The Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting reaches a thrilling conclusion this coming Saturday with a stellar seven-race card. The bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap looks set to be the big betting heat of the day as punters attempt to unravel a historic event, which boasts a maximum 35-runner field.
Elsewhere on the card, we have a trio of Group class contests for the juveniles, headlined by the Group 1 double act of the Cheveley Park Stakes for the fillies and Middle Park Stakes for the colts.
First run back in 1866, the 6f Middle Park Stakes offers a handsome £275,000 in total prize money and includes the names of Sun Chariot, Dante, Abernant, Brigadier Gerard, Rodrigo de Triano, Oasis Dream, and more on an illustrious roll of honour.
Twelve runners remain in contention at the five-day stage, and here we pick out the leading contenders and a trio of runners who may be worth a look at an each-way price.
The Market Leaders
Whistlejacket – 11/10 with bet365
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Sire: No Nay Never
With seven Middle Park wins, Aidan O'Brien tops the all-time trainer table for this Group 1 event. Responsible for five of the remaining 12 entries, it would be no surprise if he made it number eight in 2024.
Of the O’Brien quintet, this son of Prix Morny winner No Nay Never brings the strongest form. Having managed only fourth in the Norfolk Stakes at the Royal Meeting, Whistlejacket bounced back with an easy win in the Group 2 July Stakes, only to come up short against the highly regarded Babouche in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. However, any thoughts that defeat had burst his bubble were quickly dismissed when he emulated his sire by landing the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville last time. Three from four, when the word soft has entered the going description, he’s the proven class act in the field and the one they all have to beat.
Ides Of March – 10/3 with bet365
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Sire: Wootton Bassett
The biggest threat to Whistlejacket may come from within his own yard in the shape of this rapidly improving speedball. By 7f Group 1 winner Wootton Bassett, Ides Of March has a touch more stamina in his pedigree than his stablemate but has been all pace in recent outings.
Having posted a decent effort when fourth on debut, Ides Of March’s third behind The Lion In Winter was disappointing at the time but doesn’t look too bad now - with that runner (also trained by O’Brien) trading as the favourite for the 2025 Derby and 2000 Guineas. Since that loss, Ides Of March has hacked up in a Maiden at the Curragh before returning to that track to burn off his rivals in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes. He’s yet to achieve as much as Whistlejacket and is unraced on softer than good, but is clearly heading in the right direction and looks a big danger.
Shadow Of Light – 13/2 with bet365
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Sire: Lope De Vega
Charming Thought provided Charlie Appleby with his only Middle Park winner when coming home in front in 2014. Ten years is a long time to wait for a trainer of Appleby’s prominence, but he will have high hopes that Shadow Of Light can end that barren spell.
A half-brother to Earthlight, who won the 2019 edition of this, this good-looking chestnut claimed his Maiden and Novice events with the minimum of fuss before being pitched into the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at the York Ebor Festival. He couldn’t quite get to Cool Hoof Luke that day but finished best of the rest and may enjoy a greater test at the trip if the forecast rain arrives.
Outsiders Worth a Second Look
Dash Dizzy – 66/1 with bet365
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Sire: Wootton Bassett
The 2024 Middle Park Stakes is a fine advert for the stallion Wootton Bassett, with five of the 12 entries sired by the former Richard Fahey star. Included in that number is the Charlie Johnston-trained Dash Dizzy.
Charlie Johnston has yet to land this prize, but father Mark won with Awzaan in 2009 and caused a 25/1 shock when saddling The Last Lion to victory in 2016. Dash Dizzy will likely start an even bigger price here, but there was much to like about his front-running success at Kempton last time. This is a huge step up in class, but three winners have come out of that all-weather event, and, as a half-brother to Phoenix Stakes winner Sioux Nation, he boasts an appealing pedigree for this test.
Henry Matisse – 12/1 with bet365
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Sire: Wootton Bassett
If using pedigree as the sole criterion to determine which of these will prove the best in time, our vote would go to this beautifully bred Aidan O’Brien colt. By Wootton Bassett (again) and out of the dual Group 1 winning mare Immortal Verse, Henry Matisse is a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Tenebrism and Group 2 scorer Statuette.
So far at the track, Henry Matisse has won three of four starts – including twice over 6f – with his only defeat coming last time out, when second in the Group 1 National Stakes. Given his pedigree, the Dewhurst Stakes may be a more suitable target, but he would rate an intriguing contender if tackling this assignment.
Black Forza– 10/1 with bet365
Trainer: Michael O’Callaghan
Sire: Complexity
This Michael O’Callaghan representative isn’t an obvious sort for this on breeding – being by US Grade 1 dirt winner Complexity and out of US mare Harlee Honey. However, despite what his pedigree page suggests, this speedy sort has no trouble performing on turf.
Breaking his duck at the second time of asking in a Maiden event at Fairyhouse, he then came with a storming late effort to get up close home in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He managed only fourth when sent in pursuit of the riches on offer at Kentucky Downs, but that still represented a solid effort, considering he missed the break and was stuck out wide on the bend. Given almost a month to recover from his transatlantic adventure, he brings solid form to the race and shouldn’t be dismissed lightly.
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.
Paul Harrison
 (1).webp)
