Thursday 24th September 2020



14:25 Newmarket

Form figures of 775 probably don’t inspire much confidence at first glance for Caspian Queen but those numbers don’t tell the full story and she looks to have a solid each-way chance under Ryan Moore today. She was sent off 4/1 favourite for a decent handicap at Goodwood on her penultimate start under today’s pilot, who I’m sure wouldn’t enjoy watching the race back. Held up out the back that day she found trouble on numerous occasions in the final furlong, Moore had to take a pull in the closing stages to avoid running up the back of rivals and she looked to finish with plenty in tank. Since then Richard Hughes’ filly again ran better than her finishing position suggests when fifth at Pontefract in a listed race on her latest start. Stormy Girl, who she faces again in this race, stole the race from the front that day and despite never really being close enough to make any real challenge, Caspian Queen probably did well to pick up fifth position with some late headway.

Stormy Girl almost certainly won’t get it her own way out in front today with Auchterarder and Quickstep Lady in opposition, which could set it up nicely for the selection to come from off the pace. SkyBet are offering 4 places each-way and that looks worth taking advantage of.

Caspian Queen 12/1 - 1 Point Each-Way



15:45 Pontefract

I’m putting a fair bit of faith in the weatherman when studying these selections. At the time of writing forecasts suggest Pontefract could be hit with a fair bit of rain before racing, so these selections are based on the presumption that we will be racing on the softer side of good. With question marks over a number of runners handling that sort of ground I think Lady Nectar looks a worthy favourite here.

She had looked progressive before disappointing on softer going at Catterick last time when a short priced favourite, but she raced away from the favoured rail that day and still ran a solid race to finish third. Prior to that she had finished an impressive winner in a big field at Thirsk and although she steps up a couple of notches in class today, she looks to be progressive and carries only 8st11lb here. Triggered has a wide draw to deal with and if softer ground materialises then that will pose another question, but he has been running better than his form figures suggest in higher grades than this.


Lady Nectar 5/1 - 1 Point Win

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