Today's Racing Tips: Mark Milligan's five to back on Future Champions Festival Day 2

Mark's Bet of the Day: Autumn Stakes, Newmarket, 14:25 - Back Rock Montreal @ 11/82.38

5 (2)

Rock Montreal (Ire)

• J: William Buick
• T: Roger Varian
• F: 12

• SBK 6/5
• EXC 2.26

The exciting Rock Montreal lost little in defeat at Doncaster last time and he can go one better in this Group 3 contest.

Roger Varian's imposing juvenile made an eye-catching start to his career when bolting up in a Yarmouth novice contest before missing an intended engagement at Sandown due to softening ground.

He was rerouted to a listed race at Town Moor last month but appeared to be just caught out by a bit of lingering greenness there, eventually picking up to good effect and likely to have won in a few more strides.

Rock Montreal remains a top prospect and can get back to winning ways, with this step up to a mile looking sure to suit.

Notable winners from Mark in recent weeks

Blue Brother @ 9/1
Asia Force @ 6/1
Star Of Mali @ 11/2
Treble Bass @ 7/2
Brilliant Star @ 9/4
Devil's Peak @ 2/1
Silver Lake @ 2/1

York, 14:05 - Back Water To Wine @ 4/15.00

6 (20)

Water To Wine (Fr)

• J: Luke Catton
• T: John & Thady Gosden
• F: 113

• SBK 5/1
• EXC 7.8

While the Future Champion Festival takes centre stage at Newmarket, there's also a cracking Saturday at York and this handicap in particular has a really quality feel to it.

There are a couple who could potentially be better than handicappers in time, but the one who stands out the most is John & Thady Gosden's Water To Wine.

Granted, he does have a tricky draw to overcome in stall 20, but with there likely to be plenty of pace on, I'm hopeful Luck Catton can slot him in.

This three-year-old was on plenty of radars at the start of the season and was well fancied to land the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot following a pair of impressive wins st start his career. However, a combination of inexperience and firmer ground seemed to catch him out there and he proved a little disappointing.

Gelded since that run, and now with cheekpieces added, Water To Wine drops into a handicap for the first time and could prove a cut above this grade.

Cesarewitch, Newmarket, 15:40 - Back Dawn Rising @ 9/25.50

7 (5)

Dawn Rising (Ire)

• J: Ryan Moore
• T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland
• F: 52-807800

• SBK 9/2
• EXC 7.4

Joseph O'Brien has had a fine time of things at the big festivals on both the flat and over jumps in 2026 and his Dawn Rising is one of a pair of darts I'm throwing at a typically competitive renewal of the Cesarewitch.

Last year's runner-up to Beylerbeyi is now considerably better off at the weights with that rival and they way he has been campaigned this year strongly suggests that this has been the ultimate target once again.

Whereas last season Dawn Rising did most of his racing at 2m and beyond, he has run at mainly shorter trips in 2026, the furthest he's been so far this year just 1m 6f.

The selection hasn't cut much ice over 1m 4f on his last two starts, but a combination of getting back over an extreme trip and Ryan Moore being booked for the ride suggests it's all systems go.

Cesarewitch, Newmarket, 15:40 - Back Mountain Road @ 17/29.50

12 (26)

Mountain Road (Fr)

• J: Paul Mulrennan
• T: Jim Goldie
• F: 18/435132

• SBK 9/1
• EXC 14.5

While Dawn Rising chance is a solid one, I also can't resist a play on Jim Goldie's Mountain Road, who really caught my eye when second to one of Joseph O'Brien's at York last time.

The seven-year-old joined Goldie from David Simcock towards the end of summer 2024 but only made one start for the yard before being forced onto the bench for 582 days.

He understandably took a few runs to hit his straps this year following that long layoff but has been getting better all the while and it was no disgrace in losing out to one who appears bound for pattern races last time.

Goldie is a master at revitalising veterans and he appears to be working his magic once again with Mountain Road, who looks a fair play at 17/29.50.

Chepstow, 16:02 - Back The Mighty Celt E/W @ 13/27.50

9

The Mighty Celt (Ire)

• J: Harry Skelton
• T: Dan Skelton
• F: 5/3228367-

• SBK 6/1
• EXC 7

The October Chepstow jumps meeting basically heralds the start of the National Hunt season proper and I'm taking the irrepressible Dan and Harry Skelton team to get off to a flying start with The Mighty Celt.

This ex-French four-year-old made just three starts for the yard last season, finishing third in the Victor Ludorum at Haydock before shaping well in much bigger fields in big-field handicaps at both major spring festivals.

His last run at Aintree is worthy of extra credit given he clouted the first and was left with something of a mountain to climb before finishing off well in eighth (subsequently promoted a place following the DQ of the winner on whip grounds).

There are good handicaps to be won with The Mighty Celt this season, hopefully starting with this one.

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