Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador offers a preview of the headline races at Newmarket over the weekend, highlighting the Group 1 Cheveley Park and Middle Park Stakes among other key contests. He expresses excitement for a bustling two‑day meeting, noting that the Group 2 Betway Joel Stakes on Friday (starting at 3.00) will be the standout race of the day for him. The ambassador points to Godolphin’s 116‑rated colt Talk of New York as the horse to beat after an impressive performance at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, where he rallied strongly to finish second in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes. Earlier in the season he was only two lengths behind the superb Bow Echo in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he looks set to claim his reward, potentially at the expense of the consistently solid Persica, a horse that has run admirably all year.
Talk of New York also showed a promising turn of foot when he finished close to Hankelow in a Group 3 at Haydock Park. That form could be echoed by Karl Burke’s colt, who has yet to live up to expectations this season but displayed a flash of brilliance on that day and should benefit from a firmer going. Turning to the Group 2 Betway Rockfel Stakes (2.25) on Friday, the ambassador backs Wathnan Racing’s Light of Dawn, a former Goodwood winner who relished the step up to seven furlongs when she dominated the Group 3 Prestige Stakes.
He also believes Karl Burke’s filly, who has progressed since her last outing, can out‑class Eve Johnson‑Houghton’s Sugar Yes Please – a filly he admires for her consistency. The latest horse‑racing news, interviews and features can be followed on Sky Sports Racing. Light of Dawn’s credentials are further enhanced by a Group 3 victory over seven furlongs in the Sweet Solera on Newmarket’s July Course, while Ed Walker’s Siena Storm may still have something to prove after finishing three lengths behind Light of Dawn in the Prestige. Inis Mor, another form‑maker this season, is expected to shine in the Princess Royal Stakes (1.50) on Friday.
David Menuisier’s filly has placed in both the French and Irish Oaks after a Listed win, and the ambassador feels she has a strong chance in Group 3 company with a 7‑pound weight‑for‑age allowance and Ryan Moore aboard. Coedana has shown marked improvement this year, having run behind future Irish Champion Stakes winner Hotazhell and finishing a close second to Wimbledon Hawkeye in a German Group 1. That solid form suggests she will thrive on Newmarket’s wide, galloping track. The marquee event on Saturday is the Group 1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes (2.27).
The fillies’ championship pits Aidan O’Brien’s prolific Sun Goddess against the runaway Prix Morny winner Senorita Bonita and the Albany‑trained Libertango. Sun Goddess, who was second to Libertango in the Albany, has since added two Group 1 victories and a lucrative sales race win at York’s Ebor Festival, making her the ambassador’s top pick. George Boughey’s filly was outclassed by Senorita Bonita in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket, so the gap between the leading contenders is relatively narrow, but the ambassador believes O’Brien’s Sun Goddess can edge the competition.
At longer odds, he would love to see Andrew Balsing’s Moonrise make an impact. He has followed the tough filly closely this summer and feels her Group 3 win on Polytrack should translate into a strong showing in this elite contest.
Clive Cox’s concerns about French testing ground were confirmed when his Norfolk Stakes star Orthodox lost his unbeaten record in the Group 1 Prix Morny last month. The ambassador thinks Orthodox can redeem himself in the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes (3.00) on Saturday, though it will take a standout performance to challenge Godolphin’s Inner City Blues, who remains unbeaten after a Group 2 July Stakes win at Newmarket.
In the Dewhurst entry, the ambassador leans slightly toward Orthodox, while Aidan O’Brien’s Marco Polo is an intriguing option after overcoming a disappointing Gimcrack run in a Curragh maiden. O’Brien would not place him at this level unless he believed the colt possessed genuine class. The Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes (1.55) on Saturday also looks promising, featuring Aidan O’Brien’s proven Group winner Haffner stepping up to a mile for the first time.
The Acomb hero, who improved after a testing trip in the National Stakes, could be a serious threat to the field. Never miss a story with the latest racing news, interviews and features on your phone. Find out more.
The ambassador also highlights the progressive profile of Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin colt First Law, who won his maiden at Sandown before smoothly stepping into Listed company at Haydock Park earlier this month. Karl Burke’s Burning Up shares a similar unbeaten record in two starts but still has more to prove, so the ambassador backs First Law as a classic prospect under William Buick at a track where the Appleby team excels.
A notable handicap contender is Hand Of God, who could excel in the £200,000 Bet365 Cambridgeshire (3.40) at Newmarket on Saturday. Harry Charlton’s five‑year‑old confirmed his promise with a Newbury win in the spring and a strong second in the John Smith’s Cup at York, despite an unlucky run.
Though he was penalised for a recent Group run in France, he offers good value compared with favourite Gavriel, whose Ascot win for Team Gosden has been heavily weighted. Alan King’s Alcarath also presents value at higher odds, especially if the conditions suit him. He has been running well without securing a win and is well‑handicapped off a mark of 92, with the possibility of a first‑time cheek piece giving him an extra edge.
The commentary concludes with a note that Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, underscoring her involvement in the weekend’s key races.