3 minute read

Sam King returns with two tips for the final day of Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting.

Newmarket 1.50 - Wimbledon Hawkeye

Whatever the outcome, the Group 2 Royal Lodge looks sure to be an informative contest with some exciting juveniles taking each other on.

Luther's second to New Century looks all the better now after that horse went on to win a Grade 1 in Canada and he was always in command when winning a Listed race over a mile at Haydock last time. However, Charlie Fellowes' Frankel colt isn't the most scopey of individuals and with cut in the ground a possible concern, he looks worth opposing at the prices.

I personally thought Wimbledon Hawkeye would top the betting for The Gredley Family. James Owen could hardly be in better form at present and has posted an excellent 32% strike rate (10-31) over the last fourteen days.

His colt tops both official ratings and RPR's and looks sure to improve for this step up to a mile for the first time. James Owen's son of 2000 Guineas hero Kameko kept on strongly to finish third behind the hugely exciting Ancient Truth in the Superlative Stakes on the July Course before chasing home the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes-bound The Lion In Winter in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York.

While his recent stats are far from what a jockey like James Doyle is used to, there's no doubt this world-class rider can prove an able deputy for the regular Silvestre de Sousa, who remains on the sidelines after a lengthy 24-day ban.

With this stiff mile expected to bring out further improvement, James Owen's colt looks very fair value to stamp his Classic credentials for next season.

Odds – 3/1

Newmarket 3.40 - Poniros

In the big betting race of the day, the bet365 Cambridgeshire, Poniros surely has a huge shout now squeaking in as a reserve.

Ralph Beckett continues to fire in the winner's left right and centre and Poniros, who perhaps hasn't been getting home over a mile and a half on his last few outings is beginning to look feasibly treated based on one key piece of form.

The AMO Racing-owned contender chased home the now-116-rated King's Gambit in the usually informative London Gold Cup at Newbury earlier in the season and it's tough to believe he hasn't been on the scoresheet since.

However, connections have recently opted to geld him and after a much better showing over a mile and a half at Ascot (soft) last time, he looks particularly interesting off just 3lb higher than when second at Newbury.

The drying ground should leave conditions spot-on for him and I can see why he's now a well-fancied 9/1 shot.

Odds – 9/1

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