1.10 - Mansionbet Best Odds Guaranteed EBF Maiden Stakes (1m)
Dukedom has been beaten as odds-on favourite in two starts in 7f Sandown maidens, finishing second and the fourth back in July. He's back after a short lay-off now and still retains potential for better in the Royal silks for the Gosdens.
Wolsey also took second prize this month on debut at the Esher venue (soft ground), travelling well before having no answer to a smart-looking newcomer in Godolphin blue. Andrew Balding's son of Kitten's Joy should harbour claims of going one better.
Eyes are drawn however towards AL NAFIR for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. The Dubawi colt is a brother to the mighty Ghaiyyath and cost a cool ?1,200,000 at the sales. He's bred to be smart and his trainer has his team in superb order, entering this mammoth weekend with a 27 per-cent strike-rate from his last 30 runners.
Selection: Al Nafir
Next Best: Wolsey
1.45 - British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap (1m2f)
It's hard to knock the claims of Achelois for Andrew Balding and William Buick. She's won three of her last five starts, and ran a cracker at York (1m2½f, good to firm) last month in a Class 2 contest off just 1lb lower. A return to this slower surface looks favourable and she's amongst the leading form contenders.
Oisin Murphy is claimed here to partner SWOON in the Qatar Racing colours for Sir Michael Stoute and he could be on a good one. The Frankel filly has won both starts since her Chelmsford debut in June (easy to back at 18/1 that day, well found since).
She scored over 1m4f at Wolverhampton in late July and has since dominated from the front when an eased-down Carlisle (1m1f, good) scorer in August.
This move into handicaps will demand more, but there's plenty to like and she may prove equal to the challenge.
Kingman filly Ms Gandhi for Roger Varian and the Ralph Beckett-trained State Occasion are very solid performers and merit consideration again. The former is proven at this trip, though Rob Hornby's mount has hinted in recent starts at Lingfield and Ascot she's ready to have her metal tested over further.
Selection: Swoon
Next Best: Ms Gandhi
2.20 - 150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes (6f)
Despite the fact he's conceding weight to the field, the 104-rated Fearby has to be given an outstanding chance of getting back to winning ways here for Ed Bethell.
He was a very impressive 5f Listed scorer at Sandown in July on soft ground and has held his own since in trio of Group-race appearances - twice finishing in the money. He's at home over 5f/6f and sets the bar for this Sales contest. In a field of 30 over a sprint trip, there's plenty scope for things to go awry for the likely market leader, however.
Adaay In Asia came from too far back when second at Goodwood over this distance last month and, having run well in the Newbury Super Sprint this summer, has experience in this sort of arena that can prove vital. She's a contender.
Piffle is on the improve and can have a say, while Stubble Field is unexposed and made a favourable impression at Ascot four weeks ago on first start but unbeaten TATSUMAKI gets the nod.
Marco Botti's colt was a debut winner at 22/1 on the other course here in August and he showed that was no mistake when scoring decisively last month on the Tapeta at Newcastle under a penalty. There's likely more to come from him and he can mount another major challenge.
Selection: Tatsumaki
Next Best: Adaay In Asia
2.55 - Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Fillies' And Mares' Group 1, 1m)
Snow Lantern had plenty of these behind when winning a cracking renewal of the Falmouth Stakes on the July Course here in high summer. Mother Earth was her closest pursuer that day, with Richard Hannon's filly galvanised late on by Sean Levey late on to earn the Group 1 prize and an emotional success for her connections.
Snow Lantern has twice run well in elite company against males since at Glorious Goodwood and Longchamp and is a major player back amongst her own sex.
Of the vanquished rivals she beat that day in the Falmouth, there were three next-time-out Group 1 winners (Mother Earth, Alcohol Free and Lady Bowthorpe). Meanwhile, Lavender's Blue, Just Beautiful and Saffron Beach all re-oppose now having won at Group-race level themselves in the interim.
