Tuesday promises a packed programme 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.
In 2024 the event was won by Hopewell Rock, who later went on to claim the Juddmonte International, while the 2025 edition was secured by Item, another future Group‑level performer. Consequently, the novice stakes is viewed as a genuine indicator of emerging talent, and the two Bath entries are currently regarded as the form‑leaders. Al Qayed made a modest debut, finishing well behind the unbeaten Bin Jahwar. In his second start he improved to finish third, trailing the eventual Royal Lodge winner Quicken Away.
Although the filly showed progress, she appeared uncomfortable on the heavy ground and displayed a degree of rawness that suggests she still has room to develop. The extra experience gained at Bath should help her settle and find a better rhythm in future outings. Divide And Conquer, a filly purchased for 320,000 guineas as a yearling, also displayed considerable promise in her first race.
She ran a strong second, despite being bumped twice in the final half‑furlong. The horse that finished third in that race has since taken a victory at Haydock, indicating the overall quality of the field.
With a second start under her belt, Divide And Conquer is expected to step up and potentially challenge for the win. Two other newcomers, Political Resident and Next Best, carry stamina‑rich pedigrees and may be earmarked for their first runs today. Their breeding suggests they could handle the longer distances that the Future Stayers' Novice Stakes demands, and the connections will be keen to see if that genetic potential translates into on‑track performance. Turning to the chase programme, the Winning Connection Conference Hire Handicap Chase features the seasoned campaigners Passengerontheship and Thank You Blue as the headline contenders.
Passengerontheship has shown rapid improvement over fences, stringing together a series of five‑week wins that culminated in a late‑June triumph. During that spell he was raised in weight by 28 pounds, a testament to his rising ability, but he struggled when tasked with a 110‑pound mark, indicating that a further step down in trip may not suit his stamina profile. Thank You Blue, a nine‑year‑old, appears to be eager for a return to a shorter distance after a recent six‑furlong attempt proved too taxing.
He was travelling well before a mistake at the final fence cost him his penultimate start. Given his experience and the likely more suitable conditions, he could produce a career‑best effort today. Another prospect, Tanking Along, could become a significant factor if he follows the form he showed at Cartmel. He is unbeaten over fences at that venue, and a favourable handicap could see him make a strong bid for the prize.
Conversely, Four Decades has yet to make a mark over either hurdles or fences and will need a dramatic improvement to be competitive in this contest. In the flat division, Saeed bin Suroor’s well‑bred Arabian Summer returns after a 23‑month spell 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 she displayed early 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 genuine factor, although she will face race‑fit rivals who have been active throughout the season.
Gold Star Glazing, despite being one of the most exposed runners, posted a respectable effort in his last outing, bumping into the promising Storm Force, owned by Wathnan. At seven furlongs he should be able to use his experience to improve his placing. Battlefield Boy also showed promise with a third‑place finish at Lingfield earlier in the month, while Missmisfortune mirrored that form with a third on debut at Kempton.
The card also includes several notable sprint and handicap contests. At 2:02 in Bath, Decalogue aims to build on his recent success at Kempton. The 4:02 sprint handicap at Bath will see an in‑form trio—Maharajas Express, South Shore and Alondra—jockey for a valuable prize.
Over at Sedgefield, Jet Of Dreams will attempt to replicate his previous year’s victory at the same mark at 4:15, while Close House and Red Shea will look to extend the momentum from promising bumper debuts at 4:45. Further meetings feature informative maidens and a Listed race at Chantilly, as well as a seven‑race card at Marseille‑Borely. Overall, Tuesday’s programme offers a rich blend of emerging talent, seasoned campaigners, and intriguing storylines across both flat and jump racing.
Whether you are tracking the progress of future stayers like Divide And Conquer and Al Qayed, or rooting for seasoned chasers such as Passengerontheship and Thank You Blue, there is plenty of excitement to be had. Stay tuned to Sky Sports Racing for live coverage, in‑depth analysis, and the latest updates from the world of horse racing.