Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Newmarket

Leg 1 Selections: Once More For Luck, Bluelight Bay 

ONCE MORE FOR LUCK was ultimately out of his depth in the Group 1 Middle Park here when last spotted but he ran well for a long way against top-class opponents and heads into handicapping from a fair-ish mark. This is a big drop in class from that tough assignment and is drawn reasonably well in stall 2, so he could be thereabouts with more to offer. 

BLUELIGHT BAY also takes a significant ease in grade after competing in Listed/Group events towards the end of last season and will find this easier. He beat a decent field at Windsor, while his debut second to Royal Scotsman is amongst the best form of these. He also makes his reappearance but this mark isn’t too bad and he too could go well at double-figure digits. 

Leg 2 Selections: Penzance, Passenger, New Business 

With no form to go on, this is a difficult race to assess but PENZANCE has a nice pedigree and his connections know how to ready a debutant, so with William Buick booked to ride, he makes plenty of appeal on paper and could pose a threat. 

PASSENGER is another noteworthy newcomer, who represents a very shrewd stable and Ryan Moore as expected takes the ride. He makes the cut for the shortlist, as does NEW BUSINESS, who is closely related to British Champions Fillies & Mares winner Seal of Approval and Oisin Murphy is in the saddle. 

Leg 3 Selections: Creative Force, Ehraz

The Abernant Stakes will see the return of the high-class CREATIVE FORCE, who is the clear highest-rated runner in the field and produced four excellent placed efforts in Group 1’s last season. 

He made the frame in the Platinum Jubilee, the July Cup, the Champions Sprints Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. He goes well fresh, his stable is in good form and he has plenty of good form at this course too, so he should be extremely hard to beat. 

EHRAZ has plenty to find with the former on official ratings but fitness will be on his side after an encouraging return at Doncaster when third. He won over course-and-distance on his final start last season and ran well in last year’s Commonwealth Cup to finish sixth. 

Leg 4 Selections: The Foxes, Indestructible 

I really like the chances of THE FOXES, given the form of his Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes success over course-and-distance is quality in the context of this race given the second, Dubai Mile, has won a Group 1 since, while the third, Flying Honours, bolted up in a Group 3 at this course. 

That is amongst the best form in this field and Oisin Murphy retains the ride as well. A strong pace will suit, he’s proven himself at this course and is actually the highest rated runner in the field. He is massively overpriced for this and should be nearly favourite, form-wise. 

INDESTRUCTIBLE chased home Chaldean twice last season and returns following a breathing operation, which could yield further improvement as he tackles a mile for the first time. He doesn’t have much to find on official ratings and both his trainer and jockey are in great form, so he is majorly respected. 

Leg 5 Selections: Britannica 

The Andrew Balding-trained BRITANNICA is from the same family as Arc winner Solemia and shaped very well when fifth of 13 over track and trip on debut in the autumn. 

She is entitled to build on that run here and Oisin Murphy takes the ride this time around. She ought to be competitive with a good chance of reversing that debut form with Time’s Eye. 

Leg 6 Selections: Liberty Lane, Quantum Cat

LIBERTY LANE bolted up on debut at Nottingham on heavy ground and many good horses over the years made their debut at that track and succeeded. He holds various Group 1 entries and, with the distinct possibility of him reaching those sorts of heights, he could be hard to beat here. 

QUANTUM CAT only won by a neck on debut at Wolverhampton but he powered home strongly once he knew his job and his performance can be upgraded given he fared best of those held-up. He has Frankie Dettori on his back this time and is open to a lot more improvement switched to the turf, so he gets the second vote.