Tuesday promises a packed programme of racing, with action spread across Bath, Sedgefield and Wolverhampton, all streamed 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 a short but informative history: Hopewell Rock claimed the inaugural running in 2024, and the following year Juddmonte International winner Item took the prize. Both Divide And Conquer and Al Qayed have shown the strongest recent form of the entries, making them the focal points of the contest.
Al Qayed made a modest debut, finishing well behind the unbeaten Bin Jahwar. He improved in his second start, securing third place behind Quicken Away, who later went on to finish third in the Royal Lodge.
The heavy ground on that day seemed to unsettle Al Qayed; he appeared a little raw and struggled for balance. The experience should prove valuable, and connections expect him to find a more comfortable rhythm as the season progresses. Divide And Conquer, a filly purchased for £320,000 as a yearling, displayed considerable talent in her first race, finishing a close second after being bumped a couple of times in the final half‑furlong.
The horse that beat her in that maiden has since added a win at Haydock, indicating the quality of the competition. With a second start now on the horizon, Divide And Conquer is expected to step up and test her ability against a slightly stronger field. Also worth watching are newcomers Political Resident and Next Best. Both carry stamina‑rich pedigrees and are likely to be given their first race outings today, providing a chance for long‑shot performances if they settle well.
Turning to the chase programme, the Winning Connection Conference Hire Handicap Chase is headlined by Passengerontheship and Thank You Blue. Passengerontheship has progressed rapidly over fences, stringing together a series of five‑week victories that culminated in late June. In that period he has been given 28 pounds in weight, but a recent effort over a 110‑pound mark proved too steep a climb, and he was beaten after being unseated from a fair distance out.
While he remains a competitive runner, his recent experience suggests that dropping back in distance may not suit him. Thank You Blue, on the other hand, appears ready to benefit from a shorter trip after a six‑furlong step‑up proved beyond his reach.
A mistake at the final fence cost him in his penultimate start, but he has been shaping well in training. The nine‑year‑old could deliver a career‑best performance over fences today, especially if the ground and pace align with his strengths. Tanking Along is another contender to watch. Having won both of his previous fence races at Cartmel, he returns with a solid record and could be a major factor if he replicates his earlier form.
Conversely, Four Decades has shown limited promise over both hurdles and fences and will 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 who finished second in the Dubai Gold Cup.
She displayed early speed over six furlongs on debut, and Suroor is renowned for his ability to bring horses back to peak condition after long breaks. While she may be a factor, she will face race‑fit rivals who have been active throughout the season. Gold Star Glazing, despite being the most exposed runner, set a respectable standard in his last outing, bumping into the promising Wathnan‑owned Storm Force. He can leverage his experience to improve over the upcoming seven‑furlong distance.
Battlefield Boy made an encouraging debut, finishing third at Lingfield earlier this month, and Missmisfortune mirrored that performance with a third‑place finish on debut at Kempton. Both horses have shown early promise and could be in contention if they continue to develop.
The card also features several sprint and middle‑distance handicaps. At 2:02 in Bath, Decalogue aims to build on his recent Kempton success.
The 4:02 Bath sprint sees an in‑form trio—Maharajas Express, South Shore and Alondra—contesting a competitive handicap. Over at Sedgefield, Jet Of Dreams will attempt to repeat his previous year’s victory at the same mark at 4:15, while Close House and Red Shea look to capitalize on promising bumper debuts at 4:45. Additional meetings include informative maidens and a Listed contest at Chantilly, as well as a seven‑race card at Marseille‑Borely. For the latest horse racing news, interviews and feature stories, stay tuned to Sky Sports Racing.
Never miss a story—download the app and get real‑time updates on all the action across the UK and beyond.