Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador previews the key contests at Newmarket on Friday and Saturday, including the Group 1 Cheveley Park and Middle Park Stakes. I'm looking forward to a great weekend of action at Newmarket, including the mouthwatering Group 2 Betway Joel Stakes (3.00) - for me the highlight of an exciting card on Friday. Godolphin's 116-rated colt Talk Of New York is the one I believe they all have to beat following his eyecatching run at the Qatar Goodwood Festival when he made up a lot of ground to be second in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes.
Before that he got within two lengths of the brilliant Bow Echo in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and can gain his reward at the probable expense of the ever-reliable Persica - such a solid horse who has done nothing wrong this year. He had Hankelow behind in a Group 3 at Haydock Park last time and can confirm that form with Karl Burke's colt, who hasn't hit the heights expected of him this year but showed a glimmer that day and should appreciate a sounder surface. The Group 2 Betway Rockfel Stakes (2.25) on Friday can go to Wathnan Racing's Goodwood winner Light Of Dawn who relished the step up to this seven furlongs when taking the Group 3 Prestige Stakes so emphatically.
Karl Burke's filly steps up in grade but has hopefully taken another step forward since we last saw her and can get the better of Eve Johnson Houghton's Sugar Yes Please - another filly I admire. See the latest horse racing news, interviews and features from Sky Sports Racing She also won a Group 3 over seven furlongs, taking the Sweet Solera on Newmarket's July Course, while Ed Walker's Siena Storm could have more to offer after finishing three lengths behind Light Of Dawn in the Prestige. Inis Mor has been keeping some pretty hot company this season and can enjoy the spotlight in the Princess Royal Stakes (1.50) on Friday.
David Menuisier's filly has been placed in both the French and Irish Oaks since scoring at Listed level and has been found a great opportunity to win in Group 3 company with Ryan Moore on top and a 7lb weight for age allowance in her favour. Coedana has made strong progress this season and showed her potential behind subsequent Irish Champion Stakes hero Hotazhell and close second Wimbledon Hawkeye in a Group 1 in Germany. That's solid form and this big, galloping track will play to her strengths.
The race of the day at Newmarket on Saturday is the Group 1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes (2.27). The fillies' showpiece pitches Aidan O'Brien's prolific Sun Goddess against runaway Prix Morny winner Senorita Bonita and Albany heroine Libertango. Sun Goddess was behind Libertango in the Albany but has since gone on to win two Group 1s as well as the valuable Sales race at York's Ebor Festival and sets the standard for me.
George Boughey's filly found Senorita Bonita too good in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket so there's not a great deal between the principals, but I do think Aidan's filly can edge it. At a bigger price, I'd love to see Andrew Balsing's Moonrise get into the act. I've followed this tough filly closely this summer and expect her to pay the form of her Group 3 win on Polytrack a huge compliment.
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