Ireland’s increasing supremacy in National Hunt racing has extended to the Cesarewitch, the Flat’s most historic stayers’ handicap, in recent seasons and runners from top Irish jumping yards dominate the betting once again before the 2023 running at Newmarket on Saturday.
Pied Piper, third in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2022 and a close second in the County Hurdle under a big weight at last season’s Festival, is the best of them over timber and the booking of Ryan Moore for Gordon Elliott’s gelding should ensure that he sets off as favourite at around 5-1.
Elliott has clearly been pointing Pied Piper towards Saturday’s race from a long way out. The same is true, however, of many of the 34 runners and there is little to choose between the market leader and several of his leading rivals on form, with Jesse Evans (2.40) possibly the best each-way option at around 12-1.
Noel Meade’s dual-purpose gelding has been in the form of his life this year, finishing a close second in the Galway Hurdle in July and then putting up a career-best when fourth, beaten just over a length, in the Irish Cesarewitch three weeks ago.
York 1.15 Esquire could offer some value at around 7-1 having posted a useful time for a debutant when winning with plenty in hand at Hamilton last month.
Newmarket 1.25 With two convincing wins in minor events in the book, Per Contra has as much potential as any runner in the field and may have been missed in the market at around 10-1.
Newmarket 2.00 Three months on from City Of Troy’s emphatic win in the Superlative Stakes, it remains the most impressive performance by a European juvenile this season and he should seal his status as the champion two-year-old here.
York 2.25 A typically competitive York sprint handicap, with Pendleton just one among many possible winners if he can build on his recent success.
Yarmouth
1.55 Gracious Leader
2.25 Mukaafah
2.55 Stintino Sunset
3.25 Total Lockdown
4.00 Serendipitous Lady
4.35 Okeanos
5.05 Dream Pirate
Musselburgh
2.05 Luna Magic
2.35 Edge Of Darkness
3.05 Sixcor
3.35 Without Delay
4.10 Shades Of Summer
4.40 Cantalupo Bella
5.10 He’s An Angel
Windsor
2.15 Hackman
2.45 Pianoforte
3.15 Doha
3.45 Amazonian Dream
4.15 Khinjani
4.50 Exquisitely
5.20 Asense
Kempton Park
4.26 Palazzo Persico
5.00 Kings Valley
5.30 Extra Beat
6.00 Ivory Madonna
6.30 Enchanted Life
7.00 Hieronymus (nap)
7.30 Buccabay (nb)
8.00 Rose Light
8.30 First Company
York 3.05 Maidens are not the most compelling events for betting purposes but Colorada Dancer does at least have some experience on his side.
Newmarket 3.15 Possibly less to choose between Gasper De Lemos and Arabian Crown, the favourite, than the betting might suggest so Aidan O’Brien’s colt gets the nod at around 7-2.
York 3.35 A 4lb rise looks workable for La Yakel after a return to winning form last time.
Newmarket 3.50 Fast-improving Real Gain may be able to take the step up to Group Three company in his stride.
Ylang Ylang gives O’Brien another milestone
Finishing last of the nine runners at odds of 6-5 was an unfortunate way for Ylang Ylang to open her Group One career last month, but her no-show in the Moyglare Stud Stakes was soon forgotten at Newmarket on Friday as Aidan O’Brien’s filly showed steely determination to edge past Shuwari by half a length in the Fillies’ Mile, the feature event on day one of Future Champions Weekend.
Ryan Moore’s mount overcame a slow start and a tricky moment two furlongs out, as See The Fire, who eventually finished third, drifted left across the course. The step up from seven furlongs to a mile proved crucial, however, as she stayed on strongly through the closing stages to hit the front a few strides from the line.
This was a record-equalling sixth success in the Group One contest for Ylang Ylang’s trainer, putting him alongside John Gosden and Sir Henry Cecil, and also O’Brien’s first since a hat-trick of wins with Together Forever, Minding and Rhododendron from 2014 to 20126.
Minding was also the most recent Fillies’ Mile winner to take the 1,000 Guineas the following spring, and Ylang Ylang will now be aimed towards the Classics in 2024.
“She was a bit keen in the Moyglare as she made the running the first two times [she raced],” O’Brien said, “but when her chance was gone, Ryan looked after her. She then came back here for education [when third in the Rockfel Stakes] and the way the race worked out, it was hard to get into it, but Ryan was delighted with her and said to come back for this race.
Ffos Las: 1.35 Reine Fee, 2.10 Support Act, 2.45 Beau Balko, 3.20 Nemean Lion (nap), 3.55 Coal Fire, 4.30 Lusitanien, 5.05 Call To Duty.
Goodwood: 1.50 Cherry Cola, 2.25 Al Shabab Storm, 3.00 Hierarchy (nb), 3.35 Amancio, 4.10 Black Run, 4.45 Kathab, 5.20 Dream Of Mischief.
“The lads [in the Coolmore syndicate] usually like to start them in the Guineas, but looking at her today, she will have no problem getting the Oaks trip.”
Ylang Ylang was cut to around 12-1 for both the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks next season, while Dance Sequence, who gave Charlie Appleby a much-needed juvenile success in the Group Three Oh So Sharp Stakes, is around 20-1 for the Newmarket Classic on 5 May.
