ITV Racing Friday Newmarket, York and Chepstow Preview

The first race of the afternoon on ITV sees the official start of the jumps season with Chepstow offering two days of superb racing.

The first event on ITV is the Veteran's Handicap Chase over close to three miles and we think Cloth Cap can get back to form and should gave too much for this field off the best of his form.

A one time favourite for the Grand National off the back of his form in the 20/21 season he rose up the handicap but unfortunately was pulled up in the Aintree feature.

Since then he has found things very tough seeing him as high as 156 and slowly going down to a mark of 144.

He now steps into his easiest event for some time and although top weight if having any of the same enthusiasm for the game as he previously did, he should go close.

Gets his ideal ground.

The first event of the afternoon at Newmarket on Friday is the Group Three Cornwallis Stakes over 5f and Crispy Cat for Michael O'Callaghan deserves to be given another chance.

A very consistent horse this season winning on debut at Cork in April and then stepping up to Listed company when a good second to dual Group One winner Blackbeard.

Second again when next seen at Sandown behind Maria Branwell, he then went to Royal Ascot and in a race he arguably should of won he had to settle for third when cut off in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes.

He ran no race next time out in the Group Two Railway Stakes but next time out got back to form when not beaten too far in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

Back at 5f last time out he was a superb third behind Trillium and Group One prix de l'Abbaye winner The Platinum Queen and that sets the form standard in this race.

The feature event of the two day meeting from Chepstow is the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Hurdle and the Harry Fry trained Deeper Blue takes the eye.

A second season novice having taken his time to get off the mark last term, the penny seemed to drop late on for the gelding and now chasing a hat-trick could go close.

Always thought of highly but slightly underperforming last season he made his seasonal debut in May at Warwick over 2m3f when third behind the talented Erne River.

Stepping over the same course and distance as this race next time out he was second behind another talented horse in Grade One winner Stage Star.

Things didn't go to plan after that when fifth and sixth respectively in a handicap and a maiden but off the back of those runs everything started to click.

Getting off the mark in March this year at Fontwell when bolting up by 30 lengths, he then went to Exeter when last seen again in March and again was a convincing winner.

Stepping up into Grade Two company for his first start of the season does make things tricky but if being progressive he holds a good each way chance.

Another Group Three event follows at Newmarket with the Oh So Sharp Stakes looking a very interesting event and for that reason we have put up two each way punts.

The first is the Eve Johnson Houghton trained Rage Of Bamby who started her career off in good fashion when getting off the mark over 6f at Newbury and then next time out made it back to back wins on the step up to 7f at Leicester.

Seeking a hat-trick she was stepped up into Group Two company in the Rockfel Stakes and she finished a superb third behind the highly talented Commissioning.

Dropped into a Group Three off the back of that makes her a player if running to the same form level.

At a slightly bigger price in the same event is the Roger Varian trained Youngest who is very unexposed in this field and interestingly William Buick takes the ride.

Seen just once in her career to date the daughter of Dubawi got off the mark in fine style seeing off the talented Vermillion who last time out franked the form.

This horse could turn out to be anything and at 9/1 we are happy to play him each way to find out just how good she can be.

The first event of the afternoon from York is the Autumn Mile Handicap over a mile and we think Northern Express for trainer Michael Dods looks to be one of the more likely winners.

Frequently run this term the four year old has been highly consistent for the most part, making his debut at Musselburgh in April when second to the course specialist Gweedore and then at a similar event in May at Thirsk he was the Bridesmaid again behind Boardman.

Sent to York off the back of that in a very competitive race he could only manage sixth which has been his worst performance of the season but he got back to form over the same course and distance off a mark of 88 when beating the progressive Orbaan.

Bumped up to a mark of 92 he was second of eight again over 7f at York behind Saleymm and then at Ascot in July he was superb fourth of 18 in the International Stakes handicap behind some very smart horses, with the form of the race working out very well.

Stepped up to a mile at York last time off a career high mark he was seventh of 18 at the Ebor meeting in another tough event, staying on well from a horrible start.

Dropped down 1lb for that run to 94, drawn ok in stall eight, he is worth taking a chance on at an each way price.

One of the big events of the afternoon on the Rowley Mile is the Group Two Challenge Stakes over 7f and if Sacred is in the same form as her win last time out she will be tough to beat.

