Horse Racing Tips

Cambridgeshire: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

Newmarket
The Cambridgeshire is one of the most competitive Flat handicaps of the year

"Looks a leading player up in trip for a yard that knows how to win this race..."

Timeform on Lord North

Timeform bring you their comprehensive runner-by-runner guide to Saturday's Cambridgeshire and pick out their 1-2-3...

1. Dubai Horizon (Saeed bin Suroor/Cieren Fallon (3))
Made up into a smart performer in 2018, landing well-contested 1¼m handicaps at Ayr and Sandown. Still has low mileage for a five-year-old, but this is a big ask under top-weight following a 12-month layoff.

2. Afaak (Charles Hills/Jim Crowley)
Took form to a new level (had been gelded) after nine months off when winning Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (by nose from Clon Coulis) in June, and similar form when fifth in John Smith's Cup at York next start. Below form since, and disappointed in this race last year

3. Fajjaj (Hugo Palmer/James Doyle)
Some useful 2018 form to his name, but plenty to prove on this handicap debut given that he's been absent since misfiring over C&D on return in April. Tongue strap applied/cheekpieces refitted.

4. Mordin (Simon Crisford/Marco Ghiani (7))
Last win came from 4 lb lower on heavy ground at Haydock in April and hasn't had many excuses since. Runner-up (from 9 lb lower) in this race last year, but looks high enough in weights now.

5. Bedouin's Story (Saeed bin Suroor/Hector Crouch)
Not the most reliable on the whole, but has responded well to the fitting of cheekpieces the last twice, scoring at York (7f, soft) before finding just one too good on the all-weather (1m). Not discounted.

6. Petrus (Brian Meehan/Tom Marquand)
Successful first two starts this season (latest from 2 lb lower) but ran poorly when down the field in handicap at York last time. Largely consistent sort who is likely to bounce back quickly, though

7. Baltic Baron (David O'Meara/Daniel Tudhope)
Has shaped well several times without winning this term, including when a close-up third in a three-runner affair at Doncaster (1m, good to firm) a fortnight ago. Each-way shout.

8. Zhui Feng (Amanda Perrett/Pat Dobbs)
Regular in big-field handicaps and finished fifth in this race from 5 lb higher in 2016. Not the easiest to win with, though, carrying head a bit awkwardly at Ascot last time. Others preferred.

9. Jazeel (Jedd O'Keeffe/Jamie Spencer)
Won a C&D handicap from 13 lb lower on final start for Mick Channon in 2018. Progressed further for new connections this season, left with too much to do at York last time, and should be treated as still in form. Drop back to 9f very much in his favour and type to run a big race.

10. Beringer (Alan King/Thore Hammer Hansen (5))
Won 1m handicap here from 1 lb lower (by head from Power of Darkness) in April, but has struggled for consistency since. Seems to go well with cut in the ground, though.

11. Queen of Time (Henry Candy/Harry Bentley)
Successful at Salisbury during the summer and latest effort in French listed race was creditable. Still, big step forward needed if she's to play a leading role off this mark.

12. Nicholas T (Jim Goldie/Ben Robinson)
In terrific form this year, notching third success of the campaign at Ayr in July. Thereabouts on each of his three subsequent starts and it would be no surprise were he to make his presence felt.

13. Dark Vision (Mark Johnston/William Buick)
Won three of four starts in 2018, notably Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Well backed on a couple of occasions this season but hasn't looked like winning, and mark probably sums him up at present.

14. Le Don de Vie (Hughie Morrison/Ryan Moore)
Changed hands for £460,000 after winning at Epsom in June and confirmed the promise of stable debut when recording third win of the season in handicap at Goodwood last time. Boasts a positive profile, and the time and form of that race looks soild, so big player from a 5 lb higher mark with Ryan Moore in the plate.

15. History Writer (David Menuisier/P. J. McDonald)
Step firmly back in right direction when accounting for Baltic Baron and 10 others at Sandown in June. Has failed to reproduce that form since, though, and current mark leaves little margin for error.

