn Double,having taken it out with Landing Light in 2003. Calling The Wind is an interesting candidate following three solid runs on Grade 1 tracks, especially his success in the Goodwood Stakes. Burning Victory is another bang-in-form challenger following successes in France at Lyon and Deauville and will enjoy the conditions, while at longer odds Elysian Flame cannot be left out of calculations.
Prediction: 1st BUZZ, 2nd Calling The Wind, 3rd Burning Victory, 4th Elysian Flame
YORK
Race 2 No10 CANONIZED
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
CANONIZED benefitted from a move up to six furlongs when pipped in the dying stories of a Group 3 at Ayr. She handles cut in the ground and can take out this Listed contest for a trainer who excels with his runners on the Knavesmire.
Race 3 No2 BAY BRIDGE ( Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Upwardly mobile BAY BRIDGE has been sidelined with issues since the spring, but after training enthusiastically will not lack for fitness on this return from a five months absence. The son of French Derby winner New Bay looked a Group horse in the making when hacking up in a Class2 at Newbury, and still has time to endorse that promise.
Race 4 No19 BOARDMAN ( Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Paul Hanagan
BOARDMAN ran better than his placing suggests in the Ayr Gold Cup consolation race won by stablemate Staxton, a run that should have put the edge on him for a return to the good form he produced when completing a hat-trick in the spring.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2 No8 LIANGEL HOPE ( Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Martin Harley
LIANGEL HOPE has the advantage of breaking the rail, and looks in the right spot to open his account following a promising first foray onto the track at Wolverhampton. Only narrowly denied that day, if making normal progression he will prove hard to stop.
Race 5 No4 CRIMSON SAND
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: George Rooke
CRIMSON SAND tries to make this a fourth triumph from just five outings on Polytrack. His recent course and distance second is solid form to bring to the table for a clash with in form foes Great News and Cottam Lane.
Place Accumulater Perm (Races 2-8)
8 x 10, 3, 2 x 1, 14, 12 x 4, 5 x 1, 3 x 9, 2, 3 x 5, 2
R21
