Tuesday promises a packed racing 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 contest the British EBF Future Stayers' Novice Stakes at Bath.
This race has a recent pedigree of producing quality novices: Hopewell Rock captured the 2024 edition before the Juddmonte International winner, Item, took the 2025 running. Both Divide And Conquer and Al Qayed arrive with the strongest recent form of the entrants. Al Qayed debuted behind the unbeaten Bin Jahwar, finishing well back, but showed improvement by taking third place in a subsequent start, finishing behind the future Royal Lodge winner, Quicken Away. The filly appeared uncomfortable on the heavy ground in her first outing and seemed a little raw, suggesting that the extra experience will likely see her progress.
Divide And Conquer, a filly purchased for 320,000 guineas as a yearling, displayed considerable talent in her maiden race, finishing a close second despite being bumped twice in the final half‑furlong. The horse that finished third in that race has already added a win at Haydock, indicating that Divide And Conquer could also step up on her second start.
Both fillies carry pedigrees that hint at stamina, and the race should provide a clear indication of which one is the more advanced novice. Also worth noting are two newcomers, Political Resident and Next Best, both of which inherit considerable stamina from their bloodlines.
They are likely to make their first racecourse appearances today, and could be long‑term prospects if they handle the distance well. Turning to the chase division, the Winning Connection Conference Hire Handicap Chase features the seasoned campaigners Passengerontheship and Thank You Blue at the front of the field. Passengerontheship has progressed rapidly over fences, stringing together five wins in a five‑week spell that culminated in late June.
During that run the horse was awarded an additional 28 pounds, but struggled when faced with a weight of 110, suggesting that a shorter trip may not suit his style. Thank You Blue, a nine‑year‑old, appears to be looking for a return to a more suitable distance after a six‑furlong step up proved too demanding. A mistake at the finish in his penultimate start cost him dearly, but the conditions today could allow him to produce a career‑best effort. Another contender, Tanking Along, could be a significant factor if he repeats the form he showed at Cartmel earlier in the season.
He is unbeaten over fences at the track, and a favourable handicap could see him finish strongly. Conversely, Four Decades has yet to make an impact over either hurdles or fences and will need a dramatic improvement to be competitive in today’s contest. In the flat racing segment, 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 victor and Dubai Gold Cup runner‑up, and showed 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 serious contender, albeit one that will face race‑fit rivals. 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. With seven furlongs to his name, he could use his experience to improve his placing. Battlefield Boy delivered a promising third place at Lingfield earlier this month, while Missmisfortune also recorded a third on debut at Kempton, indicating that both have the potential to progress further.
For those following the programme, the key races to watch are: 2.02 Bath – Decalogue aims to build on his recent Kempton success. 4.02 Bath – A competitive sprint handicap featuring the in‑form trio Maharajas Express, South Shore and Alondra. 4.15 Sedgefield – Jet Of Dreams seeks to replicate last year’s victory over the same distance.
4.45 Sedgefield – Close House and Red Shea look to extend the promise shown in their bumper debuts. Additional meetings include a maidens and Listed contest at Chantilly and a seven‑race card at Marseille‑Borely. Keep up with the latest racing news, interviews and features on Sky Sports Racing, and never miss a story on your mobile device.