The Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, due off at 13:55, gets us underway with the Mark Johnston-trained Steeler expected to gain his third career win. The two-year-old confirmed the promise he showed on debut, when second to Deauville Prince at Haydock, as he got off the mark in a decent maiden at Goodwood. He improved markedly upon that effort when finishing second to Dundonnell in the Acomb Stakes at York, beating the reopposing Afonso de Sousa by half a length, and the impression he created that day was a most positive one as, having briefly looked like being well beaten, he responded generously near the finish. Listed success at Goodwood came about on his next start, again being outpaced but running on strongly and going away at the finish from his four rivals, who have all won on their subsequent starts. The step up in trip can bring out yet more improvement, and Steeler can get us off to the best of starts.
Briefly turning your attention to Haydock can pay dividend as Sholaan looks to have an excellent chance of landing the 15:15. The three-year-old, trained by William Haggas, has improved since being fitted with blinkers this term, winning on soft ground at York prior to finishing third at Windsor. On return from a short break last weekend he made a good first of things, against hardened handicappers, when finishing fourth in the Ayr Gold Cup, looking comfortable ahead of his BHA mark of 101 as he travelled powerfully for a long way, quickening clear two furlongs out but faltering close to home having made his effort earlier than ideal. Racing off the same mark today, and with the drop to five furlongs a likely positive, Sholaan can prove himself to be a pattern race performer in the making with success here.
The Cambridgeshire is renowned as a highly competitive handicap and the 2012 renewal looks no different, with 35 runners going to post and it being possible to make a case for many. It is easy to see how a pair of unexposed three-year-old's, Mukhadram and Chil The Kite, occupy prominent in the market, but often in races of this ilk previous experience of a big-field scenario is invaluable, so the one to side with is John Smith's Cup winner King's Warrior. The five-year-old is lightly-raced and gained his first win in Britain in the aforementioned race at York in July, decisively beating Mid Mon Lady by four and a half lengths, taking his form to another level in the process. He appears to have been kept fresh for this contest and, if arriving in the same form, he has an excellent chance of landing a heritage handicap double.
Timeform SmartPlays
Back Steeler @ 4.216/5 in the 13:55 at Newmarket
Back Sholaan @ 4.84/1 in the 15:15 at Haydock
Back King's Warrior @ 18.017/1 in the 15:40 at Newmarket
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