The second day of the Dubai Future Champions Festival features the Darley Dewhurst Stakes Group 1 with The Lion In Winter heading the market with interestingly Shadow Of Light a contender after winning the Middle Park impressively a fortnight ago. The Commonwealth Cup was put up as a likely target for him next year, as he was “all speed” and the Charle Appleby team have clearly had a change of mind. From the same team Ancient Truth, the Superlative Stakes winner at the July Festival, should not be overlooked on his first appearance since that victory.
At Chepstow it is the second day of the Unibet Jump Season Opener where there is a quality card of jump racing with two selections in my blog.
Enjoy whether at the races or watching #athome on ITV Racing.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster.
2:10 Chepstow – 4-Y-O Hurdle A Limited Handicap (2m)
Latin Verse ran out a very easy winner at Ludlow last year once he got the hang of things and off the back of that, was fancied by a few to run a big race in the Boodles at the Festival. However, he was asked to set a crazy pace when going off far too quickly and Latin Verse had nothing more to offer turning in.
He bounced back with a good second in a valuable race at Musselburgh, showing all was well, and has warmed up for this with a spin on the Flat at Kempton, minus his usual headgear. That’s back on now, and he looks a horse that still has a bit to offer over hurdles this year.
Unibet 14/1
3:00 Newmarket – Darley Dewhurst Stakes Group 1 (7f)
Ancient Truth represents the biggest threat to the favourite The Lion In Winter, the Acomb winner, who had Wimbledon Hawkeye in second, who then franked the form in the Royal Lodge.
Ancient Truth when winning the Superlative Stakes at the July Festival had Wimbledon Hawkeye back in third, who finished further behind the victor than he did at York.
Ancient Truth has won his three races and this was always going to be the target after his July success. He is following the same route as City Of Troy, the winner in 2023 and Ancient Truth is a big player here.
Unibet 7/2 win
3:20 Chepstow – Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (2m 3½f)
Tune In A Box got a whack from the handicapper with a 15lb rise for his oh-so-easy win at the Punchestown Festival last season but that still only takes him to a mark of 125 and he’s still at the right end of the handicap when it comes to races like this.
Progressive throughout last season, you wouldn’t see many easier big-field handicap winners than he was that day, strolling clear to win by eight easy lengths late on. With both ground and trip ideal, it’s just a case of whether he’s ready to go first time, and if he is, he could take some stopping again.
Unibet 10/1
3:40 Newmarket – Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (2m 2f)
Jacovec Cavern (nap) was having his first start for Emmet Mullins back in July after 15 months off the course after a campaign of hurdling in the 2023/24 season. He was given more than plenty to do at Galway over two miles and half a furlong when coming from a long way back to finish second to Busselton.
Jacovec Cavern was heavily fancied that day and was having his first start beyond two miles on the flat with the Cesarewitch looking a good opportunity to go one better off a low weight.
Unibet 6/1
Premier Ligne not out of the frame in six starts this season, improved again for the step up in trip, finishing second to Master Milliner at Goodwood, when running beyond two miles for the first time and he was also runner-up to Robert Johnson in the trial race for this when the first two were well clear. Premier Ligne on both occasions has looked threatening but maybe not quite going through with the final effort. This time he will have a pair of blinkers, and this should help him concentrate in the finish a bit more, and he can get his head back in front.
Unibet 12/1 each way
Trooper Bisdee won at Nottingham and Pontefract earlier in the season and then was favourite for the Northumberland Plate when unable to sustain a challenge from off the pace on that occasion. He was then off for three months and was fourth in the trial for this race after leading until three furlongs out. Trooper Bisdee will come on for that run and a more strongly run race will suit him and this four-year-old can bely his odds.
Unibet 18/1 each way
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The Wine Tipster
Enjoyed this article? Why not check out some of The Wine Tipster’s other pieces, including his Ten to Follow: a look at the best prospects ahead of the 2024/25 Jumps season!
