Newmarket Thursday Preview - 24/09/20

The first runner of the day for us comes in the Class 4 Maiden Stakes over a mile and with a whole host of newcomers entering the race it could chuck out some potential superstars.

Our selection Royal Champion could be just that being owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and trained by Roger Varian who has a decent record with his juveniles first time out.

The youngster has a cracking pedigree being a son of Shamardal and related to a winner over 1m4f/1m5f called Outbox, which means he may want further overtime.

However, he looks a hot prospect on debut that may have more stamina in the tank than most of these two year olds.

The trend on day one at Newmarket is small fields of runners with bundles of talent and the Nursery Handicap backs that up with just five going to post.

Lost In Space for John Gosden looks to have a huge chance off the back of his performances this season as he heads into the event seeking a hat-trick.

Having finished fourth on debut at Yarmouth he improved for that run to finish second in a photo-finish at Salisbury and again he ran nicely when fourth of 12 behind some superstars at Doncaster.

Everything has seemed to click from there when getting off the mark at Lingfield and then at Newmarket last time out and although going up to a mark of 90 he looks a very progress type that could be to good for this field.

The Premier Fillies' Handicap looks a very competitive event especially with many runners enjoying the quick conditions, but Gale Force Maya could be overpriced.

The 9/2 shot for Michael Dods has been a very consistent filly, not finishing outside the top three on all of his last eight runs winning three of those.

This season she picked up from where she left off with a smart third on seasonal debut, which has since been franked with the fourth placed winning a smart event.

She then went to Thirsk and finished a good second in a Class 3 and backed that up stepping up in class again finishing second at Pontefract.

Her consistent nature puts her in the frame again.

The first big race of the day is the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes over seven furlongs and there is no other place to look than the favourite La Barrosa.

The Charlie Appleby trained two year old has a superb pedigree being bought for 750,000gns being a son of Lope De Vega.

He made an outstanding debut in a Class 3 at Ascot over seven furlongs, travelling lovely and then when being asked to go for home finding plenty.

He will be sure to come on for that run and with conditions in his favour he looks the pick of the bunch.

The Listed Rose Bowl Stakes over two miles looks a classy race and Withhold is a seven year old that revels in these races having experienced at winning over this trip.

The Roger Charlton trained gelding won this event last term and has also landed such races as the Northumberland Plate and three starts ago at Newmarket taking a Listed contest.

He is a proven stayer and in this small field should dominate proceedings, especially off the back of a decent second at Salisbury behind the Alan King Trueshan.

Just four runners head to post for the Class 2 Handicap over 1 mile 4 furlongs and Grand Bazaar for John Gosden should go well.

The three year old colt has raced five times this year winning twice and placing in another two and although finishing outside the placings last time out, it came in a very hot race.

He has raced at this trip three times this year and has been seen winning once and it came over course and distance on good to firm ground which is exactly what he gets on Thursday.

The penultimate runner for us at Newmarket is the Charlie Appleby trained First Winter who looks the class angle in the race.

The three year old has been campaigned in these events all season running to a good standard in all five of his events, winning two of them.

Having been running well at 10 furlongs, Appleby decided to drop him back to a mile and it worked a treat seeing him get off the mark at Sandown.

The trip seems to suit him better and with him handling quick ground in the past it should not phase him again.

The final event of the day is the Class 4 Newmarket Challenge Whip Handicap over 1 mile 2 furlongs and Zoran for Hugo Palmer has a live chance.

The three year old is yet to get off the mark this season in his three outings but has ran to a good standard finishing second on his last two appearances.

He finished second at Redcar over 10 furlongs and backed that up over 11 furlongs last time out at Windsor with both runs coming on good ground.

This race gives him a perfect opportunity for getting off the mark with it looking the weakest event he has contested this term.