Day two of Newmarket’s July meeting and in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes I hope to see Dandella (2.25) extend her unbeaten record to three having won at Newcastle on debut before running away with the Albany at Royal Ascot.
The form of that 6L success has already been given a boost with the third filly home – Mother Earth – winning a Group 3 at Navan by four lengths. Time Scale is the obvious danger having taken a listed race on the Rowley Mile last time, but the Karl Burke-trained Dandella gets the vote and can justify 6/4 favouritism at Boylesports. The filly coped admirably with good to soft ground at the Royal meeting but conditions are likely to be much softer this afternoon.
Hughie Morrison sees fit to put blinkers on Kipps (3.35) in the valuable 3-y-old handicap over 10f and Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle for the first time. I am convinced this is the right distance for the grey who finished second in the King George V Stakes over an additional quarter-mile last time. The selection has now finished second in both starts so far this term and is 5lbs higher in the weights than for his Ascot run. Regular jockey David Probert can count himself unfortunate not to keep the ride although he does have seven mounts at Bath this evening. The ew recommendation is 9/2 with William Hill who are betting four places (1/5th odds).
Sam Cooke (3.00) has not seen the track since winning a 12f handicap at Chester last May on soft ground from a 7lbs lower mark. The 4-year-old has not been out of the first two in his four career starts and is open to further improvement. The prospect of soft ground holds no terrors and he is closely related to a winner at this trip. Ralph Beckett has his string in good form and the each way recommendation – 8/1 with Unibet 5 places – clearly goes well fresh.
The feature race is the Falmouth Stakes and I feel One Master (4.10) can go one better than last year when she finished a neck behind Veracious in the corresponding race. The mare was never a factor in the Diamond Jubilee on her reappearance but the return to a mile on good to soft ground should see her in a better light with that run under her belt. Terebellum sets the standard on her second in the Queen Anne but I hope to see Pierre-Charles Boudot swoop fast and late. The selection is 9/2 with bet365.
Harry Fry had a winner from his new base in Dorset at Stratford midweek and the hope is that the ground is no worse than good to soft at Market Rasen today for the Summer Plate where he saddles three of the 17 runners including Bags Groove (2.40) who gets the each way vote.
The selection, who likes to race prominently, returns from a 463-day absence, and has had his wind operated on since his last start. The son of Oscar seems to have been around for a long time but is still only nine and has gone very well fresh in the past. There are several potential front-runners in the race which tempers confidence as does the prospect of soft ground, but a flat right-handed track and good to soft ground would be ideal. The selection is 13/2 with William Hill who are betting each way five places.
Competition (7.35) was a fluent winner at Bath last week over 12f and a 4lbs penalty and slight drop in trip should not prevent him following up with Tom Marquand keeping the ride for Dr Richard Newland. Marquand was also in the saddle when Magic Shuffle scored over this evening’s C&D last week and his 5lbs penalty is negated by the claim of talented apprentice William Carver. I would imagine Marquand had the choice of mounts and I hope he has chosen correctly.
