Tuesday promises a packed schedule of racing action, with meetings at Bath, Sedgefield and Wolverhampton all being broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Among the highlights are two promising two‑year‑old fillies, Divide And Conquer and Al Qayed, who will contest the British EBF Future Stayers' Novice Stakes at Bath.
This race has already built a reputation as a useful stepping‑stone for young stayers: Hopewell Rock claimed the 2024 edition before moving on to win the Juddmonte International, while Item followed that path in 2025. Both Divide And Conquer and Al Qayed arrive with the strongest recent form among the entrants. Al Qayed’s debut saw the filly finish well behind the unbeaten Bin Jahwar, but she quickly improved, taking third place in a subsequent start that also featured a future Royal Lodge runner, Quicken Away. The heavy ground on that day did not suit her perfectly; she appeared a little raw and uncomfortable, suggesting that with a bit more experience she could make a significant leap forward.
Her connections expect her to benefit from the extra schooling and to be more at ease on firmer going. Divide And Conquer, a filly purchased for a hefty 320,000 guineas as a yearling, displayed considerable talent in her first start, finishing a close second after being bumped twice in the final half‑furlong. The horse that finished third in that race has since gone on to win at Haydock, indicating the quality of the field. Divide And Conquer should be able to build on that debut and take a step forward in her second start, especially now that she has a clearer picture of what is required at this level.
Two other newcomers, Political Resident and Next Best, also feature in the race. Both carry stamina‑rich pedigrees and may be making their first appearances today, adding an element of intrigue to the field. Their long‑distance bloodlines suggest they could stay the trip comfortably, but the lack of race‑course experience makes their exact ability difficult to gauge. The programme also includes a challenging Winning Connection Conference Hire Handicap Chase, headlined by Passengerontheship and Thank You Blue.
Passengerontheship has progressed rapidly over fences, stringing together a series of five‑week victories that culminated in a late‑June win. During that spell the horse carried an additional 28 pounds, but a subsequent effort over a 110‑pound mark proved too demanding.
In his most recent outing he was off the bridle early and still managed to finish strongly, indicating that a drop back in distance may not suit him. Thank You Blue, on the other hand, appears to relish a return to a shorter trip after a six‑furlong step‑up proved beyond his capacity.
A mistake at the finish line in his penultimate start cost him dearly, but the nine‑year‑old remains in good form and could deliver a career‑best performance over fences given the right conditions. Tanking Along is another horse to watch. Having won both of his previous outings at Cartmel over fences, he is well‑handicapped and could be a major factor if he repeats his earlier success.
Conversely, Four Decades has shown little promise over hurdles or fences and would need a dramatic improvement to be competitive in this contest. In other news, Saeed bin Suroor’s well‑bred Arabian Summer returns after a 23‑month lay‑off to contest the attheraces.com/marketmovers Maiden Stakes.
Arabian Summer is a half‑sister to Manobo, the Prix Chaudenay winner and Dubai Gold Cup runner‑up, and displayed a burst of speed over six furlongs on debut. Suroor is renowned for his ability to bring horses back to peak fitness after long breaks, so Arabian Summer could be a serious contender, though she will face race‑fit rivals. Gold Star Glazing, despite being the most exposed runner, posted a respectable effort in his last outing, bumping into the promising Storm Force, owned by Wathnan.
A return to a seven‑furlong distance could see him harness his experience and improve his placing. Battlefield Boy impressed with a third‑place finish at Lingfield earlier this month, while Missmisfortune also recorded a third on debut at Kempton.
Both youngsters have shown early promise and could continue to develop as the season progresses. The card also features several notable sprint contests.
At 2.02 at Bath, Decalogue aims to build on his recent Kempton success. The 4.02 sprint at Bath will see an in‑form trio—Maharajas Express, South Shore and Alondra—battle for a competitive handicap win. Over at Sedgefield, Jet Of Dreams will attempt to replicate last year’s triumph at the same distance, while Close House and Red Shea look to add to their encouraging bumper debuts.
Further afield, Chantilly will host informative maidens and a Listed race, and Marseille‑Borely will present a seven‑race card, offering plenty of action for racing enthusiasts. Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest horse racing news, interviews and feature stories by following Sky Sports Racing on their mobile devices, ensuring they never miss a beat of the sport’s ever‑evolving narrative.