RACING fan Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) picks out his best bets from a brilliant day at of racing from Newmarket.
14:20 Newmarket| The Cheveley Park Stakes| ITV
The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group One for two-year-old fillies over six furlongs and tends to be won by speedy types rather than classic contenders. This looks a hot race with three Group 2 winners dominating the betting, and I feel one could just be too good here.
Heartache has won the Queen Mary and the Flying Childers so far, this season bringing in the best form so far into this. She is very fast and I don't expect her to want much further than this distance anytime soon. If the rain stays away she is the one to beat but I'm taking her on.
Threading won the Loathed stakes last time out and this unbeaten daughter of Exceed and Excel looks high class. I'm not sure how good a renewal of the race she won and this looks a big step up. She has won on soft, looks to see the trip out well and is open to improvement, but I'm against her too.
The one I've backed is the Aidan O'Brien trained Clemmie. A full sister to Churchill, she was disappointed at Royal Ascot but has improved dramatically since then. The yard tends to take its time with fillies and O'Brien said she is the best of this year's crop. When you consider the quality, he has and the improved form of her last two starts she could just be too good for her rivals here.
14:55 Newmarket | The Middle Park Stakes | ITV
The Middle Park Stakes is another group one over six furlongs, this time for two-year-old Colts. This is a very good renewal and at first glance, it's wide open, but I feel that one from a top yard is actually a little overpriced given its achievements on the track.
Sands of Mali won a Nottingham maiden before taking the Gimcrack in good style and is well worth his place in the field here. He was something of a surprise winner of what looked a competitive race (perhaps not a high-class renewal) but he is unexposed and could well be a very good colt, however, I've gone against him.
Unfortunately, is already a Group 1 winner and has improved with every start so far. Not many horses go from being runner-up in a Pontefract conditions race (his fourth start) to winning a group 1 in just two races later but this Karl Burke inmate has. Overall, I think he isn't up to this and I'd be surprised if he was quite good enough to take home first prize.
The one I backed is another Ballydoyle representative Sioux Nation. He took his time to get to grips with the game but on his fifth start, he won the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot before taking the Group One Phoenix stakes last time out. He is a very quick horse and though there are concerns about the ground I'm not overly concerned as Scat Daddy has produced soft ground group 1 winners and He may just have improved beyond these.
Best Bets
14:20 Newmarket – Clemmie to win (11/8 Bet365)
14:55 Newmarket – Sioux Nation to win (9/2 Paddy Power)
