ITV Racing Chepstow, Newmarket and York Preview

Newmarket - October 08 2020
Newmarket 12:50
7(5)
Oisin Murphy

Method

J:
 
Oisin Murphy
T:
 
Martyn Meade
Age: 2
Weight: 9-1
OR: 106
Days: 13

The first race of the day on ITV is the Group Three over five furlongs and we are looking for Method to bounce back dropping down in class.

The son of Mehmas made a really exciting start to life on a racecourse winning in good fashion at Doncaster on debut and that form since has been franked having beat Group 2 Prix du Calvados winner Fev Rover by four and a quarter lengths that day.

Off the back of that win he headed to Newbury in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes and again showed a very taking performance to land the contest.

His owners, after his Listed win decided to swerve both the Group One Prix Morny and the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood to head for the Middle Park Stakes.

However, Dettori's saddle slipped half way through the race after the youngster pulled fairly hard meaning he was almost pulled up and ran no sort of race.

Dropping back down to Group Three company can see him get back on track and put that freak incident behind him.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/10/22ASC5GS9-33
17/09/22NBY5Gd9-34
30/07/22GOO6GF9-417
16/07/22NBY6GF9-913
02/07/22SAN5GF9-53
York - October 08 2020
York 13:05
6(16)
Daniel Tudhope

Shelir

J:
 
Daniel Tudhope
T:
 
David O'Meara
Age: 4
Weight: 9-4
OR: 95
Days: 20

The first race from York on ITV is the Class 2 Handicap and in this race full of decent handicappers we have selected the David O'Meara trained Shelir.

The four year old gelding has come on a lot this season under the Yorkshire based handler and two starts ago landed a decent handicap contest at Thirsk.

He finished a decent third at Ayr in wet conditions last time out behind two smart youngsters and racing off the same mark in this event makes him a live player

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
04/03/23MEY9Gd9-07
03/02/23MEY9Gd9-04
20/01/23MEY8Gd9-02
06/01/23MEY7Gd9-03
15/10/22ASC8GS9-51
Newmarket - October 08 2020
Newmarket 13:25
4(7)
Andrea Atzeni

Nazuna

J:
 
Andrea Atzeni
T:
 
Roger Varian
Age: 2
Weight: 9-0
OR: 104
Days: 14

Another Group Three follows at Newmarket and this time it comes over seven furlongs with another superb field heading to post, but we are siding with the Roger Varian trained Nazuna.

The two year old filly has been seen four times this season, needing her debut run but since then has got off the mark and finished second on her last two outings.

Having broke her duck in a Doncaster Maiden, she then stepped up to a Nursery Handicap where she was a close second behind the likeable Spright for Karl Burke.

With her progressive nature she again stepped up in class to the Group Two Rockfel Stakes and she finished two lengths behind the superstar Isabella Giles, who is entered in the Group One Fillies' Mile.

Nazuna did her best work in the final stages showing she stays the trip well and dropping down to a Group Three should see her go close again.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
10/07/21BLM10Gd8-96
05/06/21EPS8.5GS8-82
06/11/20KEE8Gd8-1010
25/09/20NMK7Gd9-02
10/09/20DON6.5Gd8-122
York - October 08 2020
York 13:40
9(3)
Nicola Currie

Ispahan

J:
 
Nicola Currie
T:
 
David Simcock
Age: 3
Weight: 8-4
OR: 81
Days: 35

The final runner from York on Friday is the Betsafe Heritage Handicap over a staying trip and the unexposed Ispahan looks an interesting runner.

The three year old colt has only been seen three times during his career needing his debut run but then getting the hang of things when placing on his second start.

He stepped up in trip to 1m6f and was beaten in a photo finish by rival Zeeband but now getting a pull in the weights should reverse that form and he should handle the soft ground.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
30/09/21SAL14Sft10-07
10/07/21ASC14GS9-57
11/06/21GOO14GF9-45
24/05/21BRI12Gd9-71
02/05/21SAL14Gd8-95
Newmarket - October 08 2020
Newmarket 14:00
7(8)
Jim Crowley

Khaloosy

J:
 
Jim Crowley
T:
 
Roger Varian
Age: 3
Weight: 9-1
OR: 111
Days: 34

Some familiar faces step up for this Group Two over seven furlongs and we are giving one last chance to Khaloosy for Roger Varian.

The Hamdan Al Maktoum owned runner landed the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot and very was eye-catching looking like a group horse in a handicap.

