Sun Racing ambassador Megan Nicholls is back and looks ahead to a cracking day of racing at Newmarket

There aren’t many days in the Flat calendar I enjoy more than this afternoon.

With the Middle Park shaping up to be one of the races of the season and the 33-runner Cambridgeshire as competitive as ever, it promises to be a thriller. 

First up is the Royal Lodge, and the most interesting runner in the field is Highland Chief.

He hasn’t run since Royal Ascot when he finished third in the Chesham, form that has been boosted by both Pinatubo and Lope Y Fernandez.

After only two runs and now stepped up to a mile off the back of a break, he could be anything.

You also have to respect Andrew Balding’s Kameko.

The form of his narrow defeat in the Solario is strong and he looks to have a very nice attitude as he battled well that day.

Weekend rides

I ride Green Book up at Haydock and Brian Ellison is keen to get him on the softer surface. 

It wasn’t bottomless enough for him at Pontefract earlier in the week and if he handles the quick turnaround then the conditions will definitely suit him.

He’s got plenty of ability and could have a chance.

Tomorrow, I’m off to Newbury to ride Torcello.

He won last time and looked back to his best on turf and soft ground.

Hopefully that boosted his confidence and the form has worked out nicely.

Conditions should be similar here and I think he’s more than capable of winning off a 4lb higher mark. 

He tends to run his best races when up with the pace so hopefully he can break well and go close at least.

 

The Cheveley Park is all about one horse this year – Raffle Prize.

She’s run five times, a few more than most of these, and has plenty of experience on her side.

Her run in the Morny was a fine effort and the winner of that, Earthlight, is a very smart colt.

On that form, she’ll take all the beating.

Tropbeau will be tough to beat, though, having improved a lot since her first start.

Andre Fabre’s runners are always worthy of respect and although her form isn’t the easiest to weigh up, she clearly has plenty of talent.

It’s also worth giving a mention to Aidan O’Brien’s Etoile.

They obviously think a lot of her as they wouldn’t just throw her into Group 1 company and she could be interesting.

Donnacha riding her rather than Tango is a slight concern but aside from that she looks to have solid claims.

In the Middle Park, I think Earthlight could be vulnerable.

The form of his Morny win has been boosted but he needed every yard of the six furlongs that day.

This stiffer track could suit him and there’ll be plenty of pace on, but he could be vulnerable to a real star.

Who that will be is the question!

Mums Tipple could be the one. 

He was so impressive at York and went further and further clear that day, even under a massive weight.

That’s such strong form and it was backed up by the clock, so he should run a big race here and I reckon he could have the measure of the favourite.

Siskin is the other of the big three to mention. 

He’s not as flashy as some of the others but he’s very consistent and is more reliable than a grandfather clock.

It’s interesting that the ground is still good ahead of the Cambridgeshire. 

It opens up the race a lot more, with the most obvious contender being Le Don De Vie under Ryan Moore.

He won at Goodwood last time and the form of that is pretty strong. 

He’s slightly back in trip but that won’t be an issue as they’ll go fast and you’ve got to stay further than a 1m1f to win it. 

Jamie Spencer rides Jazeel, who won the Silver Cambridgeshire last year.

He’s improved as a four-year-old and last time at York he never really had a run after looking as though he might go close.

His finishing position probably doesn’t do that effort justice. 

Up until then he’d been running well and I imagine now Jamie will drop him in and hope for some luck. 

The way the race is run should suit him and he has a good chance at a bigger price.

 

 

 

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