Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Day 1 Tips
Group 1 action returns to the Rowley Mile this week with the Cheveley Park and Middle Park Stakes before the big-field Cambridgeshire Handicap on Saturday.
Day 1 of the meeting includes the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes and the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes.
We have picked out selections and analysis for all seven races on Thursday’s card including a course winner who looks capable of further success at HQ.
13:50 - Newmarket - Hunters Prestige British EBF Maiden Stakes
It’s a low-key opening to proceedings and it can go the way of Maltese Cross who couldn’t have looked much more promising without winning on his Ascot debut.
He conceded first run to the winner that day and stayed on really well to the line. Given that William Haggas’ representatives often improve a bundle from their initial outings, Maltese Cross could be hard to beat if he handles the unique demands of the Rowley Mile.
Selection: Maltese Cross
14:25 - Newmarket - Nursery Handicap
There are a host of promising types in the nursery, perhaps none more so than Monoceros, who made a winning debut on the July course here.
He was turned over at short odds at Leicester last time, but left the impression that he was in desperate need of a step up to a mile which he gets here. He stayed on really well and, with improvement likely now handicapping, he looks capable of defying top weight.
Selection: Monoceros
15:00 - Newmarket - Fillies' Handicap
There’s no shortage of pace in the fillies’ handicap on the card and it could set up nicely for a hold-up performer.
The one who appeals most is Lady Roxby, who only just failed to get up at Yarmouth last time out when seemingly relishing the step back up to six furlongs. There could easily be more to come for her relatively new connections, particularly back on quicker ground.
Selection: Lady Roxby
15:35 - Newmarket - Tattersalls Stakes
There’s also plenty of pace in the feature race of the day. A step up in trip isn’t certain to suit Distant Storm given he refused to settle at York last time out, so it may be worth taking a chance with Special Dividend.
He’s closely related to Dividend, whose best form came at this trip, and he shaped like he would relish a step up in distance when hitting the frame at York last time out.
Selection: Special Dividend
16:10 - Newmarket - Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes
It may be worth taking a chance on the fitness of Live Your Dream who has been off since 2023.
He should be better suited to quick ground than the favourite, Palladium, and he went close in the 2023 Ebor on his penultimate run.
An absence isn’t a major concern for one from this yard and he has Rowley Mile form in the book too, having hit the crossbar in a Cesarewitch Trial.
Selection: Live Your Dream
16:45 - Newmarket - Budds Horseracing Memorabilia Handicap
This doesn’t look like the most competitive handicap for the grade and it may be worth taking a chance on Son Of Man, who is entirely unexposed trying 1m4f for the first time.
He’s shaped like this distance would suit in the past, arrives in good form and first-time cheekpieces are a potential source of improvement.
Selection: Son Of Man
17:18 - Newmarket - Handicap
Tim Easterby doesn’t send too many down to Newmarket and Candonomore is an intriguing runner for the Malton yard.
He will have found seven furlongs too sharp at Haydock last time out and drying ground is going to suit with all his best form on a quick surface.
Selection: Candonomore
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
