CELEBRITY HEADING FOR HIGH PLACES

Although Saturday's big race would appear to be the Cambridgeshire, I like too many in that race and as a result could not decide which horse to make the title of the post. This is why I've made the Cheveley Park Stakes my title race and first race previewed. It is a Group 1 race remember, so it is a very good race.

Andre Fabre usually sends decent sorts over the English Channel, especially on Newmarket's Rowley mile course where he has a 67% strike rate (4-6). These victories include two fillies this year, Miss France and Esoterique and it seems as though he may have brought over another smart filly in HIGH CELEBRITY. She's ran three races to date, two wins in her homeland sandwich a second place in the Cherry Hinton stakes, where she was outdone by an awesome ride by Ryan Moore aboard Arabian Queen. Being by Invincible Spirit, the firmer ground should help her out and she is more likely to know her job this time compared to her previous Newmarket race given she has had another run since. Two "F" words together, Fabre and Fillies, should make anybody sit up and take notice, even the leading two year old filly Tiggy Wiggy.

High Celebrity (right)

It could also be worth having a bit on John Gosden's TENDU, who looked a useful filly based on her Kempton win last time out, whether she is quite good enough to win this is another question. Also keep an eye on Terror. She destroyed the opposition on her sole run to date but they were very average and it is hard to assess how much ability she possesses.

Now for the 35 runner (at the time of writing) Cambridgeshire. I've managed to whittle the field down to 4, by mainly looking at those drawn high (past renewals suggest this is where to look and the result of the Silver Cambridgeshire would imply high is where to head). These are headed by John Gosden's CORNROW, who has won all his three races at the mile trip and arguably would have won last time out if he was running at a mile and not seven furlongs. The trainer does well with these inexperienced types in races like this, namely Gm Hopkins in Friday's Silver Cambridgeshire (who had had one race less). EXTREMITY is the next selection, a horse who has been performing very consistently of late and will look to add another big race victory for a trainer and jockey who have really made their marks this season, Hugo Palmer and Andrea Atzeni. QUEENSBERRY RULES regained the winning thread last time out for a trainer in William Haggas who is flying lately and the last of my quarter is GABRIAL'S KAKA, who is another who has been running very solid races lately, Pat Smullen looks an interesting jockey booking.

2:00 Newmarket- Little stat which might be of interest for this fillies' nursery, the last three winners have all had four runs previous to this so, at a price, RUNNER RUNNER may go well at a massive price. Based on form with Ralph Beckett's Lear's Rock, Runner Runner is better handicapped off 79 than Rosalie Bonheur is off 73. Smullen as a booking looks good too. Another horse who looks hugely overpriced is CONJURING. I watched her come third at Wolverhampton on her second run and backed her last time out when she won but it's plain to see that she needs further than the trips she has been running at lately. She gets seven furlongs so, in my opinion, 33/1 is way too big. Little Lady Katie could be the biggest danger.

2:35 Newmarket- Nafaqa clearly sets the standard here but is of no interest to me at the prices whilst Elm Park would appear to want it softer. The rest look much of a muchness in truth at this grade, perhaps MISTERIOSO is a little interesting based on his comfortable win when breaking his maiden tag at the second time of asking plus his connections of Hannon and Hughes.

5:00 Newmarket- HANA LINA is a half sister to the top class Lady Of The Desert so needs to be respected whilst ALJAFER could run a good race too.

6:05 Newmarket- Based on the fact that he is a half brother to the likes of smart stayers Kirkless and Mastery, it is not hard to see why FAMOUS KID put in a career best performance at Kempton over 11 furlongs last time out. The extra furlong along with Richard Hughes being booked today suggest that this horse has a massive chance.

Here's some more flat selections away from Newmarket...

2:25 Haydock- GALILEANO will come on plenty for her debut run. Sampera is a threat but her trainer's fom is a worry.

3:35 Haydock- EXPOSE is in the form of his life and appears to have a good chance of completing the hat trick whilst ZERO MONEY has been running in races a lot tougher than this recently and on his best form is well handicapped (he is three pounds below his last winning mark)

3:05 Chester- This is a very competitive affair with many having chances. It can often pay to latch onto a Mark Johnston horse who have started winning sequences so POTENT EMBRACE is chosen. Franny Norton riding will aid her cause given his experience of the course. Fire Fighting has a similar profile but has to carry a lot more weight than the opposition today. He has a chance but would have to put in a mighty performance to win this. ROSKILLY could also run well at a price, the first time visors are of interest. Latenightrequest is another with a chance, as is Zugzwang.

3:55 Ripon- Spinatrix clearly sets the standard here as she has run very well in Listed races. However, she carries 10 pounds more than her last winning handicap mark so it could be wise to go for CLEAR SPRING, who looks a little overpriced at double figures.


And a few at Market Rasen...

1:45- VOSNE ROMANEE has AP McCoy to aid his cause this time so could overturn the form with Full Day. David Pipe's Unanimite is the threat but the price has gone about him.

2:15- COOL SKY is fancied to follow up on his recent Plumpton win. Discay's jumping may let him down in this sterner contest and the drop in trip may not suit him either.

2:50- HOUSTON DYNIMO should go well for the in form David Pipe stable whilst DRUMLANG should also go well.


Enjoy your Saturday

Happy Punting!