We start alongside the live coverage, with our first bet coming in the 13:50 at Newmarket. Timeform's report after Autumn Lily won a nursery last time was that she "should make a much better fist of things if tried back up in class next time". That's a reference to her flop in the Chesham 10 days after her winning debut, but one which bears repeating now Autumn Lily has been kept to nurseries. She certainly appeared a useful performer in the making when dotting up last time, so a BHA mark of 93 ought to be within her grasp. There simply doesn't appear to be a hole in the case for Autumn Lily, with her stamina for the trip proven, her pedigree as strong as you'd expect of a Godolphin charge and her style seemingly uncomplicated.
Normally, scepticism is called for when looking at Dubai Carnival form back in Britain, but Royal Empire (Geoffrey Freer Stakes, 14:40 Newbury) has the overall trajectory of one who'll be up to competing in Group races and is expected to prove the point here. What's more, he continued his progress returning from more than four months off at this course last time, easily reeling in the enterprisingly-ridden Al Waab. Today's competition is tougher, but not by as much as you might expect, and a continuation of Royal Empire's progress up to now would make odds around 6.05/1 look mightily appealing.
Our final selection bookends the Channel 4 coverage, coming as it does in the last televised race, the 15:50 at Newbury. It's a competitive seven-furlong handicap, but by the same token it's lucrative if you can find the winner and we have a pretty solid nominee for that in Glen Moss. He's in the form of his life at present, recording a first turf win at Doncaster last month before finishing fourth in the Betfair International at Ascot little more than three weeks later. A strong traveller who should be suited by big fields, Glen Moss tackles a lesser race today from the same mark, so if all goes well in-running it's fair to imagine he'll be up with the principals again.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
Back Autumn Lily in the 13:50 at Newmarket
Back Royal Empire in the 14:40 at Newbury
Back Glen Moss in the 15:50 at Newbury
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