Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with seven to follow on Saturday at Newmarket, Market Rasen and Wolverhampton. View selections below
The first leg of the autumn double the Cambridgeshire is the big betting race of the day and we are paying ¼ odds first five at BetVictor on the annual 35-runner cavalry charge down the Rowley Mile Newmarket.
John Gosden has an excellent record in the race and he saddles two unexposed types in 3-y-old Maverick Wave and the year older Cornrow who looks sure to appreciate the step back up in trip having run a cracker over 7f in a valuable Ascot handicap last time giving the distinct impression he needed a stiffer test. He is 6/1 favourite at BetVictor but do note we have had winning favourites of the race in the last decade at 8/1 and two at 5/1 so it is not a bad race for market leaders.
Cornrow is much respected but Jeremy Noseda has his string in cracking form and at a bigger price Yeager (3.50) could be worth an interest at 40/1. The horse has disappointed in two runs on turf this season but he caused a 20/1 shock in a mile handicap at Ascot last July under Jimmy Quinn and he is taken to reward each way support.
The Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes can go the way of Nafaqa (2.35) whose defeat of Toocoolforschool at Doncaster last time was given a boost when the runner up bolted up in the Mill Reef last weekend, albeit on soft ground. I was very taken with the win of Lord Ben Stack at Haydock last time but the runner up only scrambled home at Goodwood midweek and this might be a step too far at this time. That said he is certainly one to consider for middle distances next season.
Tiggy Wiggy (Evens) is a short price for the Group One Cheveley Park having won the Lowther at York last time but I’m not convinced this stiffer track will suit and Gallic raider High Celebrity (3.10) gets the vote for Andre Fabre. The selection was beaten on soft ground at the July course earlier in the year over the minimum trip but she looked a potential superstar on debut (7f) at Chantilly and the only thing that might beat her here is the trip. Tiggy Wiggy is sure to bowl along and is very fast but if the selection is within a length of her with half a furlong to go she might just run her down. High Celebrity is 9/2 with BetVictor and I would be very disappointed if she weren’t in the first three.
At Wolverhampton this evening Alba Verde (7.30) really should follow up her recent Lingfield success from an 11lb higher mark such was the ease of that success for Sir Mark Prescott. Edge Of Heaven (8.00) looks ready for a step up to a mile on her handicap debut having shown promise in all three starts including when runner up over 7f here on her penultimate start.
There is an excellent jumps card from Market Rasen and in the listed hurdle a chance is taken on Odin (2.15) near the foot of the weights for Don Cantillon; the selection is sure to be a big price but as long as he gets a decent pace to chase he can reward each way support with Sean Bowen taking off a valuable 7lbs.
The Listed Handicap Chase over 2m 6f is, arguably, on the sharp side for Pantxoa (2.50) but Richard Johnson is likely to force the issue on Alan King’s charge who made a desperate mistake at half way when runner up off this mark here earlier in the summer. Fox Appeal must go right-handed and will go well despite top-weight but he looks high enough in the weights at present and a bigger danger might come from David Pipe’s Houston Dynimo who is blinkered for the first time having finished runner up in his last couple of starts.
For all your racing odds this weekend check out BetVictor.com – new customers can claim £50 in free bets
Be lucky
Charlie
Compare all horse racing odds and keep up to date with our results service.
