Good Morning, Friend,

Newmarket was great fun, x3 winners at SPs of 8s, 6s and 4s certainly made for one of my better trips to the July Course and to the races more generally! I'd take that every time. A couple of 2nds also. It can be a very hard track in which to come from behind, especially if allowing good jockeys to set their own fractions, and most of the winners either led or were never too far away. Thankfully my 8/1 winner was in the three I flagged as 'best bets' if just focussing on those, annoyingly omitting the other two but that's the game.

One of my Royal Ascot 'horses to follow' , a LTO losing tip at Royal Ascot, won the Cumberland Plate also, Calling The Wind 14s, receiving a cracking ride from Neil Callan. Job done there for connections. Being a consistent horse over 2m+ on the flat is worth plenty.

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Onto today and Uttoxeter.. below you can find my in-depth preview, sent to his owners, for our Sir Canford who runs in the 5pm. With x4 places up for grabs I do think he's worth a moderate each-way interest, for all second run back after an absence,

I do think he may be better over further at some point and it's an open race - but if building on Fakenham we'd like to think he'll be thereabouts. I can't make it today but my Syndicate partner Jay is there, as is Dr Newland, and around x7 of our owners/guests. They'll have a great day.

It is Summer Cup day of course...

3.12 - Kinondu Kwetu - 11/2 - with x5 places up for grabs I did think he looked an EW bet to nothing, poor sod. Baring a fall, him pulling too hard or simply not running his race, I just can't see him out the places here and he sets a fair standard on this Summers' chase form. He still looks progressive to me and while he needs to improve again from this mark, there's every chance he can. Yard in fine form, on recent evidence he is the one they've all got to beat. Twig could go well but inexperienced over faces, for all unexposed.

Kalooki - he's the other to watch, 11s at the moment, could be worth a minor interest but I've no idea if fit - but first start for Christian Williams - IF he can re-energise him he will look very well handicapped at some point. Whatever he does here, a chaser to keep an eye on - a chance he wants it a bit softer, we will see.

Elsewhere on the card, in the 3.52... I've had a small nibble on Mr Yeats each-way at 8/1... maybe he won't be good enough but the yard in fine form, he's consistent and I think just wants a strong pace to sit off and horses to run through... they may go a solid gallop here and I was intrigued to see if that will help him mix it at this level, he'll be staying on when others may not be also. That was the thinking anyway! I thought he was a shade overpriced.

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Sir Canford Race Preview 

We're all looking forward to seeing what Sir Canford can do on his second start for us and his second run back after 600+ days off. When at Fakenham last time I thought he'd come on plenty for the run fitness wise so hopefully he can take another step forward here and back up that run. The yard are in decent form and Sam rides this place very well... 10/30,15p +42 all rides here in the last year. 

Sir C appears on great terms with himself at home, has been working well and Sam keeps the ride. He rode the Seamus Mullins winner last time so hopefully a big positive he's jumped back on Sir C, which he wasn't obliged to do. The ground should be fine for him and we think he'll enjoy this more galloping track - certainly over this 2m distance, the likes of Stratford a fair bit speedier. I'll be surprised if we don't try him over further at some stage as he was outpaced from 3 out last time, but that's a tight track he showed enough there for us to stick with this distance for now, especially at this course. There's not loads of pace on paper in this race so it will be interesting to see how it develops, but Sam may be able to sit handier and be in the right spot to press on as they turn for home. He could well have track position on a few in this, which would be helpful. 

We're all on a bit of a fact finding mission with him still, especially from this mark of 100. I couldn't tell you whether he's chucked in or not, for all the hope is that there's a bit to play with moving forwards. His initial hurdle mark was 117 back in October 2020 (x4 hurdle starts ago) and his Sedgfield effort suggests a mark of 100 should be workable and there could be a 110-115 horse in there lurking. This is only his second start in a handicap hurdle. 

Today will tell us more, if running to his best of course, but he's shown enough to suggest he should be able to mix it here today, and 10-11/1 certainly looks a bit on the generous side to my subjective eyes, with x4 places to play with. 

What of the opposition... in market order as of 09.45am... 

