Group Three Palace House Stakes Newmarket Guide 2023

Clive Cox has a couple in this race with Get Ahead and Tis Marvellous. The latter had an indifferent season last term, winning at Beverley in listed Bullet Sprint Stakes over five furlongs ahead of fellow runner Arecibo but failing to figure on other runs at the likes of Ascot and Newbury.

That Beverley success was his second in a row at the same race and he was also sixth in this last term. Has some patchy form but if catching him at his best, the gelding could give a good account of himself.

Talented eight-year-old Arecibo is sent to the Palace House Stakes by trainer Robert Cowell after not winning for nearly two years, last claiming a couple of handicaps here. Has had some good outings since, notably finishing runner-up a few times behind some runners here in Live In The Dream (twice) and Tis Marvellous in Beverley listed event back in August last term.

The gelding has finished second on his last two outings but in better company now and that form may not be enough. Has a good run in him and shouldn’t be discounted, though.

Ed Walker boasts one in this five-furlong contest at Newmarket on Saturday with his eight-year-old Mountain Peak. The 104-rated sprinter had an inconsistent season last term, winning 20-runner Ascot handicap as well as placing in the top three on three separate occasions at Newbury, Epsom Downs and Haydock at class two level.

He finished off the season with an eighth-place finish in group three race at Newbury, which is one of his only efforts at this sort of level and he would be a surprising winner. Tom Marquand does the steering for Walker.

Charles Hills boasts a couple in this race, sending Equality and Equilateral to Newmarket for the Palace House Stakes. The latter finished runner-up in this contest back in 2019 when finishing a neck behind Mabs Cross but hasn’t won for a couple of years now, last claiming victory in the Meydan Sprint back in 2021.

The eight-year-old had a difficult 2022, finishing outside the top three on all but one occasion but is better than that. Has had three races since the turn of the year, all coming at Meydan but he has been unable to challenge for victory on all occasions. Difficult to support Equilateral when others boast better form, however, we know he has the ability.

Michael Appleby boasts one in the Palace House Stakes with his six-year-old Raasel. The gelding endured a decent 2022, winning three times at Goodwood, Haydock and Sandown in class two handicap, listed event and grouped company at Sandown.

His form tailed off towards the end of the year when finishing in the below sixth on three occasions before returning at Meydan in January to finish fifth in the Listed Dubai Dash.

Had another run at Meydan before heading here, finishing 11th in the Group Two Blue Point Sprint but he is better than that and should give a better account here. May not claim victory but can do better.

Henry Candy sends one to the Palace House Stakes in the form of his five-year-old Twilight Calls, who did well on a number of occasions last term. The gelding won once here in a handicap in April as well as fifth in this contest. Managed a good second to King’s Lynn in Group Two Temple Stakes and runner-up in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot before making seasonal reappearance here.

Doesn’t have the same winning form as a few here but the feeling is that there is another big run in him, and he should go close.

Five-year-old Equality arrives at the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket after a decent season in 2022, winning class two handicap at Haydock in September to cap off a year where he finished in the top three on six occasions. This gelding makes his first step into grouped company now on seasonal reappearance and trainer Charles Hills employs William Buick to ride.

The five-year-old could go well fresh in the hands of Buick, interesting to see how he handles the step up in company. He’s one to consider.

Stuart Williams has one in this contest in the form of 20/1 shot Existent. The five-year-old had an inconsistent season last term after winning twice in the early stages of 2022 at Chelmsford City and Wolverhampton. He managed second in this contest last year, a neck behind winner Khaadem when priced at 25/1 but finished outside the top three on all six runs since.

Has now been off the track for 231 days and this is a tough ask on reappearance, despite his good run in this last term.

Charlie Fellowes boasts one in the Palace House Stakes with five-year-old Vadream. The 108-rated mare has had an indifferent start to 2023, finishing ninth at Lingfield on reappearance as well as second there on her next outing and sixth in Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton in March.

She improved to run a cracker and claim victory in the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster last month but finished sixth at Newcastle not long after and others are most likely preferred, with a few in good form.

Adrian Nicholls sends Tees Spirit to the Palace House Stakes after the five-year-old had a good season in 2022, winning five races at Beverley, Nottingham, Epsom Downs, Doncaster and Tipperary. The last of those five wins was the most impressive, claiming success in Listed Abergwaun Stakes by a nose to 5/2fav Erosandpsyche.

Finished off his campaign with a last of 18 finish in Group One at ParisLongchamp which was probably too tough for him but one of the outsiders who could cause a shock. Would be a good each-way bet at 22’s.

Roger Teal sends his five-year-old Chipstead to the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, with the horse ending last season in decent form, winning three times at Sandown, Doncaster and Catterick before rounding off the campaign in disappointing fashion, finishing ninth of ten in the Listed Wentworth Stakes over six furlongs at Doncaster.

His form last year suggests he could still improve and may have more to give at this level. A few in this race boast some good form so it won’t be easy but he could run a decent race.

Adam West has one in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, with Live In The Dream being sent to this contest for the first time in his career. The four-year-old is unbeaten this season, winning class two handicaps at Lingfield and Pontefract by a short head and just over a length to Arecibo on both occasions.

He also had a decent 2022, where he won at Sandown and Chester as well as finishing runner-up in listed event at the former in June. Moves into grouped company for the first time now and it would unsurprising if he made another step forward.

Four-year-old Get Ahead travels to the Palace House Stakes for her first crack at glory at Newmarket. The filly had a decent season last year, winning at Goodwood in the Class Three World Pool Handicap over five furlongs but failed to make her mark on a number of occasions when sent into better company, including a ninth-place finish at ParisLongchamp in a group three contest.

She returned to finish third in Bath listed event last month and this looks even harder. Her record in this sort of company makes her hard to back against some good runners.

Karl Burke has a couple in this contest with Silky Wilkie and Korker. The latter arrives here off 102 having had an inconsistent 2022, winning once at York in class three handicap but struggled a bit when upped in company, including a seventh-place finish in Listed event at Ascot in October, where fellow runner Manaccan claimed victory ahead of Ainsdale.

Can do better but this looks like a difficult ask on reappearance, and others are in much better form.

John Ryan sends four-year-old Manaccan to this contest on the back of an impressive 2022, winning four races at Ascot (twice), Doncaster and Dundalk over five furlongs. Most of those wins came in listed company but continued to progress at the end of the campaign to win Group Three Mercury Stakes at Dundalk in October.

He is the form pick in this race, finishing in the top three on all of his last six runs and should be there at the end. Frankie Dettori does the steering on the four-year-old, who looks to make it three wins in a row.

Karl Burke has a couple in the Palace House Stakes with Korker and Silky Wilkie. The four-year-old did ok in 2022, winning a few times at the likes of Haydock and Hamilton. Begun well since the turn of the year too, finishing runner-up at Lingfield on three occasions and has won at Kempton and Musselburgh in the last three months.

Disappointing last of seven in the Group Three Abernant Stakes last month and he is much better than that. Has shown on multiple occasions that he can bounce back with a better run, and it would be surprising to not see him do better here. May not claim victory but wouldn’t be a bad each-way play at 16’s.

Edward Bethell sends one to the Palace House Stakes with Sandbeck making his Newmarket debut here. He won three races last term, claiming success at Nottingham, Haydock and Doncaster but at a much lesser level than this requires. Was fifth on his only outing at this kind of level, in Listed event at Ayr in September which has him arriving here off a mark of 92.

The four-year-old may struggle with the step up and it looks like a tough ask for him. Connor Beasley is on board.