Favourites to prosper on Future Champions Day

Unbeaten juveniles Dawn Approach and Reckless Abandon are unopposable in the two Group One races on Future Champions Day at Newmarket, which features the Cesarewitch as well.

Dawn Approach is likely to jump at around 2-5 to win the Dewhurst Stakes, a seven-furlong contest for colts and fillies that is probably the most prestigious race for two-year-old thoroughbreds on the British calendar.

Jim Bolger`s colt has made a perfect start to his career, with his five victories including the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot - the form that race is working out extremely well - and the National Stakes at The Curragh. He won the latter, his first run over seven furlongs, by four and three-quarter lengths and he is proven on the forecast good-to-soft ground. Dawn Approach`s sire won the 2007 Dewhurst Stakes so bet on a case of like father, like son.

Ashdan is unbeaten and unexposed but Dawn Approach sets such a very high standard that one could not bet on John Gosden`s Dansili colt improving past him. There is no doubt, however, that Ashdan will be one to watch in next year`s classics.

The Middle Park Stakes, a six-furlong event for colts, will precede the Dewhurst Stakes on Newmarket`s great seven-race card and Reckless Abandon is difficult to overlook at around 15-8 as he goes for his fifth win from as many starts.

The unofficial ratings suggest that the Middle Park Stakes will boil down to a head-to-head battle between Reckless Abandon and Moohaajim. Fortunately for punters, the two youngsters have met already, at Deauville in August.

Reckless Abandon won the Prix Morny over six furlongs on good going. Moohaajim ran green back in fifth position and, although one can expect the Marco Botti-trained son of Cape Cross to make a slightly better fist of it this time, two and a quarter lengths is a lot of ground to make up.

Clive Cox is rightly excited about Reckless Abandon and the Exchange Rate colt can cash in at odds against once again.

Strictly speaking, the Cesarewitch is the headline act at Newmarket on Saturday even though it is the only non-Group race. Run over two miles and two furlongs, it starts in one county and ends in another, beginning in Cambridgeshire and finishing in Suffolk. With 36 declared runners, it is either a nightmare or paradise for punters. Opinions vary greatly.

Countrywide Flame is the Cesarewitch favourite and he does appear to have a very, very, good chance of winning the marathon flat race. Vastly improved as a juvenile hurdler, he won the Triumph Hurdle during the Cheltenham Festival and proved subsequently that his 33-1 victory was not a fluke.

John Quinn has had the Cesarewitch in mind for Countrywide Flame for quite some time and the Settrington-based trainer was not unduly concerned that his four-year-old gelding picked up a penalty for winning at Chester last month.

Countrywide Flame will handle not only the expected softish going but also the large field. Some of the favourites will not enjoy being in a 36-runner race. He had a favourable low draw in stall seven and a relatively light weight. Even in a contest full of chances, he deserves to be an 8-1 shot.

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12/10/2012     © Frixo 2024