However, since then he has not quite shown what we thought he would travelling best of the pack in both the Group Three at Goodwood and Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock, but finding nothing for pressure and finishing third in both races.

The colt is today being stepped down to seven furlongs which looks sure to suit and getting his ideal soft conditions gives him the ideal opportunity to get back to his best.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
05/09/20HAY8Sft8-123
31/07/20GOO8GF9-13
18/06/20ASC8Sft9-21
23/11/19WOL8.5St9-51
22/10/19NCS7St9-22
Chepstow - October 08 2020
Chepstow 14:15
1
Harry Cobden

McFabulous

J:
 
Harry Cobden
T:
 
Paul Nicholls
Age: 6
Weight: 11-3
OR: 145
Days: 209

McFabulous for Paul Nicholls has promised so much in the last few seasons but this year stepping up in trip should see him flourish and he is our selection in the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Hurdle.

The six year old was a superstar in bumpers, landing three of his four outings, including the Grade Two contest at the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

He stepped up to hurdles last term and took some time to fully get warm to jumping the obstacles, but on his third start got off the mark over timber at Market Rasen, he then backed that up at Kempton next time out to land an 18 runner Grade Three Handicap Hurdle.

He is set for a huge season and in what does not look like the strongest renewal of this race, the gelding can dominate it.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
11/02/23NBY23.5Gd11-10PU
26/12/22KEM24Sft11-72
26/11/22NBY23.5Gd11-51
14/11/22EXE19Gd11-21
05/11/22WCN20GF11-4PU
Newmarket - October 08 2020
Newmarket 14:35
2(7)
Robert Havlin

Indigo Girl

J:
 
Robert Havlin
T:
 
John Gosden
Age: 2
Weight: 9-0
OR: 107
Days: 29

The big race of the day is the Group One bet365 Fillies' Mile and with a stellar field heading to post we have really studied the form to get our selection today.

Although the two Irish runners at the top of the market pose a huge challenge having Group One form, we like the looks of the John Gosden trained Indigo Girl, who just looks a star in the making.

She looks to have a huge chance in this event off the back off what she has done on her two sole runs to date and deserves her chance in in this black type event.

The two year old filly made her debut at Yarmouth on soft ground beating a fair field by three lengths and then improved from that at Doncaster last time out when taking the Group Two May Hill Stakes.

She takes on some of those rivals again with the second, third, fourth and fifth all entered in this contest and if improving again should only have to see off the Irish challengers.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
23/07/21ASC8GF8-94
09/10/20NMK8Sft9-02
10/09/20DON8Gd9-01
30/08/20YAR8Sft9-01
Newmarket - October 08 2020
Newmarket 15:10
3(14)
David Egan

Shandoz

J:
 
David Egan
T:
 
Roger Varian
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 96
Days: 34

The final event of the day is the big fielded Old Rowley Cup Handicap over 1 mile 4 furlongs and we have two strong selections.

The first is the Roger Varian trained Shandoz who has been impeccable on both his starts this season winning both his events comfortably.

He made his seasonal debut over 12 furlongs at Ascot when landing a Class 3 Handicap that has since been franked with second place that day since going on to win a better event.

The three year old stepped up again over the same course and distance in the Lavazza Stakes and with cut in the ground saw off another decent field.

Although he has gone up another six pounds to a mark of 96 he still looks to be well treated and should give another big effort.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
09/09/23KEM12St/Slw9-75
19/08/23NBY13.5GS9-73
01/11/21KEM12St/Slw9-41
04/10/21LIN12St10-02
09/10/20NMK12Sft9-210
Newmarket - October 08 2020
Newmarket 15:10
13(9)
Jason Watson

Kipps

J:
 
Jason Watson
T:
 
Hughie Morrison
Age: 3
Weight: 8-9
OR: 89
Days: 34

At a bigger price in the race is Kipps who is remarkably consistent in these types of events hitting the frame on all five of his starts this term.

The Hughie Morrison trained runner finished second at Haydock on his seasonal debut and backed that up with another narrow second in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot when being beat by Hukum.

He dropped down to 10 furlongs at Newmarket and it did not suit him but bounced back at York in the Melrose handicap when third behind the progressive Coltrane.

Last time out he could only finish third behind Shandoz at Newmarket but now getting weight off him should be able to get closer to him and he looks a superb each way bet.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/04/21NBY12Gd9-06
24/10/20NBY12Hy8-124
09/10/20NMK12Sft8-93
05/09/20ASC12GS9-03
22/08/20YOR14GS8-103