Saturday sees the latest edition of the Future Champions Festival reach a thrilling conclusion as the headquarters of the flat racing game lays on a cracking seven-race card for our punting pleasure.
No doubt the 25-runner marathon will dominate much of the attention – and having looked at that contest earlier in the week, we are still keen on the chances of Trooper Bisdee, Manxman, and Spirit Mixer. However, there’s much more on offer away from the second leg of the Autumn double, including what is traditionally the classiest juvenile event of the season in the shape of the Dewhurst Stakes - whose roll of honour blazes with star quality.
The Group 1 highlight is just one of a quartet of two-year-old events on offer, and here, we pick out our best bets in each ahead of another super Saturday.
1:50 Palace Pier Zetland Stakes, 1m2f, Group 3
Having claimed the past three editions of this, it’s a little surprising to note that Charlie Appleby is without a runner in 2024. Godolphin’s number 1 will have high hopes later on the card, but this may fall to his big rival, Aidan O’Brien.
With Ryan Moore opting to take the ride, it’s no surprise that the Camelot colt Shackleton tops the market (2/1 with bet365). Out of the Listed winning mare Damaniyat Girl, he was a little disappointing in his first two starts but improved significantly for the step up to 1m1f last time out at the Curragh – showing an admirable attitude to assert close home. No doubt there is more to come, but whether he is as far ahead of his stablemate County Mayo as the odds suggest, we aren’t so sure.
Sired by Wootton Bassett, the mount of Wayne Lordan is out of the unraced Galileo mare Aspiring. That lack of racecourse form on the dam side complicates matters a little, but with Aspiring being a full sister to the 100+ performers Illinois, Venice Beach, and Broadway and a half-sister to Arc winner Danedream, it’s fair to say that County Mayo hails from solid stock. A clueless debut at Tipperary didn’t offer much hope, but, like so many from the O’Brien operation, he was an entirely different proposition next time up when powering away over 1m at Gowran Park. At around four times the price of the market leader, he looks solid value in this field.
Recommended Bet: County Mayo each way @ 8/1 with bet365
2:25 Newmarket, Emirates Autumn Stakes, 1m, Group 3
Aidan O’Brien saddles two in this next contest, with the market suggesting the Dubawi colt Delacroix is the one to be on. Out of the wonder mare Tepin, he leaps off the page on pedigree - particularly as his half-sister Grateful has made such a splash in recent weeks. However, his runner-up finish in a Group 2 contest last time doesn’t justify odds as short as 7/4 to our eyes.
Godolphin’s Silver Peak took a big step forward from his debut effort when landing a Class 3 event at Haydock in some style last time, with the runner-up doing his bit for the form when winning by a wide margin at Pontefract. At 3/1 with BetVictor, he makes some appeal, but we just prefer another.
At a double-figure price, take a chance on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Nightwalker. This one went into our notebook following his debut effort at Leicester. Whilst only third that day, he did remarkably well to finish as close as he did despite missing the break, veering wildly across the track and changing his legs late on. That effort looked solid at the time, but all the more so when the winner, Matauri Bay, went very close in Group 3 company next time. On his second start at Yarmouth, Nightwalker put in a far more polished performance – breaking smartly and never seeing another rival en route to a cosy ¾l success. Likely to be the biggest runner in this field, he looks the sort to improve with racing and may prove tough to pass.
Recommended Bet: Nightwalker each way @ 9/1 with BetVictor
3:00 Newmarket, Darley Dewhurst Stakes, 7f, Group 1
Few, if any, juvenile events boast a roll of honour to match that of the Dewhurst Stakes – the past four editions falling to City Of Troy (Derby, Eclipse, and Juddmonte International winner), Chaldean (2000 Guineas champ), Native Trail (Irish 2000 Guineas winner), and St. Mark’s Basilica (French Guineas, French Derby, Eclipse, and Irish Champion star). Safe to say it takes a smart horse to prevail!
Messrs O’Brien and Appleby have landed seven of the past nine editions, and unless Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven causes a shock, that trend will continue in 2024.
Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter (Evs with BetVictor) is the warm favourite, having smashed the juvenile track record at York last time. Two from two heading into this test, he’s the current favourite for the 2000 Guineas and Derby and may well be a star. Stablemates Expanded and Rock Of Cashel are typically well-bred but have a lot to find on form and may be assigned pace-making duties.
Late supplementary entry Shadow Of Light (3/1 with bet365) is the shortest price of the Godolphin duo following his win in the Middle Park Stakes over 6f here in September, with William Buick’s decision to take the ride no doubt affecting the market. That ability to handle the track is in his favour, but he steps up to 7f for the first time here. Stablemate Ancient Wisdom (7/2 with BetVictor) is hard to fault, having won all three starts – all three coming here (two on the July Course and one on the Rowley Mile).
With Ancient Wisdom beating Wimbledon Hawkeye by 3½l in the Superlative Stakes and that rival finishing only 1¾l adrift of The Lion In Winter in the Acomb, we wouldn’t argue too strongly with those who side with the Godolphin runner. However, we suspect stamina at the trip may be the number one requirement here. Responsible for 50% of the field, O’Brien can ensure this is run to suit The Lion In Winter, who can stay on best as his main market rivals run out of steam.
Recommended Bet: The Lion In Winter to win @ Evs with BetVictor
4:15 Godolphin Flying Start Nursery Handicap, 7f, Class 3
Sticking to the 7f trip but moving significantly down in grade, our final bet comes in this 11-runner handicap.
As a half-brother to the sensational sprinter Blue Point, Charlie Appleby’s Olymus Point stands out on pedigree and is yet to finish outside the first three in four career starts. However, his best effort came when staying on to land a 1m soft ground event last time. Up 9lb, down in trip and on quicker ground, he may find himself outpaced inside the final furlong.
Magic Love ran well to finish second over course and distance last time and isn’t dismissed despite a 3lb higher mark, but this can go to the John & Thady Gosden representative Attack. By Wootton Bassett and out of the Group 1 winning miler Albigna, he has taken a few starts to find his stride and didn’t look like breaking his duck until late on last time at Epsom. However, once switched into the clear, he fairly flew home to make up around seven lengths on the leaders to score by a widening 1½l. Those gears may prove decisive as he makes his first start in handicap company.
Recommended Bet: Attack to win @ Best Morning Price
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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