Weekend Review

As discussed, it was a terrific day for Autumn Update subscribers on Saturday with 3 winners, including Lord North's victory in the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket, having been advised at 10/1. The son of Dubawi was providing John Gosden with his fifth win in the nine furlongs cavalry charge as he quickened up smartly inside the final furlong and a half to readily reel in Beringer before pulling away for a cosy three parts of a length victory. Gelded prior to his 'prep' at Ascot earlier the same month, he appreciated the step up in trip being a half-brother to a ten furlongs winner. Successful off a mark of 98, Lord North has been subsequently raised to 110 with his trainer looking towards conditions/Pattern races on the all-weather during the late Autumn/winter, similar to stablemate Wissahickon twelve months ago.

The runner-up Beringer has been raised seven pounds since and is now set to race off a career high of 104 in future. The son of Sea The Stars may have only won 4 of his 20 starts but he is a talented horse who has never run a bad race on the Rowley Mile at HQ (212). Yet to race beyond a mile and a quarter, Alan King indicated afterwards that a career over hurdles may beckon for the four year old. Provided he stays, he ought to make a cracking jumper, although he may not want it too soft. His best performances on the level have been on a sounder surface.

The Group 1 Middle Park Stakes earlier on the card was billed as the juvenile race of the season and, while it saw Earthlight maintain his unbeaten record, the six furlongs event didn't quite live up to expectations. Unfortunately, Group 1 winner Siskin was withdrawn having got worked up in the stalls and impressive York winner Mums Tipple failed to run to the same level. However, nothing should be taken away from Andre Fabre's winner. A son of Shamardal, he won the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville the previous month and stayed on strongly to confirm the form with Richmond Stakes winner Golden Horde to win by a neck. It was Fabre's third win in the race following the successes of Lycius (1990) and Zieten (1992). It will be interesting to see if he returns next spring for the 2000 Guineas.

One would expect his stablemate Tropbeau to return in early May for the 1000 Guineas despite only finishing third in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. A daughter of Showcasing, she had won three times over seven furlongs, including at Group 2 and 3 level, earlier in the year and wasn't suited by the drop back in trip here. Behind early on, she was staying on well before being hampered with a furlong to run. Beaten around two lengths behind Millisle, she isn't guaranteed to stay a mile on pedigree but her running style suggests she will and she is one to bear in mind for the fillies' Classic next spring.

Away from Newmarket, Lampang looked a class act when defying a penalty in the opening six furlongs novice stakes at Ripon on Saturday. Held in the highest regard by Tim Easterby, regular subscribers this year are familiar with the Dandy Man colt who was viewed as a Royal Ascot two year old in the spring. Bought for £115,000, he didn't make his racecourse bow until late August having suffered with curbs but has made up for lost time in no uncertains terms with two wins. The King Power Racing owned colt overcame a slow start to win on his debut at Carlisle and was much more streetwise at the Garden racecourse at the weekend. David Allan only had to shake his mount up approaching the final furlong before he streaked clear to win by five lengths. The Listed Rockingham Stakes over six furlongs at York (12th October) is his next intended target. The Great Habton trainer, who has sent out 108 winners in 2019 (ten short of his personal best from last season), has won the race three times in the last seven years (Royal Rascal (2012), Mattmu (2014) & Vintage Brut (2018)). It will be interesting to see how far Lampang stays next year because his dam was placed over a mile and a half but he is by Dandy Man and certainly isn't short of speed. I suspect he will be given an entry in the 2000 Guineas early next year.

Talking of the Autumn Update, the unraced two year old who is featured at the bottom of page 4 is entered to run on Saturday. Thank you once again to all those clients who have emailed me since Saturday - it appears plenty of you joined in on the gamble on Lord North in the Cambridgeshire - it is much appreciated. Plus, we have still got plenty to look forward to in the remaining weeks of the season, starting with my selection/s in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, Cesarewitch and those other big races discussed on pages 5 and 6 of the Update.

In the meantime, don't forget to place your order for One Jump Ahead and the five Updates, if you haven't already done so. Please head to the Publications section of the site.