Start of Newmarket´s Cambridgeshire meeting

Today sees the start of the 3 day Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket, and although the best races are run on Friday and Saturday, today´s card is also highly interesting. Main feature is the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes for 2yo´s over 7 furlongs at 16.45 CET. Clive Brittain´s Zaidan (Seb Sanders) is arguably the form choice here, having won at Royal Ascot, but the stable has gone off the boil since and we feel that soft ground will in any case be against him. We are however expecting a roýal result, as the Queen´s Royal Exchange (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) who has won his last 3 races in good style and seems to act on any going is the selection. The Paddyman (William Haggas/ Philip Robinson), 4th in a Group Two last time, looks the main threat. Haggas also has a chance with Harris Tweed (Liam Jones) in the listed race over 1 3/4 mlles for 3yo´s at 16.10 after easily winning a similar race last time at Chester. However here we prefer Ted Spread (Mark Tompkins / Kieren Fallon), who had no chance in the St. Leger, but who will be suited by the soft ground and against this easier opposition.

The listed event over 5 furlongs at 17.20 could go to Tangerine Trees (Bryan Smart/ Tom Eaves) who showed much improved form to win at 33/1 at Beverley last time. Consistent oldtimer Tax Free (David and Adrian Nicholls) was the beaten favourite then and can never be left out of calculations, while Hamish McGonagall (Tim Easterby/ David Allen), twice behind the smart Astrophysical Jet, must also be considered in this grade.

Easterby also has chances of winning the main event at Warwick, a handicap over 1 mile 7 furlongs at 18.05, with Bollin Judith (Derek Nolan), who comes from a family that stay well and like soft going. At Ayr the main event is also a handicap over a long distance at 18.15 and looks to lie between Chilly Filly (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning) and Cosmic Sun (Richard Fahey/ Paul Hanagan), a CD winner last time out. Even if Hanagan wins here, his narrow lead in the jockeys´ championship could well shrink even further today as his main rival Richard Hughes, after a winner (or two?) at Newmarket, travels on to Kempton´s all-weather evening meeting, where he has rides in 7 races and several winning chances.

There is jumping at Ireland at Sligo. Ruby Walsh, back in top form after his long injury layoff, won the last race here yesterday and can repeat the feat on his father´s Mountmassey in the beginners chase at 19.15.