Future Champions Day at Newmarket

Newmarket has missed most of the rain that has fallen in many parts of the U.K. this week, and the going is good to soft and should be perfect for everyone. Today is the grandly-named Future Champions day, which refers to the fact that there are no fewer than four group races for 2yo´s on the card, partly as a result of the swap of fixtures with Ascot´s British Champions day next Saturday, but seems rather an overkill to us.

Main event is the Group One Dewhurst Stakes over 7 furlongs at 15.55 CET, traditionally the top juvenile event of the year, but certainly devalued by the other races on the card. Jim Bolger has won this 4 times in the last 6 years and saddles two runners, with stable jockey Kevin Manning on the unbeaten Dawn Approach. He is rated the best 2yo in Europe by some margin and if he runs to his rating should win easily. Even if he fails, the race should still go to Ireland via one of Aidan O´Brien´s two runners, George Vancouver (Joseph) and The Ferryman (Ryan Moore), while Ashdan (John Gosden/ William Buick), also unbeaten, is by far the better of the two British runners.

The Middle Park Stakes at 15.20 is another Group One for 2yo´s over a slightly shorter trip- 6 furlongs - and it seems absurd to run them both on the same day. Once again there is a strong Irish challenge, with Aidan O´Brien saddling 3 of the 10 runners; Joseph cannot do the weight, so Ryan Moore is presumably on the main hope Cristoforo Colombo, who fell in a Curragh Group One last time. However we expect a British winner here, and it will either be Moohaajim (Marco Botti/ Adam Kirby) or the unbeaten Reckless Abandon (Clive Cox/ Gerald Mossé). Reckless Abandon won the Prix Morny last time, with Moohaajim only fifth, but the latter was so impressive when afterwards winning at Newbury that he can reverse the form this time around.

The Group Two Rockfel Stakes for 2yo fillies over 7 furlongs at 17.05 looks trickier, but Scintillula (Bolger/ Manning), although still a maiden, created such a strong impression when runner-up at the Curragh last time that she is the selection. Gift from Heaven (David Wachman/ Wayne Lordan), another Irish filly, could be the main danger, while if we get a really huge price we shall have a tiny each-way bet on Clive Brittain´ s Masarah (Tom Queally).

The final group race for 2yo´s is the Autumn Stakes over a mile at 17.40, and once again Bolger and his son-in-law Manning have a good chance with Trading Leather. There are 6 undefeated colts running here, so it is difficult to decide which is the main danger, but fellow Irish raiders Eye of the Storm (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien) and Galileo Rock (Wachman/ Lordan) must be considered, while Montiridge (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) looks the best of the Brits.

In any case, the Hannon/ Hughes team can take the opening Challenge Stakes over 7 furlongs at 14.50 with Libranno, who has to give away weight all round but still looks the best horse at the weights, while Sir Henry Cecil and Tom Queally can take the concluding Group Three Derby Stakes over 9 furlongs with Stipulate.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Libranno - Scarf - Pearl Mix
2. Race: Reckless Abandon - Moohaajim - Cristoforo Colombo
3. Race: Dawn Approach - Ashdan - George Vancouver
4. Race: Countrywide Flame - Montaser - Hurricane Higgins
5. Race: Scintillula - Just The Judge - Gift From Heaven
6. Race: Trading Leather - Galileo Rock - Montiridge
7. Race: Stipulate - Producer - French Navy