Newmarket Future Champions Festival: Day 1 Betting Tips
Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival kicks off on Friday and the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile is the feature on the seven-race card.
We’ve picked out our strongest fancy for all seven races, which includes an unbeaten horse in the main event that should prove very hard to pass.
13:07 - Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies' Stakes (7f)
Newmarket maidens tend to be pretty useful form pointers and this race will surely be no different.
It’s worth taking note when Aidan O’Brien has entries in British maidens or novices and he saddles Head To Head, who finished second on debut at Dundalk in September, in the opener.
The yard’s juveniles tend to improve from their first runs and there’s loads to like about the two-year-old’s pedigree. This daughter of Wootton Bassett is unlikely to be far away.
Selection: Head to Head @ SP
13:47 - Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3, 5f)
With some give in the ground, horses with good form over further could come into play here and Hamad Al Jehani’s The Strikin Viking fits the bill.
He was just denied by Henri Matisse when second in the Railway Stakes for previous connections and just as close to going one better behind Black Forza in the Richmond Stakes after that.
The two-year-old was far too keen when blowing out in the Gimcrack last time, but the drop back to 5f should help with that and he brings the best form to the table.
Selection: The Strikin Viking @ SP
14:25 - Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3, 7f)
This Group 3 looks like an excellent opportunity for Ollie Sangster’s Flight, who has been unfortunate to bump into the very smart Desert Flower twice, including when third in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last time out.
Sangster’s charge was an impressive winner over this trip at Sandown in August and the return to 7f should be a bonus. The filly looks up to winning at this sort of level and this could be the day.
Selection: Flight @ SP
15:00 - Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes (Group 2, 7f)
Royal Scotsman hasn’t quite reached the heights that he threatened to as a juvenile but there’s more than enough form in the book to suggest he’s up to winning this.
There were signs that he was back to his best when returning to winning ways over an extended mile in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom when last seen, as he pulled clear to win it easily.
Making all the running that day, he showed enough early speed to suggest dropping back to 7f won’t be a problem and another big run is expected.
Selection: Royal Scotsman @SP
15:35 - Fillies' Mile (Group 1, 1m)
The market probably has it right here and the May Hill Stakes form is likely to hold the key to this race. Desert Flower was strong at the finish on her first start over a mile that day and she dispatched January with little fuss.
Whilst it’s always dangerous to rule Aidan O’Brien out, Charlie Appleby could well get the better of him here. Desert Flower is unbeaten in three starts and made it look easy when winning her maiden and a novice on the July Course.
Selection: Desert Flower @ SP
16:10 - Old Rowley Cup Handicap (1m4f)
This could be the hardest puzzle to solve on the card and it’s shaping up to be a very competitive handicap. James Ferguson’s Kildare Legend has the biggest potential to be ahead of the handicapper, which means he gets the nod.
The three-year-old has had just four starts so far and only made his handicap debut at Doncaster when last seen. He was a cosy winner on the day and a 6lb rise looks pretty reasonable.
It’s hard to know how much wiggle room this mark gives him but he’s entitled to progress further.
Selection: Kildare Legend @SP
16:45 - Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes (Group 3, 1m2f)
Forgiving one bad run is easy enough to do and Dance Sequence could be the one to side with, if you’re willing to forget a pretty ordinary display in the Prix de Diane from Charlie Appleby’s filly.
The daughter of Dubawi was runner-up in the Oaks before that and if she can rediscover that form, a return to winning ways would very much be on the agenda.
She remains lightly raced and it’s definitely too early to give up on her.
Selection: Dance Sequence @ SP