3 minute read
As the flat season hurtles into its final few furlongs, attention is drawn to Newmarket's big autumn handicap, the Cambridgeshire. Timeform take a look at the market principals for what promises to be as competitive a renewal as ever
Presently trading as [7.2] favourite for the nine-furlong showpiece is Jeremy Noseda's Dare to Dance, an unexposed and progressive colt who has tasted victory in a Sandown maiden and a handicap at Newmarket (beat Kirthill two-and-a-quarter lengths) from just three career starts. Whilst Dare To Dance will be stepping down a furlong in trip from his latest victory, the likely strong gallop that is almost inevitable in the Cambridgeshire should allow his stamina to come into play and with further improvement likely, he rates as a strong contender.
Second in the betting, currently trading at [10.5], is Cry Fury, who, like Dare to Dance, is a three-year-old with both a maiden and a ten-furlong handicap win to his name. Although only eighth when dropped back to a mile at Doncaster last time, the manner of that latter victory is hard to overlook and with the prospect of the intermediate trip proving his optimum, he is worthy of plenty of respect in a race trainer Roger Charlton will be bidding to win for the third time following victories for Cap Juluca in 1995 and Blue Monday six years ago.
Maraheb has been patiently handled by John Dunlop and continued his rather progressive profile when winning a handicap at Haydock early last month. However, tactics do appear to be important with him, as his two best efforts have come when allowed to bowl along in front, and it's unlikely he's going to have things his own way in such a competitive race. He does remain open to further improvement though.
Another with a similar profile, although maybe not quite so progressive, is the same owner's Maqaraat. Maqaraat's seasonal reappearance in a maiden at Newmarket now looks strong form (beaten only a length by subsequent listed scorer Ocean War and finished directly ahead of three next-time-out winners) and he himself went on to finish second in the Group 3 Dee Stakes at Chester on his next outing. That said, there's the suspicion that form flatters him slightly, as he was allowed to dictate and a couple of those behind him that day have since disappointed, and, whilst he gained his first success when bolting up in a maiden at Haydock in June when last seen, he was taking advantage of a simple task and will be making his handicap debut on Saturday.
Questioning, yet another three-year-old near the head of the market, had promised to deliver on several occasions this season, and finally posted a smart performance when chasing home King Torus in a listed race at Haydock last time. The combination of first-time cheekpieces and the true test at a mile seemed to have a positive effect that day, Questioning coming from a lot further back than the first and third and closing gradually to find himself beaten just a neck come the line. With an end-to-end gallop usually a trademark of the Cambridgeshire, he looks interesting at current odds of [11.0].
Godolphin's Man of Action confirmed the promise of his sixth in the Totesport Mile by defying the same mark to decisively win a handicap at Doncaster earlier this month by one-and-a-half lengths from Eton Forever. Man of Action has relatively low mileage (his career spans just eight races) for a four year-old and that recent performance means it wouldn't be a surprise to see him right in the mix.
At the opposite end of the scale, Proponent has become a permanent fixture in this type of race over the years and his second in a valuable mile handicap at Goodwood last time was right up there with the best of his efforts. However, he is now racing off a lifetime-high mark and it may just be that he is again at the mercy of unexposed rivals.
Like Proponent, Arlequin has also been a regular in big handicaps. His win at Goodwood in July, when beating subsequent Group 3 winner Modun, is solid form, as is his latest second to Our Joe Mac at York, the third (Club Oceanic) having since taken a good handicap at Doncaster's St Leger meeting, but he willl need to continue his upward curve to defy a 7 lb hike in the handicap.
Hughie Morrison's Britannia Stakes winner Sagramor is looking to bounce back after getting upset in the stalls and then finishing lame at Goodwood last time. Overlooking that run, Sagramor had looked a highly progressive colt when winning handicaps at Haydock (Silver Bowl) and Royal Ascot (Brittania). Although yet to tackle further than a mile, Sagramor's running style suggests the extra furlong shouldn't pose a problem and, having already proved his aptitude for large-field handicaps, the [19.0] currently on offer looks rather generous. If the break he has been given has freshened him up, he could well give his trainer another victory in a race he won two years ago with Supaseus.
Prominent on Timeform ratings is Red Gulch, who has proved a model of consistency this year for rookie trainer Ed Walker, victorious twice and runner-up four times from seven starts. Red Gulch's most recent success came over a mile at Kempton, when producing a career best to beat Kajima, with next-time-out winner Indian Jack a well-beaten sixth. Red Gulch has demonstrated that he can travel and quicken off a good pace, which will surely play to his advantage in a fast-run Cambridgeshire and a rise of just 4 lb looks very fair indeed. Current odds of [18.0] are attractive, whilst the [4.1] for Red Gulch to be placed also looks a viable bet.
The two market leaders, Dare To Dance and Cry Fury, are very difficult to separate, but of the pair it may just be that Dare to Dance has that little bit more potential and his victory at Newmarket was particularly impressive, whilst Questioning finally looked ready to deliver the goods last time and also need considering. However, in such a wide-open race it may be best to play each-way and Sagramor and Red Gulch make plenty of appeal. Sagramor was clearly not himself last time and is taken to bounce back, whilst Red Gulch has proven both consistent and progressive this season.
Recommendations
Back Red Gulch @ 4.2 for a place
Back Sagramor @ 5.4 for a place
