Saturday Tote Placepot Tips for Newmarket from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Al Musmak, Capulet 

Roger Varian’s AI MUSMAK has won two of his three starts (finished second in the other) and absolutely bolted up on his first try at this trip at Haydock last time in a Listed event where he produced an excellent burst of acceleration inside the final half a furlong. 

He is open to further improvement and appears the strongest candidate of beating CAPULET. The latter pushed Diego Velasquez close in the Champion Juvenile Stakes three weeks ago and should be competitive. 

Leg 2 Selections: Porta Fortuna, Soprano 

PORTA FORTUNA beat a few of these when winning the Albany at Royal Ascot and conditions plus the longer trip last time was to blame for her below par run despite still filling the third spot. 

She is the joint-highest rated runner in the race with the best form in the race now that Relief Rally has been pulled out. I think she’s got a cracking chance. 

SOPRANO won here on debut and has placed in all four starts since. My main hope is the former though, who beat her easily at Royal Ascot. 

Leg 3 Selections: Vandeek

VANDEEK has yet to race on quick ground but I doubt he’s ground dependent. He retained his unbeaten record when taking the Prix Morny last time in which he had River Tiber back in third. 

It is possible the latter will bridge the gap on the better ground but Simon and Ed Crisford’s charge has more to come and is fancied to confirm his superiority over Aidan O’Brien’s Royal Ascot winner. He is a top-class, worthy favourite and will be difficult to beat. 

Leg 4 Selections: Bopedro, Saga, Oviedo, Liberty Lane 

Plenty to consider in the Cambridgeshire Handicap. The first one is BOPEDRO, who seems to produce his best at Newmarket, winning on this course and the July course and has a fair chance at large odds with a strong pace on the agenda. 

SAGA has some good efforts to his name in big-field handicaps, including here, and could run well with Ryan Moore in the saddle. OVIEDO is another with a nice profile for this, who has been highly tried so far while Doncaster winner LIBERTY LANE can also make the shortlist. 

Leg 5 Selections: Mallavelly, Rochelle, True Cyan

A lot of interesting debutants littered in this field which should work out well in due course. Firstly, MALLAVELLY catches the eye, who was an extremely expensive yearling and will make her debut for connections who won this three years ago with Saffron Beach. 

She’s of interest, and so is stablemate ROCHELLE who will be partnered by James Doyle. Roger Varian has a good recent record in this race and his TRUE CYAN is sure to prove popular, so she can also be included. 

Leg 6 Selections: Shin Jidai, Key To Cotai

SHIN JIDAI won in the manner of a nice prospect on debut at Newcastle and ran well on turf debut at Thirsk when a close-up third. The drop in trip looks a good move and he could be involved back down in distance. 

KEY TO COTAI looks well treated off 79 and ran very well in a red-hot race at York last time when a keeping-on fifth of 16. The second and third both returned next-time-out winners to boost the form and, with the step up in trip worth exploring in first-time cheekpieces, she’s a key player.