There’s some top-class racing action lined up on Saturday’s card, as we have Group 1 action from Newmarket, as well as the new jumps season opener at Chepstow.
Here we have noted down three horses for you to keep an eye on, with two coming from Newmarket and one at Chepstow.
1.25pm Newmarket - Group 3 Autumn Stakes
Ancient Wisdom
This does look to be quite a nice contest, and with all of the runners having won at least once in their short career so far, it is Ancient Wisdom who really catches the eye.
He might just be a Group 1 horse running in a Group 3, begging the question as to whether he could have lined up in the Dewhurst later on in the card.
The well-bred son of Dubawi cost a pretty penny as a yearling,setting connections back 2 million, although such an amount is most likely pocket change to Godolphin.
Ancient Wisdom looked awesome on his debut at Haydock, performing like a well-seasoned pro as he hacked up to win by 5 lengths, even without the jockey’s whip which was dropped inside the final furlong.
He was then turned out quickly, winning in a novice contest under a penalty at Newmarket, which he won by close to two lengths despite being eased down. It wasn't as much of a wow performance as his debut, but he did carry a penalty to victory, which can be tricky for these younger horses.
The two-year-old did slightly disappoint next time out in a Listed contest at Ascot, a race he was expected to win judging by the market.
He could only manage third that day, which was pretty acceptable in company that seemed to be appreciably better than Listed level, as the winner Rosallion has since won a Group 1 in France, while the runner-up Al Musmak, who was just a quarter of a length ahead of Ancient Wisdom at Ascot, has since won a Listed contest and finished runner-up in a decent Group 2 contest.
Our one to follow is currently rated 104, which on paper should be ample to win a race of this nature. He does have a 77-day break to deal with, which could explain why he isn't going for the Group 1 later on the card, but I expect him to take a step forward here and win this comfortably.
3.10pm Chepstow - Listed Happy Birthday Sue Novices Chase
Knappers Hill
On paper this appears to be a nice novice chase which sees the chasing debut of the talented Paul Nicholls-trained Knappers Hill.
This seven-year-old was expected to run over fences last season, but his trainer stated he wanted another year over the smaller obstacles so the horse would keep learning his trade.
The fact that those in the know are taking their time in putting him over fences does indicate that they think he has the makings of being a very nice chaser, and he starts life over fences in a decent little contest here.
Knappers Hill was unbeaten in three bumper races, before going on to have 13 runs over hurdles, with seven of them being winning efforts, amounting to a 57% win rate over his hurdling career.
Those successes included a Silver Trophy win at this meeting last year before going on to beat Sceau Royal in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, which earned him the career-high mark of 153.
Subsequent outings saw him placed at Grade 2 level before going on to end last season with a neck victory in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle at Sandown in April.
Last season we saw a real improvement from him, and I expect there to be even more progress this term. He probably did lack Grade 1 ability over hurdles, but we have seen before that some horses do much better over fences.
Although he is a little later graduating onto fences than most horses, I think the manner in which Paul Nicholls has brought him along will set him up nicely for a tilt over the larger obstacles, and he looks a good bet to get off to a winning start on Saturday to kickstart a production campaign.
3.15pm Newmarket - Group 3 Zetland Stakes
Arabian Crown
Another race with a Godolphin horse as the market leader, and some might say it is a mistake putting two Godolphin horses in this article due to the fact they haven't really had that much of a productive season.
However, there is a case for arguing that we are just waiting for their new superstars to arrive, and every connection in racing has this transitional period at some stage.
Arabian Crown is another very well-bred colt out of the excellent Dubawi, and connections do very well with these types of horses. He is only one of two horses who have a rating in this race, which is 105, well clear of the 87-rated Dallas Star who is the outsider of the field.
Arabian Crown was third on debut at Sandown, beaten by Starlore, who has since been pitched into patterned company, so that might speak for something.
The Godolphin horse has not looked back since that debut effort, winning a maiden race at Sandown before going on to win the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury, tackling the mile trip for the very first time, and he won going away by just over 2 lengths.
He steps up to 10 furlongs here on Saturday, and judging by his breeding and the superb way he stayed on last time, the extra distance should not be an issue, and in fact, it could well bring out a little more improvement in him.
The horse he beat last time, Arabic Legend, runs in the first race on the card on Saturday, and is rated 100, so it will be worth keeping an eye on that form before this race.
Ultimately he looks capable of proving to be a better horse than the 105 rating suggests, and the further he steps up in trip the better he could become.
He does have a Futurity Stakes entry at Doncaster, which is usually a very good Derby trial, so that must be on the forefront of connections minds providing he wins this weekend.
Preview provided by @ Jake Russell