Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Newmarket

Leg 1 Selections: Flying Honours 

The Charlie Appleby-trained FLYING HONOURS followed up his nine length romp on his penultimate start with an easy victory in a Listed event last time. He easily brushed aside a subsequent winner and will have brought the strongest form into this race. With lots more to come from this son of Sea The Stars, he should be too good for these in his hat-trick bid. 

Leg 2 Selections: Trillium

There is an exciting field for the Group 1 Cheveley Park and while a case can be made for most of these, TRILLIUM gets the vote to land her third consecutive Group event. She was quality in landing a Group Three on her penultimate start, showcasing a good turn of foot, and then showcased a tough attitude to run down the gutsy The Platinum Queen, who had previously ran well to finish second in the Nunthorpe. She is proven over six, should handle this course, has a good draw and has lots of speed, so again with plenty in her favour, she is fancied to take the spoils in what is her first test at the highest level. 

Leg 3 Selections: Marshman, Persian Force 

MARSHMAN won his first two starts in good style but advanced his form to a whole new level when second in the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York just seven days after winning that minor event at Thirsk. Although he tasted defeat for the first time that day, when sent off favourite, I was really taken with his performance in defeat, especially with the way he went through the gears to hit the front and briefly stride clear a furlong out.

Despite Noble Style coming to grab him inside the final furlong, Karl Burke’s charge stuck to the task valiantly once headed, going down by only a length and three quarters. I think he idled a bit when in front that day but even so he ran a huge race and with the absence of Noble Style, his assignment is made a touch easier. If handles the course, I think he will go extremely close to winning this race. Huge chance. 

This might, however, be the day that PERSIAN FORCE finally gets his first Group 1 win that he rightfully deserves. He has been absolutely rock solid so far in his career, never finishing outside the first two, and was only beaten half a length by Blackbeard last time in the Morny, who had the benefit of track position.

This classy two-year-old won the July Stakes on the other course here, so I can’t see why he can’t prove to be just as effective on this one and he is reunited with his b at mate Rossa Ryan. He is going to be ridden more positively here, which I think will bring about improvement and he has the right overall profile to be suggested here. 

Leg 4 Selections: Arqoob, Electrical Storm, Night Of Luxury 

I am drawn to the claims of the William Jarvis-trained ARQOOB, who came from off the pace to beat a good field at Sandown back in July with lots to spare, including a few of today’s rivals. He has made the frame the last two times off today’s mark, doing his best work in the closing stages, and connections have clearly had him laid out for this race all season. He will need another personal best to come out on top but he’s going the right way, is well-suited to a large field with a strong pace, loves fast ground and has no weight on his back with Connor Planas taking off seven-pounds. He will be finishing stronger than most, so I think he’s got an outstanding chance of at least making the frame here. 

ELECTRICAL STORM doesn’t have many miles on the clock for his age and has remarkably only been out of the frame once in his career on the turf thus far. He has looked as good as ever since returning from his eighteen month absence, winning easily at York before two placed efforts under big weights. He is another with a low weight and a fairly good draw, while Cieren Fallon has interestingly been booked to ride. His trainer won this race twelve months ago, so this is likely to have been a long-term project and given his form ties in closely with Protagonist, likewise to our other tip, he can continue his progression and run a big race. 

My final dart at this race is NIGHT OF LUXURY from the same stable, who’s won three of his last five starts (all of these wins are his starts on the turf) and while he could only finish seventh and Ascot last time, he will be better suited to this course. This will only be his sixth start on the turf in the UK, so improvement can be expected, while the booking of Josephine Gordon is appealing to say the least. I don’t think we have seen the best of this son of Postponed, who appeals as the type to go really well in a race of this calibre and he’s expected to be up with the pace throughout. Dropped back in distance, with conditions suitable, he cannot be ruled out. 

Leg 5 Selections: Chealamy

CHEALAMY could never land a blow on debut but still shaped with promise and built on that effort when fourth last-time-out when stepped up in distance. Her finishing effort was very good and James Ferguson’s filly should have more to come. Plenty of interesting newcomers feature in this line-up but the former can put her experience to good use and get into the frame. 

Leg 6 Selections: Coco Jamboo 

COCO JAMBOO has been solid in defeat in each of her four starts, making the frame each time, and was a clear second to Bonny Angel at Doncaster last time. That form looks useful as the third has gone close since and I think this trip will definitely be the making of this improving youngster. She ought to go close to opening her account in this race.