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Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Newmarket, York & Chepstow Tips

FRIDAY RACING TIPS

Newmarket 1.47 – Cornwallis Stakes

Midnight Thunder (7/2) has a bit to find on official ratings with one or two of these.

They have decided to avoid the handicap or Listed route to go straight up into a Group 3 race. He drops down to five furlongs but he is a fairly strong traveller and I like the way he won at Yarmouth last time under a penalty.

Oisin [Murphy] didn’t give him a particularly hard race then so he will bounce out of that fine, no doubt.

Provided he handles the track and the dip at Newmarket, I can see him running on well and hitting the line strongly.

He’ll appreciate the rising ground in the last furlong. He’s my pick.

Megan’s Tip: Midnight Thunder WIN

Newmarket 2.25 – Oh So Sharp Stakes

I am going with Cathedral (3/1 fav) here.

There’s lots of talk about Amo Racing and some of the horses they have bought this week. It would be nice to see them with an exciting prospect for next year’s Classics and Cathedral could well be one of those.

She was pretty impressive when winning on her debut at Lingfield.

She switches to the turf now but she was an expensive purchase at the Arqana Breeze Up sale. She’s promised plenty on her debut and I’m looking forward to seeing her back out.

Ralph Beckett holds her in pretty high regard and he’s had a phenomenal season. The horses are flying and I think Cathedral could take the beating here.

Megan’s Tip: Cathedral WIN

York 2.40 – Finale Handicap

Master Builder (3/1 fav) is the one I like. This could be the bet of the day at an attractive price.

He loves the mud, he’s got a big old knee action on him and he’s by Mastercraftsman.

Master Builder was unlucky in the Melrose Handicap at the Ebor Festival and then went on to win pretty convincingly at Haydock afterwards.

I think this horse is pretty talented. Danny Tudhope is on board too – he’s one of the leading riders so I struggle to see Master Builder beat.

Megan's Tip: Master Builder WIN

Chepstow 3.15 – Persian War Novices’ Hurdle

This race is falling apart a little bit, probably because of the ground.

Nevertheless, I’m going with Ryan’s Rocket (5/2 fav) here. Trainer Fergal O’Brien tends to have his horses well-readied for their first start back.

He’s a winner on soft ground previously and it’s going to be testing enough at Chepstow this weekend.

He steps up slightly in trip, which could help him improve further, and I think he’s the one who will handle the ground conditions better than the others.

Megan’s Tip: Ryan’s Rocket WIN

Newmarket 3.35 – Fillies’ Mile

My favourite filly of the year, Desert Flower (11/8 fav), is just extremely talented.

She’s a short price to win the Fillies’ Mile but it wouldn’t be putting me off. She won at even money at Doncaster last time in the May Hill Stakes and it was just another comfortable, smooth success.

She’s twice raced at the July course and handled that exceptionally well when she bolted up in a maiden and in her novice, so switching over to the Rowley Mile doesn’t bother me at all.

I don’t think anything can get near her.

Megan’s Tip: Desert Flower WIN

SATURDAY RACING TIPS

York 2.05 – Class 2 Handicap

In a big field handicap, I am going to go with Bolster (11/2 fav), who likes cut in the ground. He ran well at Newbury last time on heavy ground behind a course and ground specialist. His best form this year has been when the ground has been on the slow side. I worried about his consistency prior to joining this yard. However since he’s been with Karl Burke he’s been a lot more consistent with only one below-par run – and I felt the ground was way too quick for him that day, so that’s enough of an excuse for me. I feel Bolster can back up a good run at Newbury. I know he has to carry top weight on soft ground, which is not always easy, but I just think he’s a long way above the rest and I still think he can be winning off this weight. He gets his conditions, the track will suit him and I see him going very well again. Megan’s Tip: Bolster WIN

Newmarket 3.00 – Dewhurst Stakes

I think it’s really great that Charlie Appleby has decided to turn Shadow Of Light (11/4) around so quickly after a pretty impressive victory in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket just two weeks ago.

He steps up to seven furlongs for the first time. He’s proven versatile in terms of ground – whether it’s good or soft on Saturday, it won’t make too much of a difference to his chances.

