Author: Joel Roberts

Long odds-on shot Shalaa (2/5) is unbackable despite looking an exceptional two-year-old. He’s beaten the re-opposing Gimcrack Stakes winner Ajaya as well as his owner’s other star juvenile, subsequent Flying Childers Stakes winner Gutaifan, so looks the one to beat in the Group One Middle Park Stakes. Coventry Stakes winner…

Despite the drying ground, Besharah should open her Group One account at Newmarket tomorrow and looks a solid bet at 11/4. She went down a short-head to the unbeaten and re-opposing Illumitate over course and distance in July, but given her clear progression since – getting the better of Lumiere…

The ground looks to be drying out and that can only play into course specialist Tupi‘s hands. He has plenty to find on form with Time Test but this looks like his best trip and 18/1 seems very generous against just three runners. A small bet is advised. Tweet

Thursday is the first day of Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire meeting, which hosts plenty of Group-level action over the coming days. First up is the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes over seven furlongs. The ground is good to soft after plenty of rain and we fancy Godolphin’s Steady Pace to outrun both his…

In Newbury’s Group Three Arc trial, John Gosden’s Eagle Top might represent some value at 5/6 against opposition already making excuses. Connections of Sky Hunter and Ooty Hill have played down their chances, insisting they’ll need the run. That leaves last year’s out-of-form winner, Hillstar, and The Corsican to seriously…

Steps has done most of his winning on soft ground and gets that today, so it’s little surprise to see him the 7/2 favourite for this five-furlong sprint after his handicap win at Doncaster last week. Caspian Prince was a winner last time out at York, but a collateral form-line…

I’m keen to give Richard Hannon’s Marsh Hawk another go, having tipped her last week at Doncaster. She travelled really well though found little when asked at the business end, but she can claim receipt of a little bump on the way and the ground might have been quicker than ideal. It was a…

Agent Murphy ticks all the boxes for the Irish St Leger. He landed a big gamble when routing a decent Group Three field at Newbury, with the subsequent Doncaster Cup winner, Pallasator, well beaten. That was raced on similar good to soft ground to today’s and the manner of the…