We had hoped that this race may divide in two, but sadly it hasn't! As C5 handicap hurdles go, it is more competitive than maybe we'd have liked but he's ready to run and we concluded the course was a good option, on safe ground. A bigger field and a more sustained pace is no bad thing for him over this distance either. 

While this looks competitive, it does look open. There are a number of in-form horses in this but they all have to prove they can follow up a decent run and build on it. 

Tonto Foley won last start, is unexposed, and could take another step forward, but needs to. I don't think he beat much last time but hit the line hard. He has been keen in the past, appears to be getting better run to run but a chance he pulls his race away. He does need more here but arrives in form and there could be more to come. 

Cumhact looks a bit tripless, outpaced over this trip at Ffos Las two starts back, cruising along moved up to 2m4f last start but not finding much when Harry C asked for an effort. He was beaten by an in-form horse who's since won again though. I wasn't sure this move back to 2m would suit but is a strong traveller - can be too keen at times and it looks as though Harry C has lost faith. He's now 0/8, a question over what he finds under pressure but I do think is well handicapped, may just need plenty to drop right, which it may do today and Sean B could get a tune. Another who could pull their chance away though. 

Andapa is solid and could give them all plenty to think about, setting a solid standard in these conditions, twice a course winner inc over this distance and may well have been aimed at this, running well on return last time. She's 2/18,9p in handicap hurdles, those wins here and consistent for the level - and that's worth plenty in these lower grades. She is still 7lb above that last winning mark, in July 2021, running ok last season but not winning, since given a wind op. Bryony may have her handy. Another that should be thereabouts but she's 9 and open to attack from less exposed hurdling legs. But I won't be shocked if she goes very close. 

Vin Rouge - he's on the drift for some reason, 4s out to 7s in the odd place, having bolted up under Sam at Newton Abbot when last seen - he settled well that day - not always the case - and moved powerfully through it and you could call him the winner some way out, sprinting away after the last and hitting the line hard. He was whacked 10lb for that which was on the harsh end, although the 3rd won their next start and some substance to the form. He's lightly raced and unexposed and on paper i can't see why he wouldn't mix it again, although first start here. He is a hold up horse, or has been, and as such does need them to go hard through this, which isn't a guarantee. His race may well have fallen apart a bit last time also. Still, on what we know, solid, and he should make his presence felt if baking up that effort. 

They are the main protagonists, the rest with a few more questions to answer as the market indicates, for all no doubt the odd lurker as there often is at this level in particular. Something may have jumped out their stable and decided they wish to put it all in today. 

Turpin Gold is unexposed and ran well last time but needs plenty more, a chance this sort of mark does some him up, but could take a step forward. In theory there should be more to come. Ambassador needs more I think and Sean B appears to have jumped off - he'd have had the choice I think. The horse is well handicapped on old form for Dan Skelton and could come on for his run last time. 16f on decent ground appears optimum. Jumping has been srappy at times and can be keen also though. The booking of Harry Cobden on Jakamani catches the eye but horse having first start in 376 days having no doubt picked up an injury, so hard to know what to expect without information from the yard. At his best form has shown enough to mix it in a race like this, could want further though. The rest have even more questions. 

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So, an exciting day ahead. If Sir C builds on Fakenham and can hold a position turning in, he should keep responding to pressure and we'd all like to think could be in the mix here on his previous best hurdles form, with the prospect that Dr Newland and his team will improve him also. There's plenty more to come as a hurdler and if he runs his race and jumps to his best, I'd like to think will be Top 4 here, and after that, we will see! Hopefully we're all on the edge of our seats approaching 2 out and those track-side lose their voices. This race will help us get a handle on his level from this mark, for all as I say, further may well elicit more improvement in time also. 

Pace is interesting... Harry C may go forward, Bryony may be up there also, but other than that, I'm not sure much else will go forward unless Sean Bowen changes up tactics on his also, knowing he stays further. Sam may be able to slot in behind those but it's a CD where you can be patiently ridden with plenty of time up the straight to get rolling. 

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That's all for today, GL with any bets,

Josh