16. Fifth Position (Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni)
Won minor event at Nottingham (by head from Space Blues) in April. That is strong form, and he has since run well in listed/pattern company. Handicapper may have taken a chance with his opening mark and he makes plenty of appeal.

17. Another Touch (Richard Fahey/Tony Hamilton)
Useful handicapper who has fallen to an attractive mark (4 lb lower than last winning one) and shaped better than the bare result at Ayr last week. Has plenty of form on ground softer than good and could surprise a few at a big price.

18. Lord North (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori)
Won first two starts in minor events at Redcar and Newcastle six months apart. Caught the eye in Heron Stakes at Sandown in May on third start, and tight in the market late on after four months off (had been gelded) when finding only a well-ridden and thriving sort too good on handicap debut at Ascot last time. Looks a leading player up in trip for a yard that knows how to win this race.

19. Good Birthday (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy)
Made a mockery of his opening mark on return at Doncaster in April, and got back on the scoreboard at Beverley last time, a slightly troubled run quite possibly stimulating him, given the rather quirky nature he has shown previously. Subsequent 3 lb rise is fair and a strongly-run race at this trip looks ideal. High on the shortlist.

20. Badenscoth (Dean Ivory/Joey Haynes)
Already a four-time winner this year, but has failed to beat a rival home the last twice and is likely to struggle once again.

21. Smile A Mile (Mark Johnston/Andrew Breslin (5))
Has more than paid his way this year, registering fourth victory of the campaign at Pontefract in August. However, ran no sort of a race at Ayr last weekend and he's readily passed over.

22. Alternative Fact (Ed Dunlop/Josephine Gordon)
Left the impression that he'd soon bring an end to his losing run when third to History Writer at Sandown in June. Not disgraced both starts since, albeit without really building on Sandown effort.

23. Al Jellaby (Clive Cox/William Cox (3))
Sole win came as a juvenile in 2017, but he has some solid form to his name on both the all-weather and turf. Beaten only by a well-handicapped/rejuvenated sort at Kempton last time, who has since won again, and looks fairly treated.

24. Cockalorum (Roger Fell/Ben Curtis)
Successful at Ripon (9.8f) in July and thereabouts on each of his next two starts. Found out when pitched into a Class 2 handicap at York last time, though, and likely to come up short once more.

25. Mulligatawny (Roger Fell/Gabriele Malune (3))
Hit the target twice earlier this season, but form has nosedived since and it's hard to envisage him making much of an impact.

26. You're Hired (Amanda Perrett/Martin Dwyer)
Knocking firmly on the door this season, posting another solid effort in defeat when fourth in valuable 1¼m Newbury handicap last weekend. Still, losing run stretches back to September 2016.

27. Korcho (Hughie Morrison/Nicola Currie)
Improved performer this season, winning twice in 1¼m handicaps at Windsor, and again ran well over a similar trip at Goodwood last time. Shapes as though worth a try at further, but a strongly-run race at this trip may well suffice.

28. Chance (Simon Crisford/Ryan Powell)
Further progress when completing the hat-trick in decisive fashion at York in July. Perhaps shouldn't be judged too harshly on latest effort and promise of a strong gallop here is cause for optimism.

29. Majestic Dawn (Paul Cole/David Egan)
Clear-cut winner of a soft-ground Newbury maiden (11f) in April. Best effort since switched to handicaps in a good-quality event at Newmarket when last seen in July and he's a live each-way player.

30. Little Jo (Brian Ellison/Kieran Schofield (5))
Winner of five of his seven starts since joining this yard, but it would be some achievement were he to land this prize on the back of an 11-month layoff.

31. Music Seeker (Declan Carroll/Noel Garbutt(3))
Hit the target at Nottingham in May and again at York a month later. Remains in good form since, but probably weighed up to his best now.

33. Zzoro (Amanda Perrett/Darragh Keenan (3))
Consistent performer who gained reward when forging clear in six-runner Sandown handicap recently. However, much more on his plate under a penalty here from out of the weights here.

34. Isomer (Andrew Balding/Marie Perrault (7))
Has slipped to an attractive mark, but put in his place in a Class 4 handicap here on Thursday and he's 4 lb 'wrong' at the weights.

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