Events / Graham Cunningham / 17 October 2008 / 1 Comments

It's a huge day of racing at Newmarket on Saturday with the Cesarewitch and New Approach's return to the track amongst the many gems. Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham offers his punting pearls of wisdom on the big ones from HQ.

Rumour has it that Newmarket and Ascot are working hand in hand to cook up an autumn blockbuster to rival Arc de Triomphe weekend and the Breeders' Cup. Time will tell whether Britain can make up the ground it has lost to France and America, but Champions' Day at HQ serves up two Group 1 contests among its six Pattern races and a brutally competitive Cesarewitch. Racing UK's Graham Cunningham puts the main contenders for the big races under the microscope.

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2.05 Challenge Stakes

Major Cadeaux: More than capable of winning a race like this but has a Group 2 penalty and, more worryingly, a very wide draw in stall 17 to contend with. That promises to make life difficult for his rider and given that the stalls are on the stand side, he looks vulnerable overall.

Stimulation: Looks very solid both win and place. Dead reliable and had Il Warrd, Al Qasi and Arabian Gleam behind with no excuses when second to subsequent Group 1 winner Paco Boy in Goodwood's Betfair Cup. Ran well again in Turkey and the return to seven is no problem.

Laa Rayb: Seasoned pro who was pipped by Ordnance Row at Salisbury but has improved since in European Pattern races. Prominent racer with the potential to trade short in running at some point.

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2.35 Dewhurst Stakes

Rip Van Winkle: Cliché alert. He could be anything. Two from two and held in very high regard at Ballydoyle, but has more to prove at this level. I don't have a clue whether he is a superstar or beatable. But I do suspect that [2.4] is a skinny enough price for Europe's top juvenile contest.

Ashram: Unlucky not to be three from three and bolted up in a Group 3 here. Lots of people have argued that he would be much shorter in the market were he trained by a more fashionable handler than John Hills. And they are probably right.

Delegator: The big prices are long gone, but he's interesting nonetheless after a smooth win in one of the hottest maidens of the season. Meehan went close with Fast Company last year and is expecting to do so again with a colt who looks to be progressing fast.

Shaweel: Currently trading at [16.0] or thereabouts but should be much shorter. Granted, his marked improvement has come on soft ground, but he comes bang into the reckoning based on his fine second in the National Stakes. Battle hardened and a big player for the man who won this with Shamardal.

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3.10 Champion Stakes

New Approach: Granted, he has the best form, but there wasn't much in hand when he beat Traffic Guard half a length in the Irish Champion Stakes and his tendency to pull hard in the early stages still niggles. Proven stars are thin on the ground here, but this one can win without my money on him at [2.4] or shorter.

Russian Cross: France has a fine record in this and Russian Cross is a quiet improver. Yes, he failed to defy a Group 2 penalty last time, which suggests he is no superstar, but conditions look ideal for another bold effort.

Twice Over: Stablemate Phoenix Tower is out injured, but this colt looks a very able deputy. Ignore his latest run - where he was nearly knocked over - and focus on his previous fine Ascot third and his French Group 3 success. He has more to find to land this but looks poised for a career best and Cecil is reportedly very confident.

Pipedreamer: Has work to do to reverse International form with New Approach but is highly reliable and his cause isn't lost by any means. This course suits his late running style ideally and the faster they go the brighter his prospects.

Linngari: Knocking on by Group 1 standards but is in fine form after returning to Stoute and this trip looks his ideal nowadays. Seemed to find a mile too sharp in Turkey but ran very well and is one of a handful with the potential to give New Approach plenty to think about at long odds.

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3.50 Cesarewitch

Askar Tau: Undeniably well treated with a small penalty for his Great Leighs romp and stall 14 isn't too damaging. Three-year-olds have had an ordinary record, but this one stays extremely well and is thriving. In short, I suspect he has most of what you look for in a potential "Ces" winner and laying him at a shade under [6.0] looks fraught with danger.

Gee Dee Nen: Someone plainly feels this gelding has improved for the switch from Mark Tompkins to Jim Best judged by the relentless support for him. Perhaps he has blossomed since his game Ascot win, but Gee Dee Nen is on a career high mark now and to my mind his chance is no better than a clutch of horses at much longer odds. Possible place lay material.

Liberate: Hobbs has a fine record with jumpers in this race and Liberate looks another with very solid win and place claims. He isn't fully exposed over marathon distances and has been primed for this ever since his fine run in the Ascot Stakes. A high draw is an added plus and he looks a must for any short list.

Mamlook: Finished just ahead of Liberate at Ascot and, like that one, has been trained for this ever since. Came from well back at Ascot, so traffic problems could be a concern, and it has to be said that his stable have been unusually quiet over jumps of late.

Arc Bleu: Swooped late to land the Northumberland Plate and has been handled with kid gloves since, most recently over a laughably inadequate seven furlongs. Market signals suggest he is the pick of Tony Martin's trio and his high draw and the presence of Murtagh aboard are plainly added plusses.