The team preview Friday’s ITV racing, with day two of Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting taking centre stage alongside supporting National Hunt action from Worcester.
R1 - Boyle Sports British EBF Rosemary Stakes (13:15 – Newmarket)
A competitive Listed mile contest opens proceedings. Arisaig is taken to capitalise on a drop in class, having shaped creditably when third in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood last time. With pace likely to be injected by Mojave River and Serving With Style, Charlie Johnston's four-year-old should find conditions ideal back at her preferred trip on sound ground. Elwateen, representing Shadwell, looks the chief threat if bouncing back from a below-par Group 1 Falmouth Stakes effort, while the progressive Never Let Go also makes appeal.
R2 - Princess Royal Stakes (13:50 – Newmarket)
The two Godolphin-owned runners dominate the betting, but Revoir is one to note at an each-way price. The filly has filled the runner-up spot in consecutive Listed starts and now steps up in trip, something her pedigree strongly suggests will suit. By a dam who stayed well in America and a half-sister to the high-class Group 1-placed Remarquee, she has consistently finished strongly in her races, and this longer distance looks the logical next step.
R3 - Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Rockfel Stakes (14:25 – Newmarket)
Curiously for a Group 2 event, the front end of the market is ruled by two fillies emerging from Class 4 company – the highly progressive Touleen, who holds any amount of potential, and the reopposing Zanthos, who the former comprehensively dispensed with on latest outing at Leicester. At current prices, however, it could be worth siding with Sir Mark Prescott's Moon Target, running with cheekpieces equipped for the first time. The Cheveley Park-owned runner did not stay when attempting the Group 2 May Hill Stakes last time, but is evidently classy and is capable of bouncing back over this shorter trip, with good to firm ground expected to suit.
R4 - trustatrader.com Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Novices' Handicap Hurdle (14:42 – Worcester)
While James Owen's propensity for improving horses is almost cliché and Dream Diamond has been well-found in the market, it is hard to look past the progressive five-year-old in this series finale. Afforded a mark of 122 on handicap debut, the gelding won in facile style on first start for his new yard over 2m at this track when last seen and is entirely unexposed over this trip. The ground should pose no issues, likewise, with conditions underfoot near identical to his most recent victory.
R5 - Boyle Sports Daily Racing Rewards Joel Stakes (15:00 – Newmarket)
This Group 2 contest over one mile is likely to revolve around Opera Ballo and the unbeaten Zeus Olympios. While the latter was highly impressive at Haydock in the Group 3 Superior Mile, preference is for the Godolphin colt, who should get a strong pace courtesy of stablemate Victory Dance. Despite racing freely when last seen in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, his turn of foot was striking, and he can continue his upward trajectory now back in Group company.
R6 - Boyle Sports Smart Race Card Godolphin Stakes (15:35 – Newmarket)
Isle Of Jura makes his eagerly awaited return, having racked up five consecutive wins before sustaining an injury, including a dominant four-length victory in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot. If fit and ready, this represents an ideal reappearance assignment. A market check is advised, but his class edge is obvious. Of the opposition, lightly-raced Godolphin runner By The Book looks the main danger.
