NEWMARKET
Race 2 – DUTY OF CARE 16/1
CEMHAAN is rated 9lb higher than when winning this race last year and is of interest after undergoing a wind operation since finishing down the field at Doncaster on his last start, but preference is still for DUTY OF CARE, who has been in fine form on the all-weather.
He ran well when second behind Bandinelli at Kempton last month and he goes off only 1lb higher in a first-time tongue-tie, so he could go close at a price. HALIC, ROBERTO ESCOBARR and FIRSTMAN are others to consider.
Race 3 – RUNNING LION 3/1
This year’s Howden Pretty Polly Stakes can go the way of John and Thady Gosden’s RUNNING LION. A daughter of Roaring Lion, this filly has won three of her four starts to date, with all those victories coming on the all-weather.
However, moving back to turf should not prove an issue as she certainly showed promise when fourth on the the grass on her debut at Newmarket last July, coming from a long way back to be beaten just over two lengths.
Race 4 – WITH THE MOONLIGHT 5/1
Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick should be celebrating after the Howden Dahlia Stakes, as WITH THE MOONLIGHT seemingly holds all the aces.
Winner of the Pretty Polly on this card last year, she has a fitness edge after winning twice in Dubai at the start of the year and not being beaten far in a Keeneland Grade One last month.
Race 5 – MEDITATE 11/2
MEDITATE can avenge her Curragh defeat at the hands of TAHIYRA by reversing that form in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Aidan O’Brien’s charge surrendered her unbeaten record when beaten by Dermot Weld’s filly in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in September, proving no match on the day after racing prominently before just running out of petrol in the closing stages on testing going.
Another defeat followed in the Cheveley Park when the reopposing Lezoo was just too sharp over six furlongs, although O’Brien now believes a 13-day turnaround was a definite factor in that eclipse. She bounced back to her best at the Breeders’ Cup fixture though, winning the Juvenile Fillies Turf with zero fuss, as Ryan Moore bided his time before allowing her to stride on in the straight and win without ever really having to get serious.
That victory over a mile answered any stamina doubts as a daughter of No Nay Never and with Meditate having been effective on all but the deepest of ground, she has plenty of positives in her favour.
SALISBURY
14:40 (Salisbury) Sir Rumi
SECRET SHADOW is an interesting contender for Paul Nicholls in this sphere, but she could find it tough to beat SIR RUMI, who goes off top weight after scoring by a length at Epsom last month and was raised 4lb for that victory. The five-year-old gelding now steps back up in trip and will prove tough to pass for the Richard Hannon yard. It is also worth considering dual course scorer WHIMSY.
HAMILTON
Race 2 – ZIMMERMAN 9/2
SIMMERMAN makes plenty of appeal in this handicap test at Hamilton. Sent off a 16/1 chance on his first run this term, he performed much better than his odds when beaten two lengths into second at Thirsk over 12 furlongs. Stepping back up to a mile and five furlongs here, Zimmerman can defy his career-high mark.
