Tuesday’s racing programme promises a packed schedule, 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 take centre stage in the British EBF Future Stayers' Novice Stakes.
This race has already produced notable winners – Hopewell Rock captured the 2024 edition before going on to claim the prestigious Juddmonte International, while Item, the 2025 victor, followed a similar trajectory. Consequently, the two juveniles entering this year’s contest are considered the form leaders. Al Qayed’s early career has been a tale of gradual improvement.
In her maiden start she finished well behind the unbeaten Bin Jahwar, but she managed to turn in a respectable third‑place effort in her next outing, trailing the future Royal Lodge winner Quicken Away. That performance was achieved on heavy ground, a surface that clearly did not suit her, and she appeared somewhat raw at the finish. The experience should serve her well, and a step forward in class is likely to bring out more of her latent ability. The other contender, Divide And Conquer, is a filly purchased for a hefty 320,000 guineas as a yearling.
She displayed a great deal of promise on debut, finishing second despite being bumped a couple of times in the final half‑furlong. The horse that beat her in that race has since taken a victory at Haydock, underscoring the quality of the opposition. With a second start under her belt, Divide And Conquer is poised to make a genuine leap forward and could well be the one to beat in the Novice Stakes. Also worth noting are the newcomers Political Resident and Next Best, both of which carry stamina‑rich pedigrees.
While they have yet to make their first racecourse appearances, their breeding suggests they could thrive over the staying distance on offer. Turning to the chase card, the Winning Connection Conference Hire Handicap Chase features two seasoned campaigners: Passengerontheship and Thank You Blue. Passengerontheship made rapid progress over fences midway through the year, stringing together a series of five‑week wins that culminated in a late‑June triumph.
During that spell he was raised by 28 pounds, indicating a genuine improvement in ability. However, his recent effort over a 110‑pound mark proved too demanding, and a subsequent run where he was off the bridle early suggested that dropping back in distance may not suit his style.
Thank You Blue, a nine‑year‑old, appears to be in a more favourable position. After a six‑furlong step up proved beyond his optimal range, a return to a shorter trip could see him rediscover his best form.
He was looking sharp before a mistake at the final fence cost him in his penultimate start, and the upcoming race offers a chance to produce a career‑best performance, especially if the ground and pace suit his preferences. Tanking Along is another horse to watch. Having won both of his previous outings at Cartmel over fences, he remains well‑handicapped and could be a serious contender if he repeats his earlier success. Conversely, Four Decades has yet to make a mark over either hurdles or fences and will need a dramatic turnaround to be competitive in this contest.
In other news, Saeed bin Suroor’s well‑bred Arabian Summer is returning from 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 showed a flash of speed over six furlongs on debut.
Suroor is renowned for his ability to bring horses back into form after long breaks, so while Arabian Summer may face a steep learning curve against race‑fit rivals, she could still be a factor if she settles well. Gold Star Glazing, despite being the most exposed runner, has set a respectable standard by bumping into the promising Wathnan‑owned Storm Force in his last outing. With a mile‑plus distance ahead, he can lean on his experience and aim to improve his placing over seven furlongs. Battlefield Boy made an encouraging debut, finishing third at Lingfield earlier this month, while Missmisfortune mirrored that performance with a third‑place finish on debut at Kempton.
Both youngsters have shown the potential to develop into solid performers as the season progresses. For those who want to stay up to date with the latest racing stories, interviews and features, the Sky Sports Racing app provides instant access on mobile devices. The race card for the day includes: - 2.02 pm Bath – Decalogue looks to build on his recent Kempton success. - 4.02 pm Bath – A competitive sprint handicap featuring in‑form trio Maharajas Express, South Shore and Alondra.
- 4.15 pm Sedgefield – Jet Of Dreams attempts to replicate last year’s victory over the same distance. - 4.45 pm Sedgefield – Close House and Red Shea aim to extend the promise shown in their bumper debuts. - Chantilly – A series of informative maidens and a Listed contest.
- Marseille‑Borely – A seven‑race card offering a mix of novice and experienced runners. Overall, Tuesday promises a blend of seasoned campaigners and fresh talent across the three venues, with the British EBF Future Stayers' Novice Stakes at Bath providing a particularly intriguing narrative as Divide And Conquer and Al Qayed clash for early superiority in the staying division.