TV race guide by Greg Wood
In the absence of the Ayr Gold and Silver Cups, punters are likely to home in on the valuable 10-furlong handicap at Newbury and as a betting heat, it does not disappoint.
Fidaawy, a winner at the Ebor meeting, is the probable favourite but he will need to improve starting from a double-figure stall. Brorocco is weighted to win if he gets some luck in running and Banksea will also be popular at the scene of his win in the Spring Cup, but marginal preference at the prices is for Erik The Red (3.25).
Kevin Ryan’s runner is 5lb better off with Fidaawy for a three-and-a-quarter length beating at York, where the race did not unfold ideally for a hold-up horse. A strong pace seems likely, and while Erik The Red may need some luck in running, at around 14-1 it is a chance worth taking.
Newmarket 2.00 Crowned Eagle lined up for the Derby two runs ago and must go well as he drops in class here, but he has not shown much so far this year and The Statesman, who improved to win at Sandown last time, is a decent price to maintain his winning form.
Newbury 2.15 Dylan Mouth put up one of the handicap performances of the season when successful under top weight in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock in July and has the beating of subsequent winner Fabricate on that form. Desert Encounter drops from Group One class, but at the odds available, the Marco Botti-trained runner gets the nod in his last race before entering quarantine for the Melbourne Cup.
Newmarket 2.35 Star Rock has not seen a track since winning her maiden at Newmarket in May, but the runner-up there has gone on to win a Group Three race and the fourth home was a winner next time too. An opening mark of 80 looks very fair.
Newbury 2.50 Invincible Army has a string of excellent efforts in Group company to his name and James Tate may have found the ideal race for him here. Enjazaat won well last time but still has something to find with the favourite, while other rivals are held via Invincible Army’s second in the Gimcrack Stakes at York.
Newmarket 3.10 Hawkerland sank without trace on the desperate ground at Glorious Goodwood last time out but had previously been progressing well over staying trips and his earlier win at Chepstow is the pick of the form on offer here. Coeur De Lion, prominent in the Cesarewitch betting, is just one of several obvious threats.
Newbury 4.00 A huge field for this Group Three sprint and a wealth of possibilities, but a low draw could be helpful and the speedy Cotai Glory, third home in the Nunthorpe Stakes, is in stall one. His form did not travel to Ireland last time, but at his best, he has an obvious chance.
Greg Wood’s tips
Catterick
2.25 Three Saints Bay 3.00 El Chapo 3.35 Undercover Brother 4.10 Brandon Castle 4.45 Sellingallthetime 5.20 Ambrosia 5.55 Bold Spirit 6.25 Donnelly’s Rainbow
Newbury
1.15 Gronkowski 1.45 Emaraaty 2.15 Dylan Mouth 2.50 Invincible Army 3.25 Erik The Red (nap) 4.00 Cotai Glory (nb) 4.35 Weekender 5.05 Killay
Newmarket
1.25 Sheikha Reika 2.00 The Statesman 2.35 Star Rock 3.10 Hawkerland 3.45 Mystic Meg 4.20 Noble Star 4.55 Glenamoy Lad 5.30 Panova
Wolverhampton
5.40 David’s Beauty 6.10 Newstead Abbey 6.40 Whitecrest 7.10 Our Man In Havana 7.40 Kind Act 8.10 Noble Behest 8.40 Almutamarred 9.10 Mishari
