DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY OCTOBER 11
1.50 NEWMARKET
Alan King hasn’t had the Flat season he would have wanted, especially losing his stable star, Trueshan, along the way, but there is a decent chance SPYCE (best price 5-1) can provide the Wroughton handler with a much-needed fillip in this Group 3.
A hugely promising runner-up in the Convivial Maiden at York back in August, the son of Too Darn Hot was fancied to make the expected improvement in a similarly warm heat at Yarmouth last time out and despite being made to dig deep into his resources to claim the prize, he ultimately got the job done.
Impressing with the way he kept on to wear down the well-touted Lightening Thunder close home, he shapes like today’s extra two furlongs will play even more into his strengths and, as a result, he makes plenty of appeal at the morning odds.
SPYCE – 1-point each-way@5-1
3.00 NEWMARKET
A cracking renewal of one of the pivotal two-year-old contests of the season and OXAGON (best price 15-2) rates as the sporting choice to get under the skin of the big three in the market.
Too green to do himself justice on his debut behind today’s favourite, Distant Storm, John & Thady Gosden’s colt was much more clued up at Sandown next time out, making all the running to score in emphatic fashion.
Posting a very fast time for a race of its kind, he was duly well supported to follow up in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last time out but as events panned out, the decision to revert to being ridden just off the speed backfired and he ended up having to play second fiddle to Puerto Rico, who obtained first run.
Since that ill-judged defeat, the winner and third have both score in pattern company since and with data suggesting he hasn’t got too much to find with the main players based on his previous outing at the Esher track, the son of Frankel can work his way into a podium finish at the very least.
OXAGON – 1-point each-way@15-2
3.20 CHEPSTOW
One of the best renewals of this sought-after early season handicap run his recent times and FRENCH SHIP (best price 3-1) looks to have the perfect profile to land this race for a stable that scored with a similar type back in 2021.
One of the key components to finding the winner of the race is previous course form and Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s gelding has two strong performances at the Welsh venue against his name.
Runner-up on his first outing here this time last year, the five-year-old duly went one place better when returning a month later and connections have probably had this race on their mind ever since.
His final two outings in victory and defeat were up against quality opposition and according to quotes from his trainer, he couldn’t arrive here in better form based on his homework.
FRENCH SHIP – 1-point win@3-1
3.40 NEWMARKET
Similar to the Cambridgeshire three weeks ago, a unusually small field heads to post for the last long-distance handicap of the season but it is still competitive enough and it brings together the usual array of National Hunt-based horses and seasoned Flat performers alike.
If selecting one from the former category, siding with one trained by Willie Mullins isn’t a bad strategy and BUNTING (best price 7-1) could well turn out to be the pick of the trio from Closutton.
Similar to same connections’ previous winner, Stratum, the four-year-old has plenty of solid form over hurdles to call on and his latest efforts on the Flat have sparked interesting, also.
In a competitive 1m5f handicap at Leopardstown most recently, he was noted doing some good late work without being given an overly vigorous ride and it was a performance that very much suggested there would be another day for him further down the line.
Trying today’s trip for the first time, there is obviously an element of guesswork attached to his staying beyond two miles for the first time on the Flat but shrewd connections clearly feel as though there could be more to come for this stamina test and the hint is heeded.
Of the rest, MANXMAN (best price 18-1) was just touched off in this race last year and he is worth a small interest to see whether he can go one place better.
Lightly-raced since, Simon & Ed Crisford’s gelding arrives here following an eye-catching effort at Goodwood recently and it also worth pointing out he managed to finish runner-up to subsequent Prix Du Cadran winner, Caballo De Mar (now rated 112), at Southwell back in April along the way.
A copper-bottomed stayer who clearly relishes the requirements for today’s test, he makes plenty of each-way appeal at his morning odds.
BUNTING – ½ point each-way@7-1 (five places)
MANXNAN – ½ point each-way@18-1 (five places)