Saffron Beach suffered interference in the Falmouth but otherwise has an excellent Newmarket record and isn't one to take lightly.
No Speak Alexander won the Group 1 Matron Stakes in Ireland last time, with Mother Earth behind, though perhaps the Ballydoyle filly was out of luck in running there and can avenge the defeat now.
Richard Fahey's FEV ROVER meanwhile was a Group 2 silver-medallist in the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown last month during Irish Champions Weekend, finishing fast behind Real Appeal.
Third in the 1000 Guineas here in May on seasonal comeback, the disappointments in her nine-race career have all come when meeting heavy ground in elite company. Conditions here should be more to her pleasing and, under those same hold-up tactics, she gets the maestro that is Jamie Spencer on board for the first time now. They are solid each-way players.
Selection: Fev Rover
Next Best: Snow Lantern
3.30 - MansionBet Beaten By A Head Maiden Stakes (7f)
Only three of these boast racecourse experience and the standard set by Tack, The Mad Monk and Total Lockdown is not an exacting one. Andrew Balding's Tack is best-placed of those on debut evidence and the Royal runner should improve on it, with Oisin Murphy staying on board.
That said, he will surely have to come forward quite significantly in a race laced with plenty good sorts on paper. The market will prove a vital guide.
Al Mubhir, Fearless Bay, Filistine and King Alfred are all promising, while Richard Hannon's filly Thunder Queen isn't bypassed in haste either, but FIRST OFFICER gets a narrow call for Roger Varian.
The Galileo colt is a brother to multiple winners and his in-form trainer has done well with 2YOs this season. Adding to the allure, Ryan Moore boasts a 22 per-cent strike-rate when teaming up with this handler and they have claims of adding to it now on what is a relatively rare ride for the stable.
Selection First Officer
Next Best: Thunder Queen
4.05 - British EBF Premier Fillies' Middle Distance Handicap (1m4f)
The entire field comes into this on the back of a positive run last time, with no fewer than five last-time-out scorers amongst a field of seven 3YOs. Beholding and Sammarr are making progress and have won two of three starts each.
John & Thady Gosden's filly Beholding has won novice contests at Lingfield and Kempton by a combined tally of 22-lengths, but does take a sharp rise in class for this handicap bow off a mark of 93 consequently.
Sammarr was all-out to hang on over 1m2f here a fortnight ago and will need to prove her stamina upped in trip today and so preference is for NELL QUICKLY for Denis Coakley.
By The Gurkha she has posted figures this season of 21211, landing handicaps at Salisbury over 1m2f/1m4f in July and August on her most recent starts. She's raised another 5lb here but her form has the most substance to it and she gets the champion jockey's services now.
Jasmine Joy made a fine start in handicaps at Yarmouth (1m3½f, good) in September and warrants plenty respect having gone up 6lb for a smooth success there.
Selection: Nell Quickly
Next Best: Jasmine Joy
4.40 - MansionBet Bet 10 Get 20 Fillies' Handicap (7f)
The hat-trick seeking Flame Of Freedom has gained narrow and gutsy wins at Epsom and Kempton (AW) in the last month or so and should give another rock-solid account, this time in the hands of William Buick, having gone up another 3lb.
Nebulosa was a C&D soft-ground winner last season and was in decent form prior to a tame showing at Chester last month, she could rebound here.
Castana Dia hasn't been out of the first two in five turf appearances this season and is again one to note despite this rise in class but WIDAAD may be the answer in a tough get-out stakes.
George Boughey's daughter of Muhaarar won over C&D in May and has been mostly very consistent in six runs since (one poor effort came at quirky Chester). She was collared late on over 1m2f here last month, form that might be advertised by winner Sammarr in the previous contest, and drops back in trip now with refitted cheekpieces.
Ben Curtis is riding with plenty confidence just now, boasting a 23 per-cent strike-rate, and having become a dad for the second time in midweek, can cap off a fine few days by landing the Newmarket finale.
Selection: Widaad
Next Best: Flame Of Freedom
