Ratings Update: Newmarket Future Champions and Chepstow's jumps opener

Newmarket’s two-day Future Champions meeting began on Friday, with classic clues to be found in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile. Aidan O’Brien was bidding for a hat-trick in the race having taken the 2015 renewal with subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Minding, and the 2016 renewal with this year’s Guineas second Rhododendron, but his first string for this year’s race Happily (the choice of Ryan Moore) was withdrawn due to a high temperature, which took some of the quality away from the race. Moore ended up on Magical (remains on 115), though she was below her best in fourth (perhaps feeling the effects of her race in France 12 days earlier).

Even with the favourite disappointing O’Brien still should have recorded his hat-trick anyway courtesy of September, who was unlucky not to win quite comfortably having been caught in behind horses for far too long during the final furlong. She is now rated 114p (from 111) and looks a good prospect for next season, when middle distances are likely to suit her well. The winner Laurens (112 from 105p) continued her progression and is also likely to get further than a mile in time (a lot of stamina on the distaff side). Laurens lacks the same potential going forward as the second, but she has a cracking attitude which will always stand her in good stead. The third Magic Lily (110p from 104p) took the big step up from maiden to Group 1 company well in her stride and is another with plenty of potential for next season.

The Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes on the same card also had a good representation of pattern form, and though there was something of an upset caused by the winner Altyn Orda (104p from 86p) there is no reason to doubt the form, with Rockfel third Gavota (up 3 lb to 103p) finishing second in front of impressive maiden winner I Can Fly (102p from 97p) who was well backed before hand. The front three all remain open to improvement, with Altyn Orda and I Can Fly likely to be suited by the step up to a mile when the time comes.

Limato (remains on 127) had endured a slightly disappointing 2017 but stamped his class on the Group 2 Challenge Stakes, showing all his ability remains fully intact, winning by three and a half lengths from Massaat (121 from 122). Harry Bentley and Henry Candy landed a double on the card when Chain of Daisies (111 from 109+) took the listed Pride Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien didn’t have the favourite for the big Group 1 race on Saturday, the Dewhurst Stakes (for a change), but he kicked things off in familiar style, taking the opening listed Zetland Stakes with Kew Gardens (108p from 104). Last year’s race featured Derby winner Wings of Eagles (finished fourth), and Kew Gardens is also bred to come into his own over middle distances next season.

O’Brien took his domination to new levels in the Dewhurst Stakes just over an hour later, saddling the first four home, headed by Middle Park winner U S Navy Flag (123 from 115). Though he was seen to good advantage along the seemingly favoured rail and both Expert Eye (reportedly lame, remains on 117p) and Emaraaty (who wasn’t mature enough to make a huge step up in class, now 100p) disappointed, it is still worth crediting U S Navy Flag with another chunk of progression. Given the way he is going it is hard to rule him out of next year’s Guineas. Despite his big SP it’s difficult to crab the second Mendelssohn (up a whopping 31 lb to 115), whose physique, pedigree and stable all point to his performance being as good as it looks. Seahenge (remains on 114p) was better than the bare result, ridden far further back than the winner.

Other notable performances on the card came from Ghaiyyath (111p from 96p), who improved plenty on his impressive maiden win to take the Group 3 Autumn Stakes from Dream Today (106 from 96p), who got back on track after his slightly disappointing first try in pattern company. Monarchs Glen (up 3 lb to 118) improved slightly to land the other group race on the card, settling better than ever with Dettori back onboard. He will probably always be a challenging ride, but he’s ended the season on a high, and could do better next term.

Cesarewitch winners aren’t always such interesting ongoing propositions as Withhold (108p from 100+) is, and he has the potential to make up into a ‘Cup’ horse next season after his romp on Saturday in which he broke the course record.

Chepstow hosted an excellent weekend of jumps racing and Finian’s Oscar (c143P) made his eagerly awaited chasing debut, landing the odds by a wide margin but not having to do much more than stay on his feet, with Alcala (c153) slipping up at the end of the back straight and Aintree My Dream getting tired under positive tactics.

The feature Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle was won for a second time by Court Minstrel, who was 7 lb lower in the weights than when he’d taken the race in 2015. His jumping was impeccable as he saw off some promising younger legs including those of Sam Spinner, who did a fair bit wrong (sweated up, didn’t settle fully and was still quite raw) whilst nearly winning. He was the best horse at the weights and remains capable of better. The likes of Peak To Peak and Wholestone will also have bigger efforts in them this season.

On Sunday Gumball (132p) continued his useful start to live over hurdles, and will continue to be hard to beat in similar races, though he won’t stay at the top of the division unless his jumping improves. Mia’s Storm (c138p) won what looked a useful staying novice chase and has plenty of options going forward, including reverting to mares’ company. The Persian War went to Poetic Rhythm who didn’t need to improve much on what he achieved in some warm novice races last season, while Romain de Senam (144+) looked a completely different proposition to what he had shown last season when taking the two and a half mile handicap chase by seven lengths.