Sacred looks to be a big player off the back of her form last term and what she did last time out, making three appearances in 2021 and winning two of them in good style including the Group Three Nell Gwyn Stakes and the Group Two Hungerford Stakes.

As a two year old she was a smart sprinter finishing second in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot and also the Group Two Lowther Stakes at this meeting.

This season she has been seen four times, finishing fifth on seasonal debut over 6f in the Group One Platinum Jubilee, running a big race from her position and then last time out at Glorious Goodwood was a close up fifth again in the Group Two Lennox Stakes.

She gave the worst run of her career in the Group Two City Of York Stakes at the Ebor meeting but last time out was back to her best in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes when bolting up by close to six lengths not coming off the bridle.

A course and distance winner that should go close again.

The second event on ITV from York is the £100,000 2YO Series Final and having already won nicely at the track Streets Of Gold is a solid selection.

Unbeaten in all four starts during his career to date he looks a superb talent for Eve Johnson Houghton that has been picking up some nice prize money all season and could finish his season off by going close in this.

Winning a Maiden at Chepstow in June over 6f he looks extremely useful and off the back of that went to Newmarket on the July Course and saw off a nice challenger in Juliet Sierra giving weight away.

Sent to York at the Ebor meeting off a mark of 92 he made it 3/3 in decisive fashion and then when seen last time out at the Curragh up 1/2 a furlong in trip the colt made it four on the bounce, again fairly easily.

Off the same mark as his last win, he looks the most likely runner in the field to take the spoils at a track he has previous at.

The feature event of the afternoon is the Group One Fillies' Mile and although a short price Commissioning for John & Thady Gosden looks extremely tough to beat.

Making her debut on the July Course at the end of July in a decent Novice Stakes she went on to show a freakish turn of foot to bolt up by nearly four lengths.

Stepping up into Group Two Company last time out on the Rowley Mile she again went on to bolt up in the Rockfel Stakes and if none the worse for the quick turn around she should become a Group One winner.

Serious talent.

The final event at York on Friday on the show sees the Class 2 Handicap over 1m6f and Post Impressionist for William Haggas deserves one last chance to win a race.

A frustrating horse this season having started extremely well by winning on his second start over a mile and then finishing a narrow second over 1m2f at Newcastle behind St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov.

Of the back of that he lost his way and looked to need a step up in trip and he finally got that last time out when running over 1m6f and finishing well to grab third in the stewards room in a valuable handicap at Haydock.

Only up 1lb for that run to a mark of 87, he is worth another go at the current prices.

One of the trickiest events of the afternoon at Newmarket is the Old Rowley Cup Handicap over 1m4f and with a huge field going to post we have picked out two runners that could go close at decent prices.

The first is the Charlie Appleby trained First Ruler has been seen five times to date, making a decent impression when third behind Mighty Ulysees on the Rowley Mile.

Getting off the mark next time out at Doncaster in a 20 runner Novice Stakes, he then went to Newmarket on the July Course and was second behind stablemate Sense Of Wisdom.

Getting back to winning ways when upped to 1m2f at Ascot on handicap debut off a mark of 93 and then upped 3lb and up to 1m4f last time he was a cracking third behind La Yakel at Ascot in the Lavazza Stakes.

He opposes the Haggas horse again in this time but instead of giving away a stone he only gives away 5lb. Big player if not hindered from stall 1.

At a slightly bigger price in the same race is the Sir Mark Prescott trained Sea King and having be well backed since the ante-post stage, he could go close.

Having just landed the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe the yard are in flying form and will be hoping Sea King will keep the good run going and he has a big chance to do so.

A winner on his fourth start for the yard at Newcastle in September last year on his first try at 1m2f, he picked up from where he left off at the start of this season at Doncaster again going up in trip and revelling over 1m4f.

Tried at 1m6f next time out and hiked up 9lb to a mark of 92 he never really got involved in tough conditions at Haydock.

Dropped back to 1m 4 1/2f at Newcastle he was fourth of seven when not running the race people thought he would.

Seen once more this term last time out he was fourth of 10 back at Haydock over 1m6f, actually finishing second but being demoted in the stewards room

It was a solid effort off a mark of 91 and it was his first run since having a gelding operation and it looks to have helped him massively.