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Joel Pattison
October 13, 2023

JPRacing - Friday

Yesterday was full of breaking news. First Dettori made the SHOCK announcement that he will not, in fact, be retiring. Instead, he is going to ride out in America full-time. But there’s no doubt he will be back for Royal Ascot and so on…

Then there were the changes to the Grand National shortly after, which Frankie must have hated because it took the spotlight off him almost instantly. To round off the day, Arc winner Ace Impact was retired. So, yeah a biggie.

There were two winners for us yesterday too, with the NAP Kamsinas winning at Worcester for Fergal O’Brien before one of the exclusives, The Waiting Game won at Chelmsford to land her five-timer. She was tipped at 11/4, so a nice win.

Today’s a big day in terms of racing itself, with the Future Champions Festival starting at Newmarket and Chepstow holding its seasonal opener. York are wrapping up with Finale Friday, and there’s all-weather action at Newcastle and Dundalk.

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Ones to watch

Of course, Future Champions Day at HQ is a big one for the juveniles. So there are five 2YO contests at Newmarket this afternoon, and there are 13 in total across the cards. I’m just going to zone in on a couple of the big ones at HQ, however.

Inquisitively leads the market for the opening G3 contest at 13:50 having won a Listed race at York lto. But all three of his races to date have been on GF and he was a NR at Doncaster last month due to unsuitable ground — which was soft (today’s going).

That doesn’t fill you with confidence in the slightest for William Buick’s mount, so preference is for Flora Of Bermuda. The Andrew Balding-trained horse produced her only victory to date on this ground at Goodwood in August and she was second to Big Evs in the G2 Flying Childers back on soft at Doncaster lto. She should have a good chance at 4/1.

Skellet and Chic Colombine looks like a good battle in the G3 at 14:25. The former shed her maiden tag on the second attempt when winning at Salisbury last month, and that form has been boosted as second that day has gone on to win — not to mention the fact Juddmonte have swept in and bought her. The latter is gunning for a five-timer and has form on this ground with her last two wins coming on soft. This is her biggest test yet, but I’m siding with her at 3/1.

Then it’s on to the big race of the day, the Fillies’ Mile at 16:10, and I like Shuwari at 5/2. She won her first two, including a Listed race at Sandown in July, before losing to Carla’s Way in the Rockfel at HQ last month. Oisin left her with too much to do that day and she did well to even finish second. A mile could bring out further improvement and Tom Marquand is back in the saddle for the first time since debut.

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Just the one today and it’s Aye Right at 4/1 in the opener at Chepstow. He ran better than his odds suggested he should have in the majority of his races last season, finishing second on reappearance from 20/1, fourth of 11 from 33/1 at Wetherby on Boxing Day and 4/6 from 66/1 in the Ascot Chase (which was ambitious) in February. He goes well fresh, and is 1lb lower than his last winning mark.