Best bets for the horseracing Friday 29th September 2023

Friday would be considered a very good days horseracing at Newmarket any other time of the year but with the huge races to come this weekend it is more of an amuse-bouche for the days ahead than the main course itself. That said I am getting fully tucked in with seven bets on the card at the first day of the Dubai Future Champions Festival. 

Best bets for the horseracing at Newmarket on the Rowley Mile

Newmarket is where my main focus is on Friday on the Rowley Mile having three Group races and a couple of Listed events on an eight-race card. The first is at 1.50 the mile Listed Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai British EBF Rosemary Stakes. Silver Lady jumped off the page of entries at me with a hood on for the first time. The form of her third in a Listed heat at York last time isn’t exactly red hot but she looked one to follow when winning at Newmarket on debut despite greenness and after just two runs more can be expected. Charlie Appleby said “Silver Lady has done well physically following a break and goes into this in good order. She proved very competitive at this level at York and we are hoping that this can be a springboard onto a winter in Dubai.” I am on at 11-2. Coppice has never quite lived up to expectations and Queen For You manages to get beat too much for my liking from promising positions.

They face for the Group Three Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes at 2.25. Veil Of Shadows is one I have talked of and tipped before but she has got into the habit of finding one too good each time she runs and looks likely to be running for place-money at best. Time Lock is another I have tipped before and she got back to winning ways in France last time and is considered. Sweet Memories has won her two starts at three (just one run in December as a three-year-old) and has clearly been a bit of a slow burn for connections. Their patience can be rewarded here as I fancy her to prove herself the best of the three-year-olds and progress passed the older fillies and mares especially getting the weight. I am on at 3-1.

It’s the first of many potentially informative two-year-old races over the two-days at 3.00 with the 7f Group Two Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes. Ylang Ylang was bitterly disappointing in the G.1 7f Moyglare Stud Stakes last time - I tipped her - a little keen early she went out like a light and was eased late on; she is surely better than that effort. I can forgive her one bad run and I am on at 11-4 as I expect to see a different filly in this. The unbeaten Shuwari is an obvious danger

They race over the mile at 3.35 for the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes. A wide-open looking affair with a pretty exposed bunch all rated within a few pounds of each other you could make a case for all six. Back up to a mile on a course he clearly enjoys, won this race last year and the G.2 bet365 Mile at the start of this season and in fact his only defeat was in the 2,000 Guineas, Mutasaabeq is a tentative pick. He is arguably Group One class on his day and all looks set for a big run. I think he is likely to get an uncontested lead and Jim Crowley can pick his moment to kick him clear in the final furlong all being well. I am on at 7-2. The three-year-old Epictetus is perhaps feared most ahead of the consistent Chindit.

At 4.10 we have the 7f Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai British EBF 'Confined' Maiden Stakes. Charlie Appleby sends Symbol Of Power to make debut and I have backed him at 4-1. A son of Frankel out of the Pivotal Listed winning mare Tulips he is a full-brother to G.1 winner Wild Beauty and half-brother to three other winners.

Broadway Act goes in the 7f Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai British EBF 'Confined' Maiden Stakes at 4.45 for the team at Moulton Paddocks. I tipped this one on debut when second here at HQ on the July Course in August. He was second again, at odds-on, earlier this month over that same track and trip and surely it will be a case of third time lucky. He is by Too Darn Hot, unbeaten champion two-year-old and multiple G.1 winner and out of Dazzling, a Galileo mare who won a Listed heat in her racing career. I have 2-1. 

The Listed 1m4f Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Godolphin Stakes at 4.45 had three entered by Godolphin but New London is the only one to run. Having been second in the St Leger last year he has only been seen twice this season, an encouraging third in a 12f Listed race at Newmarket on his seasonal debut and then a somewhat disappointing fifth in the G.1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin last time. Charlie Appleby said: “It was a slightly disappointing run from New London in Germany but we have travelled with him on a couple of occasions and he doesn’t seem to enjoy it. His work has been great and we are going into this with a lot of confidence that he can get back to winning ways.” I am confident as well and have taken 7-4.

Be lucky