Newmarket Sunday Preview - 07/05/23

One of the big events of the afternoon from Sandown on Friday is the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes over 1m2f and Adayar is weighted to get back to winning ways.

A superstar as a three year old when landing the Epsom Derby, Grade One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and he placed fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Having picked up an injury setback last term he was only seem on two occasions, winning a Conditions Stakes at Doncaster in September and then he finished a superb 1/2 length second to Bay Bridge in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Having showed versatility at both 1m4f and 1m2f, the latter distance looks to be where he is at the system and with the ground at Sandown playing to his strengths he looks the obvious selection.

Also he receives 5lb from challenger in the market Anmaat who is actually rated 3lb inferior of him.

The Howden Handicap over 1m6f is the second event at Newmarket on Sunday and with a big field going to post we have picked two horses out at each way prices.

A typical project for Sir Mark Prescott being ran over lesser distances at the start of his career to poor effect and then upped to 1m2f at Newcastle on his final start of 2021 he got off the mark in good style, having plenty in hand off a mark of 78.

Back in 2022 he made a winning debut when upped again to 1m4f at Doncaster on quick ground off a mark of 85 and then when well fancied at Haydock in July being backed into favourite for the bet365 Handicap over 1m6f, he was slightly hampered and never ran his true race.

Having one more run back at Newcastle dropped in trip, he again underperformed to only finish fourth of seven when 11/10 favourite.

Given a gelding operation he has been seen twice more since when fourth of 10 over 1m6f at Haydock, running a cracker to actually finish second but was demoted to fourth in the stewards room.

Finishing the season in the Old Rowley Cup he ran a fair race to finish midfield off a mark of 91 and only 1lb higher off 92, that could still be a workable mark.

At a similar price in the market is the Tony Martin traind Firstman who does not bring many over to Newmarket on the flat and when he does you have to take note.

A horse that has a good record of late on the flat winning a two mile handicap off 79 at Dundalk before dropping to 1m4f at the same track and finishing a close second off 6lb higher.

Stepped back up to 2m off a mark of 88 he had to settle for second behind a very progressive type for Joseph O'Brien.

Given a spin over hurdles when last seen and finishing a good third of 15 at Leopardstown, back on the flat off the same mark as his last flat run makes him one to watch at a price, looking like he is still progressing.

A race full of unknown potential at Newmarket is the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes over 1m2f with most of the field having won last time out.

We are nailing our pin to the mast of Floating Spirit for Andrew Balding and jockey Ryan Moore with the filly going in search of a hat-trick.

A well bred daughter of Group One winner Charm Spirit, she was seen on debut at Kempton in January and made a taking start when beating a nice type in Chorlton Lane over 7f.

Stepped up to a mile at Lingfield when last seen under a penalty she went on to bolt up by three lengths winning it very comfortably.

She faces more on her plate here stepping up to Listed company but her pedigree suggests she will improve for the step up in trip and she can go well.

One of the better races on the Newmarket card is the Group Two Dahlia Stakes and although holding top weight, With The Moonlight looks the class act.

A winner on this card this year when taking the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes in decisive fashion, She then ran no race in the Epsom Oaks when last of 11, but she bounced back to form when sent over to America and she finished a good second in the Grade One Belmont Oaks.

Sent to Saratoga for the Saratoga Oaks next time out she reversed the form with the American horse from Belmont to win impressively.

Running at the same track just over a furlong shorter in the Grade Two Lake Placid Stakes, she was a narrow second to the Chad Brown trained Haughty.

Given some time off she returned in February over in Meydan and she has been in fine form, winning on seasonal debut in the Group Two Cape Verdi and then backed that up over 1m1f in the Group Two Balanchine.

Sent back over to American in April she ran a cracker to finish second at Keeneland in the Jenny Wiley Stakes and now back in England at 1m2f she looks the horse to beat.

The feature event of the afternoon at Newmarket is the Group One 1000 Guineas over a mile and like the 2000 Guineas we have a win and each way selection.

The three year old daughter of Siyouni, Tahiyra has been seen just twice on the world stage to date, making her debut at Galway in emphatic style when bolting up by lose to six lengths, she was then saved for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

Taking on the proven superstar Meditate, she travelled into the race beautifully before breezing past the Aidan O'Brien trained filly to win with any amount in hand.

A star was officially born after that performance and if training on this season is a player in either especially if the rain comes.

At a bigger price of 14/1 and from an each way angle Mawj could out run her odds showing impressive form as a juvenile and stepping up to a mile this season and looking even better for the extra trip makes her a player.

A winner on debut at Newmarket over 6f beating the talented Believing for George Boughey, she then went to Royal Ascot and finished a good second behind the smart Meditate for Aidan O’Brien in the Group Three Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, who is the second favourite for this race.

Mawj got back to winning ways next time out on the July Course in the Group Two Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, beating the smart sprinter Lezoo who has since franked the form.

The filly finished the season off with a credible fourth of 13 in the Group Two Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York and a solid third behind Lezoo and Meditate with the winner reversing the form in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in September.

Put away for this season, she returned at Meydan in January when stepped up to 7f in the Jumeirah Fillies Classic and she went on to beat the credible Dream Of Love by a head.

Stepped up further to a mile last time out again at Meydan, she revelled in the distance to bolt up by close to nine lengths from Fairy Cross who has since ran a cracker to finish second in the Group Three Nell Gwyn Stakes.

Knowing she stays the mile and Oisin Murphy booked to ride she holds big credentials at 14/1.

The penultimate race of the Guineas meeting is the Howden Handicap over a mile and Kadovar for trainer Andrew Balding seems to be going in the right direction.

Needing his first run of the season on soft ground at Doncaster in April when finishing last of eight, he progressed next time out at Nottingham to finish a much better third, less than two lengths behind the winner.

Dropped slightly in trip to 1m1/2f he went on to bolt up by close to 10 lengths in a Novice Stakes and now back handicapping off a mark of 87, he could resume his progress.

The final event of the afternoon is the Howden Bloodstock Handicap over 1m2f and in what looks a competitive event the Jack Channon trained Rathgar looks to be on an upward curve.

Sent to Goodwood last August for his debut he learnt a lot that day to finish sixth only three lengths behind the winner and then next time out upped in trip at the same track he took to the 1m2f really well to finish two lengths back in third.

Racing at Goodwood for a third straight run this time over 9f, he got off the mark in impressive style beating Ramensky by over two lengths and now handicapping off a mark of 83, this will be more his sphere.