DOUBLE HANDFUL

THERE’S not one but two Group 1s for us to get stuck into at Newmarket today. Did you know that Newmarket hosts a quarter of the 36 Group 1 races that take place each year?

I know this because I used to live in Newmarket in the 1990s.

I remember having a tremendous row with my boss one lunchtime, which is one of the perks of working near a boating lake.

The Cheveley Park Stakes for two-year-old fillies over six furlongs looks a wide-open affair, which is racing speak for ‘anything can win this.’

The last time I looked, six of the eight runners were 7-1 or shorter in the betting.

Only Illykato, who has been beaten by a few of today’s rivals, looks out of her depth at around 40-1.

It’s worth mentioning that York’s Group 2 Lowther is a good trial for this race with four horses (Hooray, Rosdhu Queen, Tiggy Wiggy and

Fairyland) completing the Lowther/ Cheveley double in the last

10 years.

This brings me to today’s selection MISS AMULET who was supremely impressive when winning the Lowther just five weeks ago. She was pressed by Sacred (who re-opposes today) in th the last furlong and l looked like she was going to be passed but battled to find more. Ridden by James Doyle that day, it is Ryan Moore who takes o over this time.

Well beaten by five leng lengths in third that day was Umm U Kulthum, who went on to win a Group 3 at Ayr on her next outing.

Miss Amulet’s victory at York was on good to soft ground, which is what she should be performing on this afternoon.

Kevin Burke’s Dandalla looks the main threat. She’s won all three of her starts to date including a Group Two here at Newmarket on her last run.

Barring any mishaps, I expect Miss Amulet to prevail today.