Graham Cunningham: Tips for Newmarket and Haydock

Cambridgeshire / Graham Cunningham / 23 September 2011 / Leave a Comment

Can Nanton cause an upset?

"If Sahpresa runs to the level she did at Deauville she will be very hard to beat... "

Graham Cunningham explains how he intends to mix up his betting on bumper Saturday of racing...

Stand by for the sort of day when you can hardly draw breath without running the risk of missing a hot race somewhere or other.

Newmarket takes centre stage, and rightly so on a Cambridgeshire card with tremendous depth, but there is strong sport on offer all over the country and my personal game plan involves keeping it simple in some spots and using a little more imagination in others.

First up is John Dunlop's Balady in Haydock's 13:40.

Dunlop has farmed this race in the last decade, winning it four times in all, and Balady looks poised to make another bold bid based on her fine second at Newmarket last time.

Balady travelled sweetly prior to being worn down by the useful Semayyel that day. Third-placed Hazel Lavery franked the race with a decisive Newbury win and Balady can boost the form again here.

Second up is Best Terms in Newmarket's Cheveley Park Stakes at 14:35.

Richard Hannon's filly bids to end her first season unbeaten from five on the back of a commanding Lowther Stakes success at York where she came out of the stalls like a shot and cruised along from start to finish to beat Hello Glory, Angels Will Fall and Shumoos with plenty in hand.

It's hard to see any of that trio reversing the placings - so the progressive Lightening Pearl looks the forecast option - but Best Terms sets the bar high here and deserves to be a hot favourite.

Third up, and another with a very clear form chance, is Sahpresa in the Sun Chariot Stakes at 15:10.

Rod Collet's mare is bidding to win this Group 1 prize for the third year running and returns to Britain looking as good as ever despite having been beaten on all her last three starts.

Indeed, Sahpresa has given the strong impression that she remains at the peak of her powers despite being asked a huge question from the saddle by Christophe Lemaire on several occasions, including when coming from well off the pace to finish third behind the high-class Immortal Verse and Goldikova in the Prix Jaques le Marois at Deauville last time.

Put simply, if Sahpresa runs to that level again she will be very hard to beat. I'm happy to back her at 2.9 or thereabouts and happy to have a small saver on Chachamaidee, who didn't have the race develop ideally for her behind Alanza at Doncaster last time but appeals as the sort to outrun her long odds by some margin here.

The list of Cambridgeshire winners I have backed down the years is a fairly brief one, but the temptation to have a crack at long odds still remains and my two against the field this year are Nanton and Maraheb.

It looks as though the gallant old Nanton is going to be largely ignored in the market. Then again, that was the case when he finished placed in this in 2008 and 2009. Despite the passage of time Nanton is still capable of going close in top handicaps at a variety of distances. The relentless gallop of races like this suits him perfectly and he's a live outsider again.

Maraheb rates a positive mention for the simple reason that he bolted up in a fair handicap when last seen at Haydock. Clearly, this is much tougher but it wouldn't surprise me to see him progress again.

Last but not least this weekend, a few words on Haydock's 16:30. And those words revolve around Shantaram and Gabrial The Great.

No apologies for relating that Gabrial The Great is a rumour horse rather than a form horse, but a source close to the Bell yard relates that this impeccably-bred Montjeu is "more than alright."

He's one to keep a close eye on having been rerouted north from Newmarket for his debut, but those who prefer the form book to the phone book will be well aware that Shantaram shaped like a surefire maiden winner when pipped at Sandown on his debut and normal progress will make him hard to beat here.

Saturday recommendations

Newmarket

14:35 Back Best Terms
15:10 Back Sahpresa and save on Chachamaidee
15:50 Back Nanton and Maraheb

Haydock

13.40: Back Balady
16.30 Back Shantaram and save on Gabrial The Great