Cheltenham begins its season with the Showcase Meeting on Friday, while Aintree hosts the Old Roan Chase on Sunday. There is still plenty of business to do on the Flat however on what is another Group 1 weekend.
The Vertem Futurity is the big race of the weekend, while it seems that John and Thady Gosden could be in for a very profitable time too.
Friday 21st October 2022
2.35 Newbury (Fillies’ Handicap) – KING’S JOY
Any money for hat-trick seekers Misty Dancer and Miss Down Under is understandable, however the strongest of this bunch may well be the Gosdens’ King’s Joy.
The Kingman filly has been getting there slowly but surely, showing up well behind Grande Dame earlier in the season as well as at Ascot in the summer, but she reached a new level last time when behind Al Husn at Newmarket.
The ground should be fine for her and she may outclass Picual and the aforementioned last-time-out winners.
3.10 Newbury (Handicap) – FRANTASTIC
Could there be a quick Gosden, Dettori, Oppenheimer, topweight handicap double? I reckon there just might.
Frantastic looked very decent when winning at Newcastle last back end, handling the Tapeta very well and scooting away close home.
He was sent to the Classic Trial in the spring and in August over 1m2f at Newbury, he beat subsequent hurdle winner Admiralty House and the now 84-rated winner Cave Diver.
This 1m5½f trip should be ideal for Cracksman’s full brother and he may be able to stretch away from Tathbeet and Juan Bermudez.
4.05 Doncaster (Handicap) – ALMUHIT
An interesting race over the St Leger trip of 1m6½f, one in which the most likely winners are David Simcock’s four-year-old Traila and theGosdens’ Almuhit.
Their form is very similar and they are rated only 1lb apart, however Almuhit has a year on his rival and was slowly away last time on his first run after a gelding operation. He’ll be much straighter this time no doubt and has plenty more improvement to come over the trip.
4.38 Doncaster (Handicap) – FIRST OFFICER
Last October, a fine maiden at Newmarket was won by Al Mubhir, a winner for last Friday’s column. Beaten only 2¼ lengths that day on debut after a slow start was First Officer who was unfortunately campaigned almost exclusively on fast ground since.
Al Mubhir needed the rain last week and First Officer needed it when bolting up last time out on his first start for Jane Chapple-Hyam.
On private ratings, I made First Officer a 92 horse, while Al Mubhir is now officially rated 97. Either way, it seems First Officer’s current mark of 87 still underestimates his talents greatly and the son of Galileo should enjoy himself in this race.
Saturday 22nd October 2022
1.33 Saint-Cloud (Criterium de Saint-Cloud – Group 1) – ARREST
Juddmonte are very keen on Arrest, as are John and Thady Gosden, and while the Vertem Futurity was under consideration for him this race is more winnable and they have another colt for the Doncaster race.
Arrest is a big baby and will have improved plenty from his last race, he has strong form and looks as though these conditions will be fine form him as the Frankel’s tend to stay very well.
1.50 Newbury (Horris Hill Stakes – Group 3) – STRIKING STAR
Charlie Appleby’s Striking Star won his maiden at Sandown last month very much despite the soft ground and not because of it. He was blocked in his run that day too and should have been a much more impressive winner visually.
Having been off for over five weeks he will have improved markedly as the yard’s juveniles do, and now the Dubawi/Shamardal cross can show his class and perhaps put himself in the Classic frame for next spring.
Ancestral Land, Grey’s Monument, Lord Of Biscay and Knight may all be very useful.
2.30 Doncaster (Handicap) – ISRAR
It was commented on these pages that the only horse who fit the bill of being that potential Group horse in the London Gold Cup back in May, the type that usually wins the race, was Israr.
He duly did win, and while it hasn’t gone exactly to plan for the John and Thady Gosden runner since, he remains a horse of some promise at this mile-and-a-half trip and he is taken to prove how well handicapped he truly is for the end of the season.
In behind there is more to come from Wandering Rocks no doubt, while Moktasaab remains solid as an each-way proposition.
3.35 Doncaster (Vertem Futurity – Group 1) – EPICTETUS
This could be yet another big race victory on what has turned out to be an important weekend for the Gosden yard.
This year, the Gosdens have had to watch on as Charlie Appleby and William Haggas have truly taken over in the training ranks, while their very public spat with Frankie Dettori was also a low point. Their Epictetus though is a proper Group 1 type and can take this.
On debut the Kingman colt beat Flying Honours by 4½ lengths and he is now rated 110. We knew he’d be a top challenger in the Autumn Stakes but plumped for Silver Knott, which was the correct call just about, and that horse can be another real top-notcher. He’s now rated 115 and is off to the Breeders’ Cup.
That’s the level Epictetus can now achieve, if not more, and his yard must be full of confidence. He does have Auguste Rodin to beat who is second-favourite for the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, but beat him he can.
4.15 Newbury (Handicap) – NATURAL WORLD
While Magisterial could yet be up to much better things and we know the quality of the likes of Mujtaba, Natural World remains of major interest.
Back in the spring he beat stablemate Ottoman Fleet and Lion on debut, two horses now rated 109. He was sent straight to the Derby Trial at Lingfield after that but most likely wants this softer ground and has needed time to truly come to himself. He may now be well handicapped and overpriced.
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