He is William Buick’s pick over Ancient Truth (7/2), which is no surprise.

The interesting horse at a short price is The Lion In Winter (10/11 fav), who was pretty impressive in the Acomb Stakes at York back in August. He was so much sharper this time round having been pretty green on his debut but finishing his race nicely.

He jumped out sharp in the Acomb, travelled very well and was ultimately too good for passing.

The big talking horse in that race was Appleby’s Ruling Court – who we haven’t seen again since – but we have seen the runner-up that day, Wimbledon Hawkeye, and he boosted the Acomb form at Newmarket by winning the Royal Lodge Stakes.

So it looks to have been a race that worked out pretty well.

The Lion In Winter has a pretty interesting profile. A son of Sea The Stars, he has been a bit of a talking point this season, certainly after his debut.

He wasn’t the most expensive horse that’s ever walked into Ballydoyle but clearly he’s a pretty talented one.

He’s going to take all the beating.

Megan’s Tip: The Lion In Winter WIN

Chepstow 3.20 – Silver Trophy

The ground is going to be drying out a bit. It looks as though it will be testing enough on Friday but should become nice enough by the time Saturday comes. I imagine we will end up with it being officially declared good-to-soft.

I am going to go with Dan and Harry Skelton’s Doyen Quest (15/2) here. He gets a nice weight an prior to his summer break he was in very good form – learning and improving all the while.

The drying ground will help him as he is probably most effective on good-to-soft ground and I like how he sneaks in here off a fairly low weight. He is unexposed and lightly raced in comparison to a good fe here and I’m taking my chances with him as a result.

Megan’s Tip: Doyen Quest WIN

Newmarket 3.40 – Cesarewitch Handicap

This is one of the trickiest handicaps of the year. The amount of prize money this race has lost over the last few years is shocking to me.

In 2018 this race was worth £307,000 to the winner – this year it is worth £90,000. That’s a huge drop and, therefore, the quality is dropping as well. We are seeing more Jumps trainers getting involved but this used to be a pretty prestigious race and it is kind of losing that now.

More horses are getting into this race with ease, rated in the low 80s, which never used to happen.

Each way, I am going to throw in last year’s winner The Shunter (12/1). It would be silly to overlook him. If the ground dries out plenty, it might catch him out but he hasn’t been seen for a while and is a horse I marked highly last year.

He’s not going to be coming here half-fit. He will be ready and I think he could outrun his odds.

I am putting up Sixandahalf (7/1) to win. She didn’t do an awful lot wrong at the Curragh in the Irish equivalent of this race. Some might say she was just running out of petrol late on.

It might be that Newmarket suits her a bit better. You’re rolling downhill for an awful long way. Yes, the final furlong-and-a-half is stiff but the Curragh is a gradual climb and I would argue that Newmarket might just suit her.

Sixandahalf is still on a mark with a bit of leniency. She has the cruising speed to hold a position and she is unexposed in comparison to plenty in this race. Her trainer Gavin Cromwell is fast becoming one of the best around too

Megan’s Tip: Sixandahalf WIN; The Shunter E/W

Chepstow 4.00 – John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase

This is a good race – we have got Editeur Du Gite, Ga Law, Flegmatik and Il Ridoto to name just a few.

I am going with Ga Law. Jamie Snowden got this horse back on track last season; he slightly lost his way after a fall made him lose a little bit of confidence.

He really got back on track last season. He was a good winner at Cheltenham in January but it didn't happen for him in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival, when he made plenty of mistakes, possibly due to the step back up in class.

Ga Law was back at it in the Oaksey Chase on the final day of the season when he ran very well and jumped very well to finish second.

Now I think this race at Chepstow could suit him. He is a horse with plenty of ability. If he can get into a rhythm early and get jumping then he has a massive chance.

With Editeur Du Gite in there, it means he isn’t top weight and jockey Johnny Burke gets on with the horse well so there is plenty to like about him. Jamie hasn't had an overly busy summer but his horses have been running well.

Megan’s Tip: Ga Law WIN

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

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