I was quite surprised to discover that the rain had changed the going to good to soft at Newmarket on Thursday. I had spent the day in sweltering heat in Scotland and had not even given a thought to the possibility of a going change.
There is more rain forecast for the south on Friday so it may well be worth noting down some soft ground specialists just in case. I had reviewed the Falmouth Stakes yesterday and gone for Rizeena to follow up her Royal Ascot victory. She has run on soft ground before without a problem, although it may test her stamina. If the rain continues to fall, you could easily see Purr putting in a good performance for Johnny Murtagh’s stable.
I’m keeping faith with hat-trick seeking Etaab in the opener. She looks like a filly who does just enough to win and could be up to defying a 6lbs rise. William Haggas seems to have mastered the knack of placing his horses correctly and she should give us a good run for our money. I could not see any particular preference for soft going among her rivals so it could become something of a lottery if it is genuinely soft.
Andre Fabre pays one of his rare visits to these shores for the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at 2.10. I have no idea why there is such a poor turnout for this Group 2 race, especially when there were 21 runners in the Queen Mary. We have had some odd turnouts this season with some extremely poor Group races and a mockery of an Irish Derby at the Curragh. I can only assume that Fabre’s High Celebrity has frightened them all away.
She bolted up over seven furlongs on her debut, winning with embarrassing ease. This could possibly be an early sighter from Fabre to see if she could be a Cheveley Park/Guineas filly in the making. Aidan O’Brien’s I Am Beautiful only scrambled home last time and High Celebrity has to be the selection.
The six furlong handicap looks virtually impossible, even more so when you factor in the state of the ground. I am more interested in the maiden race featuring Obsidian and Razor Wind. Obsidian chased home the smart Kings Fete at Sandown but those that finished behind look moderate. Almerzem ran a shocking race earlier in the week while Karraar has had numerous opportunities.
I am therefore siding with Razor Wind who was an eye-catching third at Windsor behind Igider. Kleo (second) and Wakea (fourth) have both won nicely since and it was clearly an above average maiden.
1.40 Etaab at 5-1 Paddy Power
2.10 High Celebrity at 5-6 Bet365
2.40 Rizeena at 5-1 William Hill
4.25 Razor Wind
