Newmarket Saturday Preview - 25/09/21

Oheka looks opposable at the top of the market, especially given she went off an unfancied 25/1 for her debut contest.

Preference in the opener is for the Sir Michael Stoute trained Love You Grandpa, who makes her racecourse debut here.

Sir Michael is a local to Newmarket and has been in good form of late with a 30% strike rate across the last 14 days; 89% of his runners have been running to form.

Love You Grandpa is a daughter of Frankel, well suited to Newmarket, with progeny of the sire boasting a 30% strike rate for 2yo's first time out at the track over 7f on ground faster than good.

These are leading statistics on breeding and her chances are further boosted by the employment of Ryan Moore in the saddle who operates at a well touted 22% strike rate across the last 5 seasons on board the trainers 2-year-old runners.

Andrew Balding has a decent 21% win rate with his turf 2-year-olds this season and the trainer holds leading claims for the Royal Lodge, which he won back in 2014, with his runner Masekala.

Masekala, a son of El Kabeir, was edged out by a mere shoulder behind Native Trail in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes in July and was subsequently dropped back to listed level at Newbury last time out.

He kept on strongly to the line, heading Bayside Boy on the run in to the line, and shaped as though as longer trip would be sure to suit.

He has already proven his capabilities at Group 2 level and the current forecasted fast ground 8f will only further benefit his leading chances in this.

Andrew Balding has a decent 21% win rate with his turf 2-year-olds this season and holds decent claims at retaining the Cheveley Park Stakes after winning the contest with Alcohol Free in 2020.

His entrant Sandrine, a daughter of Bobby's Kitten, has a record of 3 wins from 4 in her career, winning the Albany Group 3 (6f) upon heavy ground on just her second career start after a debut win at Kempton.

She then proved her capabilities back on faster turf in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (6f), beating Desert Dreamer by 1.75 lengths to land that Group 2 contest.

She was conceding 3lbs to Zain Claudette in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes last time out, resulting in a 1 length beating by that runner to lose her first race; however the pair now re-oppose each other off even weights and the form appears reversible.

She holds a strong chance in this and it would be no surprise to see her step up now to Group 1 level and get her head in front.

George Boughey is in good form of late with a 23% win rate across the last 14 days; the trainer has a 21% strike rate with his turf 2-year-olds this season and has a 40% win rate at Newmarket in 2021, with 13 of his 15 runners here having finished in the first 3.

Thunder Love, a daughter of Profitable, went 2 from 2 across her opening contests (5f) before stepping up recently to Group 2 level.

She contested the Group 2 Flying Childers last time out, and was notably hampered and short of room when looking to get a run of things, finishing 5th and 1.75 lengths behind re-opposing stablemate Corazon who was in a blanket finish for the first 3.

She now makes the first time step up to 6f and looks likely to improve for the new trip given how well she made progress once the gaps did appear.

It'll be interesting to see how closely matched she is with her stablemate if getting a run of things and now contesting a new trip and given Corazon is less than half her price in this and has strong claims for the contest, she appears overpriced and well worth an each way play.

Rossa Ryan is a strong booking on board.

A brilliant debut season for the Richard Fahey trained Perfect Power has seen the Ardad colt pick up three victories from his five career starts.

Showing plenty of promise on debut, he took a major step forward to easily break his maiden at the second time of asking at Hamilton over 5 furlongs.

He backed that up with an electric performance to win the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, with subsequent Railway Stakes winner Go Bears Go in 2nd.

He’s since made the move up to 6 furlongs and left behind an unlucky run at Goodwood to easily capture the Prix Morny at Deauville last month.

His form sets a strong standard at the head of the market and he’s going to take some beating.

Chichester could hardly have been more impressive for Keith Dalgleish last time out at Ayr.

The son of Dansili bolted up in a first-time visor, drawing clear by an eventual 6.5 length margin upon fast ground in that affair, eased down towards the finish.

The Cambridgeshire represents a step up in quality for the runner however he runs here well in, given he is ahead of the handicapper under a penalty.

Chichester already made eye-catching moves in the market having been priced as large as 50/1 in the early market.

Hollie Doyle is notably booked to ride.

Thanks Monica cost 48,000 euros as a foal, however that price shot up to £105,000 at the breeze ups as a 2-year-old.

She clearly posses' big potential, especially in the short term, and she already has strong form in the book from her debut run, finishing 4th when taking on the males in a 7f contest upon the July course, which produced several subsequent winners and performers at a higher level.

She is entitled to improve from that run and this daughter of Teofilo can assert herself over this field.

Ralph Beckett holds a 20% strike rate with turf 2yo's this season and he will only put rider Frankie Dettori on board runners he believes hold a great chance of winning, boasting a 36% strike rate